Thunder Beach Rally 2009

This is our second motorcycle rally in Panama City Beach. We've been here since Sunday night but the party starts Thursday. There are some bikes here, but they are expecting over 45,000 bikes by Friday. The strip is quiet right now. This gives me a chance to practice on my new harley. Dawn rides in the sidecar with me. She is quite trusting of me actually. Sometimes I have to pry her fingers from the OMG bar, but she's a good sport. I've realized my bike is easier to drive with someone in the sidecar. Everywhere we go people wave and Dawn waves back. When we stop all of the Harley riders come over to look at my bike. We are quite unique and Dawn is loving the attention.

We're in a campground about two miles from the beach nestled in pine trees. The ponds have gators so we keep a close eye on the dogs. It's a short ride to the ocean and I plan on spending some time watching the sun set and enjoying the sounds of the ocean. Today as a matter of fact. We've already had oysters and shrimp, my favorite. It's the only place I'll eat raw oysters. They're from Apalachicola, the best oysters in the world.

I LOVE MY HARLEY!!!!! It's so cool and easy to ride. Gotta go for now. Lots of riding to do. More to come.........

Wedding Gift

Some women want diamonds, some want furs. Me? I get a harley!!! This is the most incredible gift I have ever received, besides my children (including my new children), my grandaughters, and my husband. I just love saying my husband! Our lives together is one adventure after another and I want it to last forever.......

One of my favorite jobs is emergency babysitter. Poor mackenzie had strep throat and after several days of antibiotics still couldn't return to school. Mema to the rescue. Sara and I spent a quiet day playing board games and applying makeup. Then off to McDonalds for lunch. And a trip to the grocery store for a game, ice cream, and flowers for mom. Cassie was pleasantly surprised. I got to spend a couple of hours rocking Madi, one of my favorite passtimes. These girls are such a joy in my life. I'm awaiting my next job on Columbus Day when their day cares are closed.

Jamaica beaches, the perfect wedding, the perfect man, great food, and all the romance anyone could ask for at my fingertips. Did I set this up for you? We picked the perfect place to get married. We were greeted at the airport in Montego Bay and taken to the “Couples Resort Lounge” to await our shuttle. We never touched our baggage after that. We boarded the shuttle for the 1 ½ hour drive to Negril. I enjoyed the eye opening drive through the Jamaica that not many people see. The poor lined the streets hoping for a tourist to stop for a piece of fruit or a drink. Next to these shacks were elaborate homes that overlooked the blue Caribbean waters. Goat herders scurried up side streets keeping their goats out of harms way on the only highway that hugged the Jamaican coast.

Arriving at the resort, and we were greeted by a woman serving cold washcloths on a silver tray. We sat in the lobby while she served champagne and checked us into our rooms. Then we were escorted to the room to wait for out luggage to be delivered. I was already feeling like royalty and we were treated this way throughout our stay.

After unpacking we decided to explore. There were 18 acres of exotic gardens, beaches, restaurants, pools, entertainment, and people waiting to serve our every need. We had dinner at Cassava Terrace and went to the piano bar for a sing-a-long. After a few drinks were served, everyone was singing. Men began singing love songs to their girlfriends/wife’s, everyone sang silly songs together, and the piano player encouraged the silliness. The bartender even joined in on the fun. We met a couple from UK and Steve asked them to “Come and be witnesses at our wedding”. It made the spontaneity of wedding even more fun.

The best thing about the wedding was the individuality. We picked out rings we wanted, not caring if they matched. We wore what we wanted, I was barefoot and he was in Khakis. I walked down the isle (beach) to music I picked out that was very untraditional, plain white T’s, Paul McCartney, and Chris Brown. We said our own spur of the moment vows, nothing written or memorized. We had new friends from the UK, she in her best “frock” and he was in sandals and shorts. People were sunbathing off to the side, wondering what was going on. People we had met at the resort came to watch our nuptials. But most of all, it was private and personal which is just what we wanted.

