I left on a one way ticket to Fort Myers, Florida on Monday, April 21st to help my parents pack up their Florida home and head to Ohio for the summer months.
This is their home for the winter. Huge porch to soak up the constant and refreshing breezes and plenty of room for two inside the trailer. I found it very cozy and quite efficient.
They have a "REC CENTER" which houses a huge pool with a fully stocked snack bar, post office and tons of other activities take place inside. So, here's my parents enjoying the pool one afternoon. We took a break from packing and sorting to just chill by the pool. My mom lasted for about 45 minutes. You know me, I love the sun so that 45 mins was a highlight for me.
My parents have a small dog that thinks she's human and she certainly thinks she's a Princess! She is so funny to watch. She really has no life other than her daily 10:00am walk with my Dad and then the rest of the day she is on lookout in case my Dad decides to leave her behind.
Here she is with my Dad.
Fort Myers (as you know, I'm sure) is deep into Florida and on the Gulf Coast so it can get pretty hot there. My Dad keeps the air conditioning on all day inside the trailer so that my mom can stay cool. She tends to get very warm as her body works hard coping with the Parkinson's Disease.
So, the first few hours I noticed the dog has found a new place to chill, literally, chill out. Notice her ear fur is raised a bit. She is laying on the vent and I cracked up at how the air is blowing her ear constantly but she loves it. It's her little spot...
The place that my parents' trailer is at is called CITRUS PARK and it's located in Bonita Springs, FL. This "park" is filled with 90% "snow birds" that's what they call people like my parents who come down and enjoy the warmth of the sun during the trechurous winters in Ohio or other parts of the country.
Well, the "snow birds" have what they call "HAPPY HOUR" each day. Happy Hour happens at 4:15p each day at the same trailer and a bell is rung to let you know it's time to come join the fun. I took a picture of them congregating but this doesn't do it justice because these were about the only ones who hadn't left town yet. Usually the group is 20-25 people from 2 streets of residents.
All was set here before I left, menus posted, food in freezer to cook, clothes laid out for Josh and all transportation to and from school was lined up. I'm happy to report that the Weirich home survived without mommy! Dave, being the wonderful husband that he is had all the laundry caught up and folded when I got home with the help of Josh and Heather (who never complained by the way). They were fully prepared to enjoy Grandma Noanie and Grandpa John for a few days and that's exactly what we did!
When Grandma Noanie is in town there is always time for cards. She usually has learned a new card game since the last visit and we all learn from her. I had trouble downloading my pictures and I can't get a picture that I would love to share with you to open. It is a picture of my parents with my kids. It is really a good one. Unfortunately, my technologically savey daughter is at work and can't help me right now.
This last picture that I'll share is a picture of my parents with Jim and Linda Heilman. Jim and Linda live in Fort Mill, SC which is 24 miles from my home. They used to live two doors from my parents for years in Perrysburg, Ohio. They are snow birds that moved to SC instead of FL, I guess.
We went and visited with them on Monday of last week and I snapped this picture. It's a really nice picture of all of them so I wanted to share it.
Well, there's a whole lot more I would like to share but I'm sure some of you are falling asleep by now since this blog got so long. I'm happy to report, happy endings and good memories of time spent together, efforts were worth every minute and all arrived home safely!
1 comment:
I love Mom's hat in the pool! That picture of Molly 'chillin' is a classic!!
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