Hooray!!! I got my first comment... xoxoxo SR and family, and all.

S. and I spent a wonderful week in Florida. I have to say, I love Florida... (almost as much as CA :-D ) .

We arrived at Lori's in Jacksonville, Sunday evening, and spent most of the week with Mom. On Wed. the three of us went with Lori to Jacksonville Beach - had wonderful seafood on the beach at (I think) Joe's Crab Shack. Yummy!!!! It was overcast and windy, so we only went for a short walk on the beach as Mom was getting a bit chilled. She is 89, and Re-mark-able. Then we did the "tourist thing", with great success. :-)

Thursday evening we headed to Pam's and Jan's in Gainseville. Pam is my longest, through the good-times and the bad-times, friend. We have a history that is almost primordial. She and her mom, Jan (who is now 90), were my "life savers" when I was young. I believe S. made an instant connection with Pam - I know she came away loving thim both dearly. I'm so glad!!!

We went on a two/two and a half hour canoe trip, down a wonderful old river, completely away from humanity, S. and I in one canoe, and Pam and Jan in the other. S. "took the helm" with amazing skill for one who has never canoed before. She is a natural...!!!

We saw Great Blue Herons, Lesser Blue Herons, a Kingfisher, and multitudes of other birds including a very vocal Turkey. We saw "thousand" of turtles. I counted 29 turtles on just one log, some the size of your hand, others most as big as, and looking much like, old German military helmuts. We startled a large doe who raced along the river bank alongside us in her attempt to "escape", but the piace-de-resistance (sp?) was sighting two huge (at least 8 feet long) aligators on the bank about ten feet away from us. They were whoppers! Stuffed, huge as barrels they appeared to take no note of us, but we sure did notice them!!!

Cedar Key had their annual art festival, and we spent a wonderful Saturday there. I do believe I could live on Cedar Key. The sand is like soft white sugar, and the Gulf is beautiful.

The trip was over too soon, and we found ourselves driving back to AL on Sunday.

So now S. has flown home, and I am unpacking, and will soon start to look for work. Hope everyone is fine, and look forward to any comments anyone would like to leave. I miss CA, and all my friends...

If you guys are out there, let me know. xoxoxo G. :-)

Any time spent with S, is always time well spent. Four days and three nights - what a road trip!!! :-) Arrived in Prattville on Sunday, and we are in Jax, FL now, visiting Mom. Will head to central FL on Thurs. evening, or Fri. a.m. to visit my dear P & her darling mom J. Can't wait to see them.

xoxoxo to all. G.