and nothing really newsworthy going on lately.

Well… we did experience a nearly total solar eclipse on April 8th in my area of Ohio. However, with all the media frenzy leading up to it, I am quite sure there is nothing I can add to it that you haven’t already seen and heard. So I will just say it was a very enjoyable sight to see.

I guess the main reason I haven’t been writing in my blog lately is because I am writing the first book of a trilogy, which is far more difficult and time consuming than my blog. I really can’t talk about it yet, but it will have a little of everything; a love story, dealing with the loss of loved ones, some mystery and fears that lead up to a thriller in book two. Hopefully, book two will keep you wanting more and book three will deliver. I’m not a full time writer, so I live first and write second, and a trilogy is a big bite to chew, but I am almost done with book one.

In the meantime, I am really enjoying my small town life and being among family. There are some aspects of Florida that I miss- like being close to the beach, for one thing. But living in the Midwest and seeing everything come back to life in the Spring brings a renewed sense of life when everything turns green and the trees begin to blossom. It’s a magical event every spring when flowers become the focus and no one can get enough of them. People become excited for warm weather events and creating beautiful outdoor spaces. From outdoor lighting on the patio or deck to firepits and outdoor bars, life begins to explode and I love it!

In Florida, life can really become mundane. The only thing that changes is the temperatures and everything starts to turn brown after being scorched by the sun. It’s very hard to keep flowers looking nice, because one day without water can shock a plant to death! Unless you can afford the luxury lifestyle where someone takes care of everything all the time, you become a prisoner to your home keeping everything clean from mold and mildew, and landscaping alone can kill you. Smaller is better, but even still, you can spend 5 minutes pulling weeds or spraying them and need a shower after becoming drenched in sweat. They call it “swamp ass” in the south and it totally sucks!

I have an office in the front of my condo home and the Bradford pear tree across the street is completely white in full blossom. The grass is as green as you can ever imagine the color green to be! The shrubs are all in bloom and the birds are singing. I also have a park bench in my view, which just adds to the park-like setting. When the street lamps light up at dusk, I truly feel like I am living in a Thomas Kinkade painting. FYI; I could have never experienced a beautiful maintenance free condo in a picture-perfect setting like this in Florida. I could have never afforded anything like it! So when people say anything to me about the winters and dealing with snow- I just laugh. I am retired and enjoy every season. We got a total of about 8″ of snow this year and I can certainly live with that.

The people that live in Florida all year long are usually native to the area and know nothing different. The snowbirds arrive on cue when the northern winds begin to blow the Canadian air onto their residence. They would not dream of living in the heat all year long or I am sure they would. The only folks that do care for the heat all year are usually younger and free-spirited beach goers that can handle the heat and sunburns.

As for the retirees that end up in the deep south, be careful what you wish for and hope you have a big bank account, cause you’re going to need it. Rent is high, HOA fees are astronomical and owning a home is constant maintenance year long. Insurance continues to rise annually, along with your taxes. So if you can afford the house payment or rent today, you better plan on it rising substantially every single year. Can you still afford it on your retirement pay in ten years? If so, please invite me down for a visit in the winter. LOL

There was a time in my life that mother nature could really affect my mood. You plan on attending an outdoor event and it ends up raining. You plan to go home for the holidays and it ends up snowing 18″. You plan on attending a concert and high winds and storms occur. You get the picture because shit happens. But now, I think so differently.

It’s amazing, the transformation I have gone thru after watching the death of a spouse. I am so happy to be alive every single day that I wake up and my feet touch the floor that I don’t care much about the weather. Every day is a brand new day- a chance to enjoy life no matter what it brings. When I get a bill, it still sucks. I just don’t stress over them much anymore. When I don’t feel well, or a family member isn’t well, I still don’t like it, but it sure beats the alternative. I always hope for the best and deal with it head on. Cancer is always going to suck, but I always remember; we are all dying just a little bit every day, so make the best of every one that you have. Period. No if’s, ands, or buts about it. Complaining will get you nowhere fast.

It is raining today and I do feel badly for my friends and family that have fur babies. Spring showers do bring the unpleasant part of being a dog owner to light. Mud. Everywhere. ALL THE TIME! I do find the pictures quite amusing and enjoy the fact that I am not a dog owner.

I do love that the showers will bring May flowers. And so it goes…

Happy Spring everyone everywhere!!