I will be out on the high seas gathering energy from the wind and salty air:
Listening to the Music of the waves.
I will be ever vigilant to catch up on all of your blogs upon my return.
In my absence, there will be a great many things that
you’ve done that I will, no doubt, lose sight of.
Please feel free to send me a note on those you’d like me to read.
It would be disappointing to miss a single one of your stellar writings. Namaste … Isadora
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I will leave you with this very important health message.
Say Good Bye and Good Night to “night time” leg cramps…
This exercise works wonders on circulation. It originated by the Watusi tribesmen. It also slims you down without medication. I have been doing these simple workout moves for a week and I am already feeling much better.
I recommend you start right away.
This video shows what you should do daily to help leg and knee pain and stiffness.
In May, my hubby and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary. Our actual anniversary date is August 21st. We celebrated early because of the ports we were interested in seeing. The Panama Canal was one of the many ports. I’ve been trying to get posts written on each one of the ports but it’s happening very slowly.
As it turned out, when I arrived home my back pain, that I had had before I left for our trip, became much more unbearable. I was bedridden. Despite my being a high risk patient, reluctantly, I decided to have the back surgery.
I’ve been progressing slowly since the surgery. I’m far from healed. But, with patience, I can see the light at at end of the road.
While on our cruise, we renewed our vows.
These were the words I spoke.
Enjoy … Isadora
When I travel I enjoy visiting and taking photo of churches. I’m able to thank God for giving me the blessings I’m experiencing on my travels. Plus, I get the benefit of bringing back stories about the different churches.
This silver cross was in a shop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I loved the simplicity of it. I was tempted to purchase it. I’m fond of religious items from all denominations. When I inquired about the price, I decided to reconsider. Price: $350.00 American Dollars.
This is a church in Costa Rica. It is across from the town center in the middle of town. Our guide gave us a great deal of time inside this one. There is beautiful stained glass on the walls throughout. It reminded me of the church I attended as a child. I will post more photos soon. The alter was majestic.
As we wandered through the rainforest in Costa Rica with our guide, we came across this little chapel. It was tiny but had a sacred holiness that was felt from the minute I entered. A perfect place to express the gratitude I felt to have been be able to enjoy his earthly creations I was seeing that day.
Elvis Presley – How Great Thou Art (with lyrics)
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Ben Huberman’s photo challenge this week was to share what being
If you’d like to read part 1 of this story click here ….
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Stunned and a bit battered from the car rockin’ and rollin’, we took a minute to breathe and regroup.
My husband began to try to get the car alarm to stop. He didn’t have a clue on how to do it. Eventually, the alarm would stop only to start again when a truck would drive by and shake the car. Apprently, the car alarm is sensitive to movement. This was news to us.
I must mention that my husband is not and has never been a car fixer kind of guy. In fact, before we leave on any road trip he takes the car to the mechanic to give it a once over. It’s always maintained and is fairly new.
After quite some time, the state highway trooper arrived. My husband had already called our emergency car service ‘AAA’ (automobile assistance of america). They had given him an estimated time of one hour for the repair truck to arrive. The police trooper told us he had called an emergency service too. That service arrived first.
Now, let me also add that, my husband does know how to change a tire and we did have a spare tire in the trunk. But, the area where the car settled was at an angle and the dirt was soft and swampy. It would be impossible to change a tire on that.
The repair service eventually arrived with its’ special equipment and changed the tire. He informed us that the tire was a donut tire and could not be used to go faster than 40mph. We had been driving 70mph which meant we could run out of time before we arrived at the pier. The state trooper said he would follow us until he received another call as a courtesy to my husband; a former NYPD officer. I thought that was very nice of him.
Time was diminishing quickly.
However, within 35 minutes we were at the pier. As we pulled up a skycap helped get the luggage out of the trunk of the car. I sat on a bench while my husband went to park the car at a long term parking garage.
Because I have knee issues from time to time, I get a wheel chair brought out for me whether at airports or cruise ramps to keep me safe from falling. It’s difficult for me to climb stairs or to walk up angled ramps, too.
The ship was leaving the pier at 4:00 p.m. We had arrived at the pier at 3:15 p.m.
