Friday, Dec. 29, 2006--Our trip to Florida had three objectives: Celebrate Christmas with Doug and Matt; go to the beach; and assist with their move from a two-bedroom apartment in Villa Grande (above, second floor) to their newly purchased three-bedroom and den condominium at Jonathan's Bay, a new development off US Highway 41 in the south part of Ft. Myers. The trusty Dodge Caliber that we rented (copper, or orange, in the foreground) turned out to be very handy for the move, as we transported some objects deemed too fragile or too unwieldy to entrust to the professional movers.
All of the units at Jonathan's Bay (at right) back up to a long pond that is aerated by three fountains. The fountains are illuminated at night and provide a "white noise" barrier that keeps at bay the sound from the nearby highway. The small palms will grow to be as tall or taller than the buildings in time. There is no sign warning of alligators in the lake (as there was at the old place) but one probably wouldn't want to get too close to the bank with a small black dog. The "canvas" texture in the photo is from the screen surrounding the lanai, which is where Norm and I spent a lot of time the last two days of our trip, when we weren't helping with the unpacking, that is.
On Saturday morning I walked out of the guest bedroom and was entranced by this sight of sunlight streaming in the uncurtained sliding glass doors between the lanai and the great room. By now those book shelves are filled, the rest of the living room furniture is arranged, the dishes and pans are in their places, and two separate offices have been set up for these work-at-home residents. Sam has learned not to always bark when a neighbor comes out on an adjacent lanai or children dash to the edge of the pond to examine a turtle. The high-speed internet access is up and running. Doug is getting ready to meet his spring semester classes for the first time next week. Visitors will come frequently to stay with them, and enjoy the climate, and keep close the ties of friendship and kinship that can be stretched by long distance, but never broken. By Saturday evening we were on a plane headed back to St. Louis, in plenty of time to see the New Year in from our own front porch. May this be a home for Doug and Matt, and a year for us all, that is blessed with good times, laughter, accomplishment and love.
1 comment:
well belatedly, the three of us are deeply grateful for your support, help, generoisty, and presence for perhaps our most memorable xmas since our first together. I'll send pics when the rug - which, for everyone else reading, N&J gave us as a xmas and house warming gift - has arrived and is in place. Should be any day now. If i'm really creative I'll get the quilt in the pic too:)
-d
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