Saturday - March 14

Folks here at Cypress Trail were out and about this sunny, very warm day riding bikes, walking (with or without dogs), riding in golf carts, etc., but our clubhouse rooms are empty!   

I did laundry this morning and then we ran some errands - the virus is certainly not keeping people close to home as roads and stores were crowded.    Hoping this high heat will keep the virus away.....

The lists keeps growing of what is going on around the world....feel especially sad for the seniors in high school who are missing out on their last hurrah including trip to state basketball tournament  (some for 1st time representing their small towns).    No state golf tournament for our Davis this year (senior).

About 10 days ago, our friend Jerry fell and has a compression fracture (L2) in his lower back.   He's having surgery Thursday......Steve, Connie, Jerry, Sue, Mark and I had planned to have dinner somewhere tonight.....so change of plans and Steve, Connie and we brought pizzas, salad, dessert and wine to Sue and Jerry at their home.   Sure feel for all the pain and discomfort Jerry is dealing with.  Mark feels it for sure....praying for successful surgery on Thursday.

Something to make you smile....

Glamorous Maeve 

Sweet Luke "before" he lost his front teeth

My bougainvillea is in its prime!

Congrats to Liam tonight at hockey banquet and several honors he received!!!

Friday - March 13

Woke up this morning to an e-mail saying all activities in our park are cancelled as of 7 AM today.    That's a lot of activities, events, etc.   We were to help with the Saturday morning breakfast, but not gonna happen.     With our park all seniors, makes sense and although it's sad that this is the end of the season with no further social gatherings, we want to be on the safe side.

We drove to Arcadia today and met Allie and Owen for the big rodeo which is the Granddaddy of them all for Florida.    After several weeks of competition, this is the last hurrah (4 days).    Big crowd (not packed) despite telling us to avoid large crowds.    We had delicious lobster mac'n cheese and lemonade shake-ups and then enjoyed the rodeo ......very well organized in fairly new arena - clean, cool with big fans and had fun for sure!

Tribute to the armed services

Here's "Navy"

Allie and Pat 

Mark, Owen, Allie, Pat 

Off to eat again....this time, at Azul Tequila - very good Mexican and deliciou margaritas.    Lots of people and more chatter among the 4 of us.

Owen and Allie 

Cheers with some excellent golden patron margaritas

Back to our car in WalMart parking lot, said our good byes (not sure when we'll see these dear friends again) and off we went.     Along the way home, we hit a big ole chunk of wood in highway that had been hidden by semi in front of us - boom.....sounded awful and not seeing any damage to car or underneath.   

Stopped at Publix for a few groceries - lots of people shopping.....

No toilet paper here

We were to help with the Saturday morning breakfast tomorrow but not gonna happen!

The cancellations continue including spring break at CCHS for Liam's baseball team to Myrtle Beach.   

Enjoy your weekend and take care with all the precautions!

Thursday - March 12

Sunny and warm....mornings and evenings are so pleasant.     Had a nice gentle rain last night - was not expecting it, but most welcome!   We met Mike and Claire at the Tanger Outlet Mall and rode together to Sanibel to visit our friend Paul.

Paul had just returned from therapy (fell on ice in January and fractured his elbow, but recovery going very well).    So good to be together and catch up.   Paul's daughter, Katie and Dave were visiting from Bloomington.    They were rightly concerned about their middle daughter, Ellie who is at Semester at Sea and that trip has been cut short and now trying to get back home from South Africa..   Hopefully, by Monday, she'll be in Fort Myers.   

After a good visit, Paul, Mike, Claire, Mark and I went to Cips Place - excellent and so pleasant sitting on the covered patio.   More chatter and then time to say good bye.

Pat, Mark, Paul, Mike and Claire

Of course, much of our conversation today was on the caronavirus.    Once we got back to Flo, my phone was going crazy with many texts coming in, updates on FB, e-mails, etc.    Liam and Connor will not have school next week per the Peoria Diocese shutting down all Catholic schools, along with all events, confirmation, etc. indefinitely.    They have also been given the dispensation from attending Sunday mass.

So many many many things affected by this virus.    All we can do is pray, wash our hands and be vigilant of where we go and what we do.

Mark can track large boats thru AIS (automatic identification system).....we knew our friends were cruising to Fort Myers today (been in Marathon all winter) and he was able to locate them and knew they were close by................and as we were crossing over the Sanibel bridge, "Abbottsford III" went cruising under the bridge and we got a quick picture!    What are the odds!!!    Hoping to get together with Charlotte and Doug in the next few days as they prepare to store their PDQ for the season.

There goes Abbottsford III under the Sanibel bridge

Till tomorrow and whatever it may bring....

Wednesday - March 11

Really warm but temps are definitely are going to climb for the next week.    A lot of cloud cover today but no wind like we've been having. 

I did yoga this morning (been awhile) and then later, we met Lee and Tamara at Buckingham Farms.    They live in Bloomington and winter on Anna Maria Island.     We;ve known them for many years back in the day when Tamara and Mark worked together.     As always, lots to chat about and so good to be with them.     Patrick always is part of our conversations with friends these past several days.    Everyone asking about Anne and boys and again, expressing sadness and shock at how very fast it all happened last September.   Health issues for all another main topic!!!

 After lunch, we showed them around the park, sat on the patio, had drinks and dessert and continued the chatter.

Another awesome lunch at Buckingham Farms

Mark, Pat, Tamara, Lee

Lee and Tamara

Sooo many things happening with the virus and hearing that the NCAA tournament games will be played without fans.    Unreal!      Drew will start online classes on the 23rd (University of Iowa).    Next week he's on spring break and then will stay home in NC for 2 weeks and study online.

Today, Amtrak sent me notice as to what precautions they are taking. 

2 big milestones for the Campbell boys this week.......Liam started driver's ed and Connor registered for high school.    These guys are growing up much too fast for this Grandma!   😞

We played Lucky 13 at the club house - we were not "lucky" but sure had a fun time!

Tuesday - March 10

Warm and sunny......this nice weather does not get old at all!     And going to be really warming up in the next 10 days or so.   

Today was election day here at the park choosing 7 board of directors (5 regulars and 2 extras) for our HOA.    Mark went to the short meeting beforehand getting all the instructions and then voted.   

We met Ron and Lois, our Canadian friends since the early 90's at Buckingham Farms.....great lunch and visit sitting outside this pretty day.

Back to Cypress Trail for more visiting and dessert.    Laughing, reminiscing, catching up on family and friends....doesn't get any better.     We had not seen them since March, 2018 but lots of good memories thru the years!

Lois and Ron

Good news that 340 people in our park voted (needed at least 205) and the 7 new board members have been announced.   Now the real work begins for these folks, but will be exciting to see what's ahead for Cypress Trail.

For the past several days we've been getting updates and the latest safety precautions that various airlines (United, Delta and Southwest) are taking in light of the coronavirus.    Today one came from Budget assuring us of very antiseptically, thoroughly clean rental cars waiting for us.  

Tonight we played euchre - fun time with good friends!    Lydia got the top prize for the women with a score of 33.