TIME FOR A CHANGE (March 10-22, 2018)

We left the relative warmth of Tennessee with Sherry's brother and sister-in-law and pointed the car north, through Kentucky, toward Pair-a-dice Point @ Camp Clifford in Indiana.  The six hour drive went without incident and we pulled onto the property and exited the car into the cold Hoosier air.

This was to be a time of change.  Our stream (pictured above) was flowing with spring water.  When we left, it was frozen over.

It would be time to change up our luggage for our next trip from winter wear to spring wear.  In would be time to celebrate a change for Sherry's mom, as her birthday moved her from 88 to 89.  It would be a time for me, to change my cardiologist and my dentist.

It would be a time to regroup and prepare for our seven week stay on Edisto Island in South Carolina.

It would be a time with family as we were able to watch our granddaughters play volleyball in a huge event in downtown Indianapolis.  Games were played for three straight days from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.!

All in all, it would be two weeks of doing some things that had to be done.




REFLECTIONS


I am becoming more and more aware that life is a bunch of stops and starts, doing and redoing and undoing.  It is an ongoing exercise in change and adjustment.  Just about the time you think you have something figured out...bam...it changes.  

It looks like the weather in South Carolina will be in the 70's and 80's during our seven week stay....bam....the forecast changes to 60's and 70's!  It looks like the dentist appointment will be for a cleaning...bam...a bridge comes loose!  Need I go on?

I have determined that, for me, to be blessed in my life, I have to understand the cadence it brings; the rushes and the rests.  Life is a symphony with all the beats and rests, all the majors and minors.  It is what it is!  And as we learn better to sense its movements, we will better be able to enjoy the melodies it provides.

As I wait out the final two days of cold weather before heading south, I will enjoy the crisp air and the occasional snow flake in the air.  I will enjoy the long drive and, after arriving in South Carolina, I will enjoy whatever tune that life orchestrates.

MILL WHEELS AND MEMORIES (March 3-9, 2018)

This would be the final week of a five week travel outing with Sherry's brother and sister-in-law, Curt and Jenny Byrd.  We stayed together in the Mountains of North Carolina (Wyndham Mountains), the beaches of South Carolina (Island Links at Hilton Head), and Sevierville, Tennessee (Wyndham Smoky Mountains) just outside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

This week would mainly be the week of just hanging out at the resort and, once again, seeing         
the scenic wonders of the Smoky Mountains.

It's hard sometimes to remind ourselves that we don't have to always be running here and there on these adventures, and that these days are really just a part of our retired lives now.

We did take time to drive into Pigeon Forge, eat at the Old Mill Restaurant , and walk around the town a little.  Also, we spent a day visiting the National Park and enjoying the Mountain scenery.

REFLECTIONS

Visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week brought back memories of long ago;

memories of several visits there when my brother lived in Knoxville. They were memories of a time when we were young and imagining what our lives together would hold.

Now those imaginings have become reality and, as we approach our 50th wedding anniversary next year, we have pretty much discovered what life held.  All in all, it has treated us pretty well.  We have been blessed time and time again.

Now, there is far more looking back then looking ahead.  We plan our retirement travels two years out, but who knows what those two years will hold.  Life will move on, like the wheel on the mill, until one day it stops.  "But until then, my heart will go on singing!"

Remember to enjoy the moments as you live them.  They will be woven into the tapestry of your life to be viewed time and time again.

Now it's back to Indiana for a couple of weeks (doctor and dentist appointments) and then off for eight weeks on Edisto Island in South Carolina.  We will be joined there by several friends, we will enjoy our time together, and, I am sure, recall memories of times gone by.

WATCH OUT FOR THOSE GATORS (February 10-March 2, 2018)

From the mountains of North Carolina to the beaches of South Carolina our journey continued.  We, along with Sherry's brother and sister-in-law, arrived at the Island Links Resort on Hilton Head Island after a day's drive and settled into our three bedroom condo.  The unit was spacious and clean, and the grounds were manicured and inviting.  The pool was chilly, but the hot tub was perfect.  They even provided us dinner (Barbecue) on Mondays and breakfast (donuts) on Thursdays!

We took a day to drive around the island and saw dolphins and gators.  We visited the lighthouse and drove past the golf course where the P.G.A. will host an event in April.  We walked the sandy beaches and hassled with the horrific traffic.

We, also, took a day trip into Savannah, Ga. where we took the
Trolley Tour around the historic city and had lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room (recommend).






Most of our time was spent just living the dream, enjoying each other, and experiencing the turning of winter into spring.  After our three weeks there, there were flowers where there were no flowers before.

And now it's on to Sevierville, Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains for a week.






REFLECTION

As I watched the gator swim along the shore line of the pond behind our condo, I could see a glob of white feathers and two long legs dangling from its massive jaws.  Death and dinner had become intertwined in the mouth of the beast.  I watched until the diner and his lunch disappeared into the high grass that lined the bank.

What a graphic reminder that in the animal world there is a fine line between living and dying.  Most likely that mass of feathers, hanging from the gator's gaping jaws, had been recently focused on getting its own dinner;  intently watching the small fish swim in the shallow water at the mouth of the pond.  Standing perfectly still and distracted, the hunter became the hunted.  The gator and the fish live....the bird dies.

It would seem that life and death are like that in our pond, too.  Sometimes we become so involved, focused on sustaining our own life, that we fail to see the dangers stealthly inching closer and closer.  We neglect to always remain alert to our surroundings.  We become so absorbed in "taking care of business" that we fail to see the danger inching our way.  We become transfixed and stand in danger of falling prey to those who would abuse or misuse us.

We (the bird) must not become so wrapped up in doing what we typically do that we fail to pay attention to the encroachment of the dangers around us.  We must always be alert and react accordingly.  Nothing wrong with "turning tail and flying away."

WATCH OUT FOR THOSE GATORS.