My Retreat

I’m currently in the middle of a two week retreat from my self-imposed busy Florida life.  The life where I’ve decided to renovate and scour every inch of our house, in addition to weeding, trimming and mulching the tropical beds.  Thankfully, I haven’t happened upon that six foot long brown snake my neighbor was elated to point out to us.

Fire ants are my problem.  Regrettably, I stepped into a huge mound while mulching and those suckers love me!  I felt them before I saw them and when I looked at my legs, it was way too late.  I screamed and did the only thing I could do…jumped into the pool fully clothed and shod.  Not much help nor was the cortisone cream and the apple cider vinegar.  I willed myself not to scratch all 50 bites and, finally, two weeks later, I don’t feel them anymore.  Still looks like hell, though.

I’m back in Maryland and Pennsylvania visiting my family and friends, doing all my favorite things that I miss in Florida.  Lucky for me, two of my grandchildren were born a week apart, so there are very important parties to attend.  More importantly, I try to be part of their lives as much as I can.

How fun to see Kevin, age 5, play baseball and get the game ball for his extraordinary performance!  To accompany his family to the pool every afternoon and watch his brother, Brendan, age 4, fearlessly jump in the water, which he has done since he was 6 months old.  The water is way too cold for me but he will not get out even though his teeth are chattering and his lips are turning blue.

Currently, I am in Pennsylvania with my other two grandchildren, Will (11) and Reese (8, three days from turning 9).  Yesterday, I watched Will being coached on ball handling, footwork and shooting for an hour.  Basketball being his first love.  Of course, it helps that he towers above his peers and that he’s had a sweet shot since he was 5.  Forgive me, I’m the grammy.

This afternoon is a lacrosse playoff game for Will and tomorrow morning is a soccer game for Reese, who runs like the wind.  And, Sunday is another birthday party where I get to see my whole family for the second weekend in a row.  I don’t take our times together lightly.  I cherish every minute I spend with them.  

I’m a cinephile who has great difficulty finding movies I actually want to see.  How spoiled I was to have The Charles Theatre so close when I lived in Maryland.  Every indie and foreign film made its way there and my kids grew to love them as much as I did.  It’s a tradition that we continue to this day.  This year, we chose to see “Booksmart”….loved it!

The best thing was that there were multiple choices that we would’ve been happy to see as well.  Unfortunately, they can’t get to more of them but what do I have to do?  Not much so I’m taking advantage of seeing as many of them as I can!  Saw “The Biggest Little Farm”, a documentary of a couple who started a back to basics 200 acre farm after being evicted from their apartment in Los Angeles because their dog wouldn’t stop barking.  What energy these people have!

Monday, I’m taking in the French film, “Non-Fiction” about a publishing house that faces a bit of a crisis when the publisher turns down his best friend’s manuscript.  Of course, it is French which means amorous adventures and witty repartee.  Great reviews including one that notes that it is a “bonbon spiked with delicious wit and malice.”

Also, on my to-do list is to continue catching up with friends that I rarely get to spend time with now that my life has moved south.  There’s also the last three seasons of “Grace and Frankie” that I’m binge watching in my solo time.  In the past week, I finished three books, including “Breakfast with Buddha.”

There’s also a Lunch and a Dinner with Buddha, but I’m doing some light reading right now until I’m ready for Lunch.  I was a bit hesitant to tackle Breakfast but it was delightful.  Laugh out loud amusing with a profound statement on non-judgement.  Naturally, it encourages meditation.  Still working on that.

I’m in the second week of my retreat and what have I learned?  It’s a treat to come back to family and good friends and to what I love about the home I left behind, but it’s not home anymore.  I love Florida but I don’t have the network or my family.  BH and I have forged a lovely life there together but there are gaps that, at least for now, have not been filled.

I kind of feel like an ex-pat in reverse.  I returned to my native country after living outside it for most of my adult life.  What to do?  Live in the minute.  Love it all to the fullest.  That’s where home is.

Maybe I’m ready for Lunch!