It's Been A Long Tim....

Well, where to begin....

It's been a long time since I had anything to blog about and there have been so many life changing events. My son graduated and is off at college, we moved to California, we lost one of our dogs, we gained a cat, and my family and I had to live in a temporary home until we could get the proper housing here at Fort Irwin (which we all affectionately call "The Island"), my business got put on hold, Paully started school, and even though things took a rocky start, in the midst of it all, it was a humbling experience... I couldn't tell you how much upset and upheaval there was in the inter workings of our family but there was lots of lashing out at each other unintentionally of course but none the less it still went on for each of us. I found out that there are those whom are truly concerned with the well being of another human being and there are those that look at you as though you should have expected the worst of the situation and if you had you would be better prepared. I am not saying that all my interactions with people and departments were all bad but more often than not I did get the feeling that there were many who would have traded their left arm than to be dealing with me, no matter how nice, sweet, kind, and understanding I was.

Ya know, growing up in rural NY you found yourself daydreaming of life outside your small town. You think the world is going to be beautiful and new, fresh and exciting, and then you find that the places outside of your little one horse town are more like the land of OZ than the melting pot of America. Where I grew up we were ALWAYS in silent competition with another state, California! Cali was to be our nemesis all our lives... You could visit but, Florida is somehow better. You could sing the songs about their girls but the bluesy rendition of ole NY still was your theme music to life and the beat you stepped to. California was nothing short of a carpet bagger traveling the south, in a NYers eye. This is all in the retro spect to the education of the late 70's through the 90's.

So I would like to think I am an experienced adult, well rounded and ready to handle what challenges life throws me. I have to admit I was not prepared to like, let alone LoVe this free spirited, multi diverse cultured, sunshine filled state. I am learning that through decades of disliking the unknown, I can see myself settling here several months of the year much like the NYers do when they become the age where they spend their winters in FL to escape the harsh cold. I don't want to become a Floridian in the winter months, I want to be a California girl kissed with golden rays of sun and perfect hair. I want ocean humidity and long walks on firm sand where the shore dances with the waves. I am thinking that the time I spend here in California will be wise, calm, and eager to explore the treasures that have been here all along. I won't be looking at the downward spiraling, spinning out of control poor education system, the money hungry counties on the verge of bankruptcy, the high taxes and the crippled economy of the state, no instead I am going to look at the sandy beaches of Coronado, the shining stars on the walk of fame, the one of a kind chicken and waffles, sunny days and soft breeze filled nights. I am going to spend my time sight seeing the vineyards of Napa, learning that there is much more to California wines than the typical over commercialized brands sold across the country. I'm going to sink my toes in the sand and feel the brisk Santa Ana's blow through my hair. I will take the time to stroll the streets of San Francisco and ride a trolley. I am going to show my children that they have so much more to their backyard than what is out the back door.

We have the greatest opportunity placed before us and I don't want to spend my time finding the negative of "The Island" I want to sail around meeting people listening to the sounds and see the sights that I may not have an opportunity to see again.