Like so many others, for the past few years I have asked God for a guiding word for the year. After the traumatic ending of 2018 when my husband of 26 years died unexpectedly, I must admit I was praying God would deliver a “light at the end of the tunnel” word.

We "Wazed" our way to the condo, unloaded the car, and thought we would go for a little car ride to check out the area. Oh yeah, and we were starving. I popped into the potty before we left and that's when it happened; I looked in the mirror. BAD IDEA! My hair! My beautiful hair!

There’s a storm off-shore. Full, gray clouds are releasing streaks of rain into the ocean. The thunder in the distance doesn’t give me concern. Its low rumbling and the crashing waves bring a familiar comfort. I close my eyes and enjoy the breeze that only exists at the beach.

It feels like home even though I haven’t been here in months. I’ve allowed this hallowed place to sit empty even though I know it’s one of the few places I feel like myself.

My husband, Michael, and I recently headed to the mountains for a couple of days. He had an upcoming surgery and we just wanted some alone/away time. We had his pre-op visit in Cumming, GA and decided we would get on the road from there. We checked with SIRI for directions and she gave us two options. One was the way we always go. The other option would take 15 minutes longer but it was a way we had never been. We chose "never been" and hit START.

Oh, you need? You know what that means? You're needy. If you're needy, then you're lacking something. So, put on your big girl panties! Suck it up! Do whatever it takes! No one wants to be around someone who is needy, so keep that to yourself.

I have a black thumb. I mostly blame it on my upbringing. When you're born and raised in South Florida you don't have to know an annual from a perennial or what grows in sun and what grows in shade. It's lush and green 365 days a year. The most we had to do was spread a truckload of sand across the grass and pull a few weeds. Now, with the joy of the change in seasons comes the challenge of landscaping.  I visit friends who turn their backyards and flower beds into mini Edens and I get a little jealous.