most of the flight was easy except for the 20 minutes of turbulence. i did what i always do, i put my sweater (no blankets anymore?) over my head and just waited it out...for a second i peeked out and looked at my tv screen and i saw that there was a request for me to chat with seat 16d...which of course, turned out to be mitchell...what a goof...i continued to hold my sweater while trying not to hold my breath...eventually it passed, as all things do, and we landed safely in fort lauderdale...
my physical reality improved right away. my bones didn't hurt, my vertigo got up and went...it must be the florida air mixed with the love of good friends and family. all things being equal, (if only), it would be a pretty good life in them parts.
there's nothing like being with the peeps who love you just as you are. no need for trying, just for being... i knew that no matter how i was feeling physically, it would be a healing time. we picked lanie up from visiting her mother. (she needed a pick up after that)... i hadn't seen her mom in 34 years...she's now 89, and still very sharp (a double edged sword). then we drove to coconut grove where michael and kevin live. holy moly, what a home...seriously, the most beautiful one i've ever stayed in. and as always, they are incredibly generous and thoughtful hosts. it was like the five of us had a private four star resort all to ourselves. delicious food and drink, amazing pool, and days to just talk and laugh and laze. one of my many highlights happened by the pool...lanie and i were singing johnny mathis and other old love songs while mitchell was playing lifeguard and camera man, kevin on the lounge and mikey resting with their two cute dogs at his feet...the weather was perfect....the days were filled with so many deep talks and deep laughs...what a gift...thank you dear mikey and kevin. may we all meet again...
after brunch on one of the islands, we said our goodbyes. lanie, mitchell and i headed to boynton beach, where his parents live. lanie and i checked in at the lodge above the club for the first night while mitchell and his sister (who flew down) stayed with their parents. there was a superbowl party we all were invited to...it touched my heart to be with this group...all of the guests were around 80 years old. some were widowed, a few just remarried, but all were toward the end of their lives. such a sweet community of friends. it took longer for things to happen, and people were slower moving, but they were totally enjoying themselves...the men were into the game and most of the "girls" were playing bridge and canasta. i was introduced as the daughter-in-law, which always gives me mixed feelings...happy that they think of me that way, but awkward in the knowing that i'm not official...i wonder if their friends noticed that i wear no ring...
it occurred to me while watching them watch the game, that there are many ways to live the last chapter of life...joy and connection being my favorite. irv and esther have such a good time together. no early bird dinners for these two. it's always on to the next dance, or museum or tennis game. their tv is very loud and you have to repeat things a bit more, but they are very much alive and loving life...
after the party, lanie and i went back to our pretty room. we stayed up for hours talking about everything, just as we always do. there was only one argument (always at least one)...lanie is the older sister i never had and always wished for...we went through all the usual suspects, family, spirituality, health, mitchell...i even got a chance to cry, which was really good, like a cleansing...lanie's the only friend i've ever had that can out talk me...i finally said i had to close my eyes but she could continue if she wanted...it was the best night of sleep i had the whole time. i've said it before, and i'll say it again, one of the saddest things in my life is that we don't live close to each other. there's no one like lanie. i took this picture while we were talking because she looked so beautiful, but i didn't have my glasses on so it's kinda blurry.
in the morning mitchell and betsy met us for breakfast at the club, and then it was time for lanie to leave for the airport...a couple more tears, and then on to the family portion of the trip. betsy's husband pete flew down and it was the six of us for the rest of the vacation.
the highlight of that was the beach at del ray. we spent hours there. pete played dj for me, sharing his favorite songs on his ipod. i was looking out onto the most incredible water and sand while listening to his kind of rock and roll. i love pete and betsy...good salt of the earth types. then there was lunch in town, dinner at a fancy grill (at 8:30 by the way, normal for these peeps). a wonderful family time...
more pics and stories to come, but for now i got to get out of this bed...
After you left us at the resaurant on the water we just sat there and talked about how much we love you and wish the time had been longer with all of you. having you , mitchell and lanie was so special and we can't wait to see you again. love Kevin, michael, baily and melinda
Posted by: Kevin Andrews | February 10, 2011 at 05:32 PM
how wonderful to have such good friends and family. And I am so very glad Lanie was and is in your life for so many years, near or far Wave!! You both are beautiful by far!!!!! xo
Posted by: debora yee | February 12, 2011 at 02:06 PM