Today seems to be the type of day you can sit near a window, watch the lightning display, and reflect on your blessings.  I have too many to count, certainly more than I deserve.  Somehow, with more than a little help from my husband Robert, we have raised two sons (and now two daughters-in-law) that any family would be proud of.  The youngest, Matt, just left for Fort Lauderdale to train for his new position with Spirit.  He’s already warned us that the fishing is so spectacular out there that he may not come back!  Of course I can always go visit, and it’s right on the way to St. Thomas (a very good thing).  This has caused me to reflect on the last few years and some fun times with Matt.  He’s an avid gardener, fisherman and hunter.  The garden had fallen on hard times while Robert and I were working in Orlando.  As you can see, Matt got busy rebuilding and there have been some wonderful fruits and vegetables that have come to the table because of it.  The good news about the fishing and hunting is that he cleans AND cooks whatever he brings home.  Guess I’ll have to plan a trip to Ft Lauderdale if I want to enjoy some of that fresh fish and game in the future!  My cup is more than half full.

We all have a lifelong dream that we keep putting off until the kids are grown, until we get that next promotion, until we retire, etc.  For me the dream was to wake up every morning looking out over some beautiful water somewhere.  As it turned out, that somewhere became Diamond Beach Resort in Galveston.  It had everything I needed as a single widow.  The security of condo life cannot be beat with 24 hour concierge just a phone call away.  In addition, once the 2 deadbolts are locked, no one short of superman is going to enter my 5th floor condo.  As you can see, the view cannot be beat; and most importantly I can fish, crab, sunbath, swim, and kayak easily on any day the weather permits.  The grandkids love it too.  They can walk the beach, play in the indoor heated pool any day of the year, and float the lazy river all summer long.  You might be thinking, that’s great for you, but who can just give up the day job and move to a dream location?  It might be easier than you think.  There are so many people who telecommute these days, you can live most anywhere.  The sunshine, surf, fishing, crabbing and Strand shopping are free to everyone in Galveston.  The housing is reasonable within a few blocks of the seawall.  I have a niece who gave up the day job at 27 and moved herself to St. Thomas where she is living her dream;  but that’s another blog.

The Swedes are a fascinating culture.  Their sense of humor is dry, similar to the Brits, with a touch of slapstick as you can see.  Ika’s Uncle Gay, dressed in full regalia,  (the guy on the left in glasses) has made his living as an entertainer on a cruise ship from Sweden to Finland for many years.  He and Aunt Anita (beautiful lady  below) have raised 5 children in a 3 bedroom condo in the Stockholm area.  Most Swedes live in condos or apartments, as the need for huge houses seems frivolous to them. They didn’t have to worry about how to educate their children because all Swedish citizens can receive a free college education, all the way through a PhD if they wish.  All medical treatment is free also.  I envy their carefree existence in that respect.  Yes, their taxes are quite high, so it is a tradeoff.  They just seem so relaxed about it all.  Maybe we could learn something from their culture?  It’s always good to learn new things from our neighbors around the world.  Keep an open mind, you may find that there is a better way!

Now this is a real silver lining!  Meet James Phillips, the woodcarving artist who is responsible for so many of the outdoor woodcarvings created out of dead trees on The Island after Ike.  My son Matt decided to cut down a couple of china berry trees in the backyard, leaving these lovely stumps for his mom (me) to do something with:)  Fortunately my sister Paige was visiting at the time, a very creative teacher with years of experience creating something out of nothing.  She suggested I google the artist that renovated the Galveston tree stumps.  The rest is history:)

As it turned out Jimmy was a Clear Lake neighbor, and he was happy to hop over and see what could be done about these tree stumps.  What you see above is his creative bench, now called “Rita’s Bench”, made with a beautiful branch he found in Galveston after the storm.  This began a lifelong friendship and admiration for the artist, as well as a beautiful centerpiece for Matt & Ika’s backyard.  So happy that cloud came into my life!

Sonny’s mom, Harmeet, so generously loaned us the proper clothing to wear to her son’s Sikh wedding.  It was a beautiful memory for us, and a mind-broadening experience. Sonny rode in a procession on the back of a white stallion, surrounded by his groomsmen on foot.  There was chanting during the procession and a great deal of cheering and clapping.  What I remember most about the inside of the temple, was the missing pews.  We sat cross-legged on the floor in rows, the women on one side and the men on the other.  I loved the feeling of sisterhood with the beautfully dressed ladies.  At the end of the service, the woman next to me leaned over, and instead of asking how I enjoyed the service, she said, “you really prayed with us, I could feel that you were part of the service.”  There was surprise in her voice.  I told her that it was a beautiful service, and to me we all worship the same God, whether we call him Abba, Allah, or Heavenly Father.  Relish your neighbor’s differences, it what makes the world interesting.  There’s is something to learn from every culture.

A story straight from a fairytale, Matt and Ika met on New Year’s Eve as 2010 rolled in.  She had come on vacation from Sweden to visit her sister Katarina for the holidays.  Katarina had married a Clear Lake man and settled in the area, as good fortune would have it.  Matt, Katarina and Ika were invited to a mutual friend’s New Year’s Eve Party.  Of course, the clock struck midnight and everyone grabbed their loved one for a lucky kiss.  Matt and Ika kissed, the rest is history:}

Of course, it took a bit more persuasion on Matt’s part to encourage Ika to give up her career as a School Counselor in Stockholm and move to the US.  Being a pilot, and having access to free flights made it easier for Matt to visit several times before convincing Ika that she must come and help her sister Katarina prepare for her first child.  They found love and in a future blog I will share their wonderful wedding with you.  For now, let’s just say God smiled on the Wilcox’s the day they met; and I believe Ika’s Dad, Kenneth, and Matt’s Dad, Robert, both smiled from above.  All of us have memories of meeting special people that make our lives better.  Sometimes it’s good to just reflect on these blessings.