I have never been whisked through customs and checked-in so quickly. In a matter of 10 minutes we were in our stateroom with our luggage. Usually, the luggage arrives very late. Too late to sort through and find clothes to wear for dinner. It’s the reason they allow you to wear resort casual in the dining room the 1st night.
Upon entering the room, we noticed there was a bottle of champagne and some green apples along with fresh flowers waiting for us. We popped the bubbly and sat out on our balcony to exhale and relax. At the sound of the fog horns announcing our departure, we sat back and watched the stress of our day go out to sea with our ship.
To be continued ….. more disclosures to come including my injury!!!
Because of my injury, I am unable to sit, stand or lie down for any length of time without discomfort. Due to that, I hope to add the rest of this experience in segments. I’ll pop over to visit your blogs from time to time. I hope to catch-up with all of you.
Thank you dear blog friends for your emails and notes of concern.
You brighten my day with your kind friendship hugs and love.
It’s been eerily quiet around this blog as of late. I haven’t been well but not, ill, in the sense of sickness.
Our 50th Anniversary is this August. We thought we would celebrate with a cruise through the Panama Canal, down through Central America on up to South America then finishing with a weeks stay at the last port San Francisco. Although it’s earlier than our anniversary date, we chose this time due to the itinerary being offered by the cruise line. I had prepared for this trip for months.
The night before our departure the winds were blowing and the rains were torrential. When we awoke my husband did an inspection of our lanai. To his surprise the storm had broken through 2 of our lanai screens; tossed our patio chairs into the pool and my orchid arbor had been moved 6 feet. While he was quickly repairing the screens to prevent birds and wildlife from creating homes on my lanai, I snapped into preparing for our departure.
1. Luggage in car – check
2. Passports / ID / charge cards – check
3. Camera – check
4. water bottles – check
5. purse / sunglasses / kindle / hat – check
It was time to go.
Once in the car, we exhaled and sat back to enjoy our 2 1/2 hour drive to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
We were still on time for our 9:00 a.m. departure. This would get us to the pier at 12:30 p.m. It was the right amount of time for a stop along the way to rest. There was plenty of time to find long term parking for our vehicle since the ship would depart at 4:00 p.m. We were prepared.
It’s an easy car ride to the pier. We have to travel from the west coast of Florida to the east coast across the lower part of Florida on a road called Alligator Alley.
Yes … it is called by that name because it was built over swamp land where alligators, to this day, still occupy. The road is fenced with barbed wire at the top to maintain a clear road from these primitive alligators laying out on the road.
With one lane going west to east and one lane going east to west you do not want to run into any type of vehicle problem. Help is slow coming and the bugs from the swampy stagnant water can make for an uncomfortable wait in the heat.
After a bit of conversation and a few fun happy tunes on the radio, I decided I’d get my Kindle out. I wanted to start reading one of my books from my summer book list.
BTW – I was reading ‘Never Look Back’ by Lorna Lee. If you haven’t read it – shame on you. It’s a page turner or slider as in the case of reading on a Kindle. LOL
Suddenly, I heard a rattling sound from my side of the car. I popped a glance over at my husband.
Looking quite serious, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I may have to stop and see what that is”.
With no exits available that meant a rest stop. Fortunately, there was one about a mile away.
We pulled off there so he could check-on what the noise was. I made a quick stop to the ladies room as long as we had stopped. When I came back he said he couldn’t find any reason for the noise. With some apprehension, off we went once again.
Ten minutes down the road, as quickly as you could blink, we are off the road in a tire blow-out crash. Because I had my seat in a reclined position while reading, I could see him trying to keep our car from rolling over. The side areas are soft – remember swamp.
I tried to sit up but the angle was steep. Finally, I got my seat up as he’s managed to get the car stopped. We literally sat there with the emergency alarm on, stunned and in disbelief.
Jazz historian Al Rose defined jazz as “two or more musical voices improvising collectively in two-four or four-four time on any known melody and ‘syncopating.’ ” Though this definition does not include soloists like Louis Armstrong, it describes the creative freedom of this style that centered and flourished on the streets of New Orleans.
