Becoming 60

Becoming 60…..I recently realized that we do truly become like children as we grow older.  When you are little it is a big deal to celebrate a birthday, six is more wonderful than five and so on.   As we age, again we are talking about the numbers and the significance of those numbers.

Well I decided that this birthday was going to be special, I had survived for 60 years and I was going to celebrate as many times as I could.  And I did!  First was a dinner at the Grove Park Inn, celebrating not only my birthday but my “semi-retirement” which included a tour of the Gingerbread house competition.  Next was a family celebration during Thanksgiving, including carrot cake.  I love celebrating birthdays with my children!! 

Then we made the trip to Florida.  December 3rd arrived and as planned we were going out with Sandy and Jim.  They were "taking us out to celebrate".  A side trip to one of the club houses at Solivita revealed a room filled with friends who had traveled from Orlando and Tampa for a surprise party.  I had no clue... John really got me.  It was just wonderful to visit with friends that I had thought had no idea were aware of our big adventure.  The food was wonderful, carrot cake again (my favorie), framed photos of childhood pictures and birthday songs.  Spectacular!!

On December 5^th a seafood dinner out followed by a side trip to Celebration where they closed off one of the downtown streets and were cascading soap bubbles into the street, looked like snow to me.  Felt like Ashville only warmer.

So far 60 years old feels great, I am in great health and blessed to be on this adventure with John.  An elder friend of mine, years ago told me that her 60’s were her favorite years. She was a widow by that time, however her children were grown and the work was all done, just life to be lived and enjoyed.  Louise was in her 70’s by the time I met her and I am hoping to love my 60’s just as much as she did.

Reinventing Christmas

When we made the decision to winter in Florida John promised me that we would immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of the holidays as only Orlando can provide, and he kept his promise and more.  As John knows, the holidays were going to be a challenge for me because I am not accustomed to being so far away from my family, but especially at holiday time.  And I just love the holidays and family and all that goes with it.

Well the festivities began with Christmas at Winter Park performed by the Winter Park Corale.  This was actually my favorite evening because it recreated one of our early dates, as we were just getting to know one another.    We topped it off with peppermint ice cream, just like we did 12 years ago.  Simply wonderful!!!  December was filled with musical performances, Methodist, Catholic and Episcopalian, each as wonderful as the last.  Ron, Diane and Faye joined us for several performances and loved them just as much as we did. 

We explored Solivita, watched a Golf Cart Christmas parade complete with Belly Dancers followed by a show put on by the community (just like being on a cruise), enjoyed the Christmas decorating competition sponsored by the community, and  went through a local drive through Nativity.  The Tuba Christmas Concert in Winter Park was their 48^th annual performance and was reminiscent of our early days together in Orlando followed by seafood at Bostons.   

Christmas day, after a holiday breakfast ,  we got ourselves together and drove over the Canaveral Nation seashore.  It was simply beautiful day, only the convertible could have made it more wonderful.  This area was new to me but a favorite of Johns and now I know why.  The day was warm with a slight breeze, the sky was a bright blue with blue, green water and light waves. A short walk was enough to give us the taste of the beach that we wanted.  Back in the car, we decided to drive to the end of the road to find the least populated beach.  As we walked the boardwalk, asked a woman to take our picture and enjoyed the views, John realized that we had discovered the nude beach, soooooo this became the “Christmas that Nana and Papa went to a nude beach”.  Oh my!!!!!!

Merry Christmas in Florida