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October 25, 2005 Email Letter Home
Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd let you know that I made it and am
on the way to recovery.
Ashlie, my four-year old granddaughter joined me--what
fun, just us girls. But a very tiring trip.
Left Sitka day before yesterday about noon, then had
to wait in Seattle till midnight for the red eye
flight.
Didn't get into Florida till almost 8 the next
morning.
Ash was a good egg and played most the whole time.
Figured sure she'd sleep the whole flight down,
but they came by and offered her a free dvd player
(why does everyone fall in love with her) loaded
with movies, so she watched them until about 5 am
Florida time. Then slept from Orlando to Lake City,
a 3 hour drive-- very hard drive when you've been
up over 24 hours...
The ten mile drive from Lake City to the woods
starts the relaxing process, rolling hills with
cows grazing, warm sun on flittering butterflies.
Goldenrod blooming, touches of autumn color against
pine forests. So wonderfully relaxing.
Then, always, when I get to the turnoff to my cabin,
I pause, undo my seat belt, roll down the window
and slowly drive down the mile forest dirt road
to the cabin. It's like your blood pressure drops
immediately.
Butterflies all along the way. I remember thinking
once they should have named this road Butterfly
Drive as it most always has scores of wildflowers
filled with butterflies.
Then the cabin sits back off the road, slightly
shaded from the noon sun by the tall pines surrounding
it. It looks so good.
You might think it's only because I've been away
so long, but no, I feel this every time I return,
even when I've only been into town... Pulling up
into the yard, tired as I am, my eyes immediately
move from flower to flower, plant to plant to see
if the guy taking care of my yard has mowed down
a treasure.
Key slipping into the door, I do a quick walk around.
Ash marvels that her tiny bed is still here, holding
her stuffed treasures.
The queen bed looks so inviting. And so it captures
me for several hours, before I'm drawn reluctantly
in to town to touch base and have dinner with family.
My sister-in-law does her special kitchen magic
serving up my favorite of acre peas with okra, pork
chops and corn bread with a big glass of ice cold
sweet tea. Afterwards Ash and I go to Winn Dixie
and pick up necessaries and head back to the cabin.
Sun's set by now and as we wind through the forest,
Ash asks several times if I'm sure I know where
I'm going. She'd slept through the prev trip. I
reassure her that I've made this trip many times,
but she's still concerned. On the dirt road, I see
several deer pause, watching as I pass bye. A nice
welcome.
Looking forward to tomorrow's sunrise, but I'm
surprised to find that I sleep until 9 and Ashlie
even later.
Making a cup of coffee, I do a short walk-about
the yard, not wanting to get too far from the cabin,
in case Ash should wake and be frightened that she
can't find me. A squirrel hops away from the big
oak, irritated at my visit. Amazing the size of
my confederate rose, was it this high before? And
surely it didn't have this many flowers.
Oh and my ginger lilies. Was their smell this wonderful?
I plan to cut some and bring inside.
For a second I think to myself, I need to get my
camera and get photos before the sun goes away.
Then I remember I'm in Florida, not Alaska, where
the sun is brilliant but brief. So, I relax, figuring
I'll get the photos later.
I hadn't brought my camera, intending to buy a
smaller one during my visit. Tried several, but
as you will see with the fuzzy photos, none were
comparable to mine, so I took them both back.
Meanwhile, I sit here at my computer and seeing
a movement out the glass door, watch as a squirrel
gets about a foot from the glass. Calling Ashlie
over, her and I watch as he digs and picks up a
small nut and carrying it in his mouth hops off,
getting ready for winter.
And so a time of relaxation and renewing begins.
Still looking forward to tomorrow's sunrise. Will
share it with you then. Take care all and here if
anyone needs me, I may just be a little slower responding
as I may be in the middle of a Florida sunrise,
but I'll get back with you shortly. Sharon and Ash,
Soaking up some Florida sunshine.
Here's two videos I took early morning. They share the wildlife sounds as well as the sun moving through the trees, but... they take a long time to load. If you have the patience, enjoy. Sharon
Video
1
Early morning sounds, Video, click 2 times
to play
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Video
1
Early morning sounds, and view of surrounding
neighbors. click 2 times to play
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