A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

  Ninety-Six and Counting This past weekend, my mother and I had the opportunity to attend a very important birthday party. It was the ninety-sixth birthday for a special woman. Lou is my sister-in-law’s mother.  Ninety-six is pretty cool, but something I found particularly wonderful was the guest list. Lou is ninety-six and with her stood a few of her siblings for a photo shoot. Only a few of the family who traveled from afar for the big day. She was surrounded by several of her ten children, a bevy of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Moreover, we saw a picture she received in a birthday card showing a sonogram photo of a GREAT-GREAT grandchild on the way. Also in attendance were friends and extended family who all love her. Lou is pretty cool. She collects elephant figurines and pictures. She enjoys people and offers an easy laugh…even when it’s on her. My mom is a few years younger than Lou. I enjoyed watching as the two of them sat on the sofa and chatted. When you’r...

  Easter on the Isle Easter bunnies? Easter egg hunt? Not exactly.  Mike and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary in Islamorada in the Florida Keys. We were there for our honeymoon and again last year for our first anniversary. We stayed in the same room with the incredible view.  This is actually a reflection  on the glass door going into our room. Isn't it beautiful? This year, our stay stretched over the Easter weekend and although we were miles away, we managed to “attend” the Stable Faith Cowboy Church service on Facebook. You may want to check it out. We really like our church. Still… it  was  Easter…a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. Everlasting life made available for us. That is the reality of the day though I know many use the day to celebrate the Easter bunny or chocolate candies. Of course, Mike and I are a bit beyond marshmallow bunnies. I contend, however, you are never too old for chocolate.  As for huntin...

 Living Life and Loving Mike Mike and I are celebrating our second wedding anniversary. Yep, two years. In many ways we both feel we have been together much longer. It’s strange.  Engagement Photos Courtesy of Allison Curran Though we went to the same high school and graduated at the same time, we didn’t really know each other all that well those four years. Mike was a friend of Tom’s. They boated and waterskied nearly every weekend when the weather was good. Tom lived on a beautiful lake down the road from Mike. Tom had the lake. Mike had the boat. I wasn’t part of that crowd in high school. I dated Tom my senior year and married him the December after I graduated and he was in college. Some of my readers know my story with Mike. I had been widowed nearly eight years when our high school hosted a reunion. Mike had been widowed for over thirty years. I planned a post-reunion potluck picnic at the Lake House for the day after our official reunion and invited everyone. Yep, the ...

  Door to Door, Dock to Dock As many of my readers know, my mother recently moved from Ohio to Florida. It is, in a sense, “coming home.” She and my dad called Lutz, Florida “home” for many years. They had a place in Dunnellon, Florida as well because they loved the crystal clear and icy cold Rainbow River.  Eventually, after work and educational opportunities pulled my own little family to Ohio, Mom and Dad followed. Ohio is basically all my children have known. When I married Mike in 2023, I moved back “home” to Florida. Now my mom has returned as well to the Sunshine State. After viewing several homes and condos, she found the perfect place for her.  The Dock Area at Mom's Mom bought a condo nestled in a quiet, though active community near us on the Nature Coast. Not a high-rise apartment type space. This is more like a small house situated on a tree covered corner lot. The place is just the right size with plenty of room for entertaining and overnight guests. There is...

The Unbeatable Glow of Sunsets and Friends   Last Christmas, I commissioned an artist I know to paint a picture for my mother. Mary is a wonderful artist. She is also my mother’s oldest and dearest friend. The painting depicted the two of them standing in the cold, clear water of the Rainbow River. Praying.   It is beautiful.  Yes you can see everything in the cold water of Rainbow River This past week my mother moved into her new home here in Florida. We’ll soon head back to Ohio to collect her things. Including the painting. I love the way Mary uses her talent. As a self-taught artist, she has captured beautiful scenes on canvas. Paintings of children swinging from trees and playing in the river. The flora and fauna of Florida. Mary is native to the area and able to capture the best of Florida’s nature coast. Though she is no longer running it, her artistry is spilled over the walls of the family business, the Front Porch Restaurant in Dunellon, Florida. The family keep...