Tuba Skinny New Orleans Hot Jazz Band perform at Barbes Bro
New Orleans Jazz has a swinging, stomping, syncopated beat that makes you want to dance! It also has a simple melodic quality.
Congo Street – [The Nevile Brothers]
Congo Square In 1764, when the Spanish took over New Orleans, the Creoles needed work, which led to many of them becoming traveling musicians. These musicians were the inventors of early jazz, through their expression of African dancing and music. On Sundays, they would gather on a grassy plain on the northwestern edge of the city, where slaves were allowed to dance. This area became known as the Congo Square because of the use of African cultural elements and dances.
Each Tuesday, Frizz, is walking us through the alphabet A – Z. This week is the Letter N
While wandering through Selby Orchid Gardens in Sarasota, Florida on Mother’s Day, I came across a small path. One of the nice things about Selby Gardens is that you can wander aimlessly through many of the garden paths and still discover something you’ve missed on another visit.
This ‘Hugging Tree’ is a good example of that. I’ve been to these orchids gardens more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. It has peaceful benches under trees where one can sit and quietly contemplate. Strolling through one of these paths, I came across this very big tree with this sign on it. I stopped and read what the sign was saying about it’s meaning.
It read: Have you ever loved something so much that you gave it a big hug? Well, there are certain plants who love trees so much they hug them.
Epiphytes LOVE trees. Sometimes they are called ‘air plants’ because they grow above the ground. Their roots help them hug the love of their lives (often trees).
Give this tree a hug just like an epiphyte. Ep-i-phyte (ep-uh-fahyt) Now trying saying it all together: Epiphyte
Note the small feathery plants just above the sign – air plants or epiphytes.
This video was an experiment in various countries and in the US. It captures the reaction of people who are being offered a ‘Free Hug’ . They seem suspicious and are hesitant to accept one. Yet, notice the faces of exuberance on the ones who do accept the free hug … pure JOY!!!! 😃
As someone who loves to give hugs to everyone I meet – despite their being taken back a little by it – I am forever in their memories because I dared to expose my heart to them and share my gentle spirit.
HUGS TO YOU TODAY !!!!! 😍
Each week, Frizz, at Flickr Comments is walking us through the A – Z alphabet. This week is the ‘Letter H’ – to join in the fun ….
“Broken”
While on vacation in Grenada, we decided to drive around downtown which can be a challenge. Suddenly, I was overcome by the sight of a man sitting on the sidewalk.
“Stop”, I shouted.
Startled, my husband stopped the car assuming he was going to hit something or someone he hadn’t seen.
I said, “Look”, while pointing to this man. “Please!” “You must find a place to park”.
He drove a bit and found a parking spot.
Since we were unfamiliar with the downtown area we had to walk several streets in search of where the man had been.
I thought I should purchase one of those shells he was selling since he looked like he was in need of a sale.
Eventually, we found him.
He was unaware I was standing next to him until I said, “Hello, I see you have some shells for sale”.
Tear filled hazy eyes glared at my face. I felt sucked in by his sadness. He was dirty with a profound odor of the unsanitary kind. It was the type of odor you knew was from a lack of any type of facilities. Yet, I felt compelled to talk to him. In one hand he had a cup of rum; the other hand held a blunt, doobie, marijuana joint. Drugs!
After briefly talking about his shells, I told him, “I noticed he was drinking and smoking marijuana at this early morning hour”. It was 10:00 a.m.
He said, “There’s no set time for me to kill my pain”.
I didn’t dare ask what his sorrow was. I asked, “Does it help your pain?”
No words were said. Just a tilt of the head in my direction with a curved smile that led me to believe he didn’t think I’d understand.
We spoke for a short time.
I handed him the money for the shell with a little extra. I recommended he use it for food or shelter. I told him to keep the shell so he could sell it to someone else.
As I began to walk away, he took another puff from his big sweet scented herb and shouted, “Pretty Lady” …
I turned.
He continued, “Someday, when you get to heaven say hello to my angel. I know you’ll meet her there. Tell her, I’ll be with her before long”.
Dear Friends ….
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Inside the Mind of Isadora 