Greetings from sunny Florida! Thank you James and all others for the sweet words about my Nannie. She was an amazing woman and I am glad that I got to spend so much time with her over the last few years. I am always so desperate to move away from Fayetteville that I overlook the benefits of living there. Not only do we have great friends but it is also so nice to have so much family close. I still wish it had a beach, but oh well.
We had a great time in Costa Rica and are so thankful to the Norman’s for letting us crash their family reunion. It was so neat to spend time in Costa Rica at so many different places. We did a decent job of practicing our Spanish but lost it the minute we got home, we haven’t had the opportunity to use it in Florida yet, but maybe if we go to Miami.
We spent about a week in Arkansas after we got back from Costa Rica. We had to visit the tax man and the rivers were up so some kayaking was required. With the good news from our CPA that we had enough funds to continue until June we left Arkansas and headed to Florida via Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. We stayed at a very scary RV park in Vicksburg but thoroughly enjoyed the battlefield park there and a bartender who defined southern hospitality. I wasn’t feeling well and it was raining so we decided to skip heading into New Orleans, even though we found a great campground just across the Lake Ponchetrain (I think that’s what its called) bridge. It was also the day we got the call that Nannie wasn’t doing well so we decided to head on to Florida so it would be easier if I needed to go home.
James was awesome and drove for almost 2 days straight through the rain. We drove through downtown Biloxi and were amazed at the destruction still evident from Hurricane Katrina. Strangely the casinos were all up and running but the houses were still a mess. Bureaucracy at its finest.
After spending the night in a very nice rest area and enjoying dinner out of the vending machine we made it to Kim’s house Saturday just in time for happy hour . Kim is a good friend of James’ parents Bill & Mary. He has a great place here in Pine Island, Florida right on a canal with plenty of room to park an RV. The best perk is he also has a boat which he has given James free reign of, needless to say James did not miss me while I went home. Yesterday we went out on a big catamaran that a friend of Kim’s has and today James and I spent all day on the water, him fishing, me reading. I am hoping the RV and ground will quit rocking by the time I go to sleep.
Life continues to be amazing and my hope is that I don’t take one minute of it for granted. The best way I can honor my Nannie is to have her same joy and appreciation for every day. Of course right now, that isn’t too hard to do!
Love, Kim
Photos: Kim & Melanie Norman in front of their house in Costa Rica, James & I in front of Volcan Irazu, James showing why he doesn't read, Kayaking the Mulberry
2 comments:
Good to see you back and bloggin Kim!! With sun and good temps I expect that you guys will have plenty of pictures to post soon Not that I would expect any good FISHING picture or anything.
Love Tuna
Hey Vagabonds,
Glad to see you're posting again. Kim, your upbeat spirit always shows through. You are the one who will carry on where your Nannie left off. A remarkable lady. James, you missed our latest gully washer and subsequent snow, but I see you didn't have to go without whitewater this season. You look like you enjoyed being horizontal just as much if not more, anyway. Here, the daffodils are really wanting to bloom, the peeper frogs are chorusing, and all baby goats have been safely delivered...spring has almost sprung. The tom turkeys and roosters are noisily amorous, the hens they are a-laying. We have lots of eggs and cheese. Jeff and Meme, are you ready to try this season's flavors? All of us, including Ana and the ladies at the hospital are looking forward to your return to your home base. It has nothing to do, of course, with swimming pool or margarita machine.
Love to you both,
MM
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