Capping off a busy month with thanks....

It has been a very busy month.  We had a very successful fundraiser for the Woman's Club on the 19th so the weeks leading up to that day were very busy.  Then I played catch up with my work for the FOL and library book store.  And this last week I have been celebrating my birthday.  Yep, ALL week.  This is my 66th.  And, I am especially grateful this year to be celebrating a HEALTHY birthday.  It took some amazing people to get me to this point.  My hubby has been my rock -- just as he has always been since I first met him.  A woman could not ask for a more romantic and caring husband -- but more than that, he is honest (though, that can sometimes create its own issues - LOL) and steady.  It will be 43 years this April since we first met and started dating.  So we have celebrated a lot of birthdays together in that time.  Other than both of us needing to lose weight, we are healthy and happy.  He gave me earrings to match my white gold "Open Hearts" necklace and I will wear them when we go out to dinner tonight.

I have an awesome daughter in Chele, with whom I spent the day on Thursday.  She and I went shopping on the docks and picked out a beautiful outfit at "Bijoux by Eurasian Lady."  Thank you, Chele and Rick, for your wonderful gift. I will be wearing that outfit tonight.  The best part of that day was a leisurely lunch on the covered deck of Rusty Bellies' tiki bar.  The breeze from the Gulf rippled the water on the Anclote River and we were able to chat as we watched the boats come and go in the marina.  As most of my friends know, I LOVE Tarpon Springs.  And Thursday was a perfect "Chamber of Commerce" weather day.  Thank you, Chele, for being you.  You are not a "mini-me" and never have been.  I am glad of that.  We share a lot of common interests and you have some of my personality traits, but at 45, you are your own woman with strengths that I do not have. I love you more than I can express in words and look forward to your visit in April for the book sale.

And, I am "other Mom" to an equally awesome daughter, Angie, with whom I spent the day on March 19th when she came to help with, and to enjoy, the fashion show.  I fell in love with Angie 43 years ago -- probably before I fell in love with her Dad.  I have laughed with her and cried with her and loved her as my own and am so glad to see her happy and healthy and living here in Florida, enjoying her life with Mike.  Angie, you have always been my daughter and I hope you realize that I have very rarely used the word "step" when introducing you.  I have been so blessed to have both you and Billy in my life.  I think you know how much you are loved and appreciated by both your Dad and me.

And thank you to both you and Mike, for my beautiful arrangement:

It came this morning and was beautiful.  I say, "was," because it has been dismantled and put in plastic baggies to keep that wonderful fruit fresh.  I sampled everything as I was taking it apart.  It is all wonderful -- especially that chocolate covered strawberries.  Thank you both very much.  That will help me get back on track tomorrow when I have completed my week of celebration.

And, thank you, to all my wonderful friends who have sent cards, taken me to lunch, given me cookies to munch and toys to play with, sent me flowers and another edible arrangement and supported me through the last couple of months of 2011 and first couple in 2012.  You all know who you are and how much I love you.  Thank you for the lovely birthday cards and sweet thoughts.

I am one size smaller than I was on my 65th birthday.  Hoping to double that for number "67."  But returning to my "program" can wait 'til tomorrow.  I still have "celebrating" to do today!

Real Friends

People like to make fun of "Facebook Friends" or "Internet Friends" as though there is something wrong with those friendships.  For me, it has been a way to acquire new friends that want nothing from you except your friendship in return.  Over the years, I have been able to meet up with friends I met at Weight Watchers Online.  I have traveled to New England twice to spend time with my Irresistible buddies.  Several have come to town and we have spent time together.

I have also been a member of another group for years -- they are the GRITS group.  Most in this group are Southerners and have been Southerners most of their lives.  Just as I relate to my Irresistibles because we started as a group all born in 1946, I relate to the GRITS group because of common ground found in being raised by Southerner parents and growing up in various parts of the South.

One of my favorite GRITS is Nancy.  She is the only GRITS I have met personally.  Butch and I traveled to Jacksonville almost two years ago and visited her while we were over that way to meet a new great-grandson.  It was love at first sight.  And though we had only known each other through phone calls, emails and message boards, it was as though we had known each other all my life (Nancy is a little older than I.)

So it was with delight that I was able to spend part of a day with her and her daughter, Nora, when they came to visit the area last Sunday and Monday.  They were able to see the Chihuly Gallery in St. Petersburg on Sunday and I met up with them on Monday morning here in Tarpon Springs.  Beau and I were outside walking when they drove up.  He was very excited to meet someone new. (you all may remember that we met Beau's first foster mom last year after years of email and online contact) and it was exciting for me, too.

After a tour of Howard Park including the causeway and beach, Sunset Beach Park, and a ride by my beloved library, we headed down to the docks for lunch.  We had lunch at Hellas.  Nancy and I shared our Greek salad and Saganaki (Flaming Cheese) with Nora; and, she shared her Greek hamburger with us.  Everything was delicious.  As we finished, Nancy fished her iPad out of her purse and handed it to Nora to take a picture of us to post for our other friends on WW and FB.

Long gone are the days when we viewed everyone on the internet as potential ax murderers.  We still need to be careful, of course, but I wouldn't have missed these relationships for the world.

Sherri & Nancy on the Docks at Hellas

March 12, 2012

Thanks to another GRITS, Lois, for helping Nancy get this picture to us!

All Beau needs is a Mexican hat....

"Put your left foot in ...."