The rest of the trip was all about romance. We took the catamaran ride to pirate’s cave and swam into the clear blue water up to the old stone stairs inside that led to the top of the cliffs. We snorkeled the reefs. We rode the glass bottom boat down the coast and took a brief tour of the clothing optional beaches and resorts (interesting to say the least). We ate fabulous meals in the restaurants and on the beach. We watched a steel drum band and I played with them during the audience participation part of the show. We danced to jazz during dinner. We laid on the beach and had pina coladas served to us. We laid on our floats and floated up too the swim up bar for drinks. The employees would offer us cold washcloths on a silver tray (again) to fight the heat. A worker climbed a coconut tree and carved the coconut so we could taste the fresh coconut milk. We danced the night away in the disco. We were served chocolate and champagne at sunset. We had wine and cheese while listening to a classical guitarist. I guess I could go on and on. Needless to say, it was the most romantic trip I’ve ever taken. I guess the man I was with made a difference also. Steve is so caring and understanding and I am so deeply in love. Our lives together have been so awesome so far and this was the perfect beginning to the rest of our lives. To be continued………..

Here it is July already. I haven't posted anything since April and Talladega. Time passes too quickly. When we're young we count time in months, I'm 9 1/2. Then we add to our age, I'll be 16 in two months. We then turn to years, I'm 22. As we grow we count time in decades, I'm in my 50's. As we go into our golden years we count in months again, I'm 86 1/2. We come full circle. I'm still in my decade stage. Time travels fast through these years. I've managed to slow down my mind by remembering the travels of the last three years, New Orleans, Houston, Gulf Shores, Guntersville Lake State Park, Fort Myers, The Everglades, Marathon Key, Daytona, Disney world, Talladega, Dale Hollow Lake and some that I have to reread my blog to remember. After all I am in my 50's. Then there are memories my mind tries to outrun, hospitals, doctors, lawyers, and events I've successfully blocked. But they are also part of me.

This blog is important to me. It's my scrapbook. I didn't mean to go this long without writing. It's just that life happens. But life is happening to me and I need to take the time again to reflect on these events, to slow down and not let the decades slip by so quickly. So, I will begin blogging again. Since I'm back and forth between home (doctors and boring stuff) and the houseboat (not much going on but relaxing, swimming, and journeling) the blogs may not have a lot of pictures or be very exciting, but I will be blogging. It is the life that is happening to me.

Talladega

I've always wanted to go to a Nascar race but I had no idea it would be so much fun. Our reservations were messed up and they put us in a "gated community" infield. Only people staying in that area were allowed in so the crazies stayed away. We were the second row from the track between turns three and four. We could actually sit in the motorhome with the tv on the race and see the cars go by in the background, which we did when it got real hot. The cars practicing on the track would wake us up in the morning, but they did let us sleep until about 8:30. We got there Thursday night and after dealing with our reservations being messed up we got in line in the "staging area". We were put in the line that went in first so we didn't have to wait as long. We drove across the track to get infield, that was cool. Whenever it got hot we could relax in the RV, we didn't have to deal with concession stands, or sitting in the sun in seats in the stadium all day. I'm so spoiled now. I don't want to go back unless we can stay infield again, and only in that section.

It was great being there with Steve, he knows so much about Nascar. And my dear friend, Dawn, went with us. We haven't been able to hang out that much in years. And I didn't take her along to just cook, although she is a great cook.

The day of the big race we sat on the roof of the motorhome. It's like it's own party up there. The race was incredible, some said its the best race in years. The ninth lap there was a seven car wreck right in front of us. My heart jumped. It's a lot different seeing it in person. Everyone was ok, but the wreck on the last lap was close to the grandstands and seven spectators got hurt. You just never know. That's why I liked being on the second row. At least there is some protection from the wrecks.

I've been so fortunate to be able to see all of these amazing things. I savor every moment of them. Especially when I get to see them with people I love.

Tornado reflections

I ran errands today around Murfreesboro. Every corner I turned there was some affect from the tornado. Then I turned off I-24 onto Medical Center Parkway and my heart dropped. Across the street from the Avenue you can see the path of devastation. Homes flattened, utility poles laying on the side of streets, pieces of peoples homes was everywhere and so were the police and state troopers. The State troopers have set up an RV for all of the troopers. An insurance company has an rv in the Avenue parking lot.

I didn't take any pictures because I felt it was an invasion of privacy. And they don't do the damage justice. We see all of the video and pictures on tv, the internet, and from friends. That's just what they are, pictures. To see it in person has a different affect. Peoples lifes scattered across highways and in ditches and in other's yards. One friend told me her house was fine but her yard was full of debris from other homes. She even found someones divorce papers.

I have a new appreciation for nature, for life, and for what will come in my life that is unexpected. Whatever I face, things could be so much worse.