HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR

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St Simons Island, Georgia                                       

Christmas and the Day After

Around mid-afternoon on Christmas Day, Sherry, Mario, and FOG went to Aunt Julia’s to enjoy our Boston Market Feast and open a few presents.  It was a nice respite from the health worries, and a good time was had by all, but probably mostly by Aunt Julia.  She had not seen Mario since he arrived to Miami and the visit eased her worries and made for a nice Christmas.   Sherry and Mario gave FOG an album of the wedding pictures and FOG gave Aunt Julia a digital frame with pictures from Nicole and Chad’s wedding.  Given these photo gifts, much of our Christmas celebration was spent looking at pictures and remembering these very good times of beautiful brides and couples in love.  Seeing these wonderful images gave us a much-needed break.   Below is our Miami Christmas photo. 

The next day, was supposed to be the fun day, but started out early and rough.  Aunt Julia, who strayed away from her normal diet with the rich holiday foods, suffered the consequences.    Unable to sleep, Aunt Julia was up a 1:00 a.m. emptying the dishwasher and awakening FOG, with the slow torture sound as each piece of glass and silver ware was put away with a gentle but distinct clink.  FOG lost count, but surely it was over 100 clinks.  He was relieved when this kitchen task was over and it got quiet, but the peace did not last long.  A little later, she was up again needing help.  FOG tended to Aunt Julia with dry toast and chamomile tea which settled her stomach and she was able to get back to sleep, and thank fully FOG also.  By breakfast time she was on the mend and trying to find fault on what made her sick.  FOG reminded her that he had good reason to deny her a second helping of Boston Market corn bread. 

Monday was supposed to be Mario and Sherry’s fun Florida Day.  After much deliberation they settled on a restaurant stop and a little shopping.  Little did the trio realize, but soon discovered, that all of Miami would be at the malls, returning presents and searching for after Christmas bargains.  Aided by Mario’s I-Phone a place to eat was found.  The restaurant chain, although one of Mario’s favorites, was perhaps the “black sheep” of the family.  The food was not up to Ale House standards and Mario was not feeling well.  Perhaps it was a case of too much too soon.  Mario went back to the hotel for some alone/rest time and Sherry and FOG did the shopping at Wal-Mart and CVS for a few needed things.  FOG got a break, making it back to the hotel in time for a little afternoon sun by the pool and a glass of wine.  Sometimes life’s little simple pleasures of stolen moments are the best.

Doctors and Road Trip

Tuesday turned out to be somewhat differently than what had been planned, but this has been happening a little too often of late.  The day’s chores were to visit the doctor so that nursing staff could examine Mario’s wound, and if OK, hit the road and make it get back home While Sherry, Mario, and FOG understood Dr. Levi’s instruction, his staff apparently did not.  Nursing staff explained that a post-surgical visit is required, but this is normally done two weeks following the surgery, not a few days after.  Consequently, this visit will be done in Atlanta.  Nurse Sherry had been changing the dressing and all looked well and there had not been any fever.  After a little complaining about the mis-communication and “we could have left earlier”, the trio decided that this only deserved a few minutes of complaining and we moved on to bigger things.

The plan had been to drive directly to Atlanta and probably not stop at a hotel along way unless a rest was needed by Mario.  The events are a bit a fuzzy, and surprisingly FOG, and not Sherry, may have been the one to first mention St. Simons as an option.  In any event the trio was soon discussing where we should go.  After a short cordial discussion, the observations that:

·         a St. Simons stop would not add much more time or mileage and a break-up the long trip,

·         being with family and friends would probably be good for Mario (and Sherry) and those concerned about them, and

·         going to Mass, perhaps fishing at the pier, and being with loved ones were nice things about a St. Simons Island stopover.

 Surprisingly a decision was made fairly quickly, and St Simons replaced Atlanta as our destination. 

The road trip was relatively uneventful.  The Honda Element moved slower, but more efficiently when FOG drove and faster and less efficiently when Sherry drove.  A stop at a Shell station was a step back in time when Florida stops had oddities of live and stuffed animals to lure travelers to stop, look and spend a few dollars on souvenirs.

Hope

We reached St. Simons just as it got dark, checked into the hotel and drove to Jack and Jay’s place for a family gathering.  It seemed like the wedding again with lots of familiar faces.  Mario was surprised with a hope chest with good wishes.   Jay contributed the “hope chest”, which is a family heirloom, and Kristi artistically added a University of Florida gator and helmet.  Well-wishers added their signatures for Mario’s speedy recovery.   More signatures will be added when the chest makes to Atlanta.  Eventually it will be in Mario’s man cave.  In the interim, Sherry and Mario will find a nice man nook in their apartment for the chest.   A nice evening was had, watching football and being with family and friends.

The food was superb.  A beef tenderloin, stuffed mushrooms, cheese potatoes, and caramelized onions and mushrooms where featured.  However the most memorable food image was one eater’s delight with the key lime cake, a locally made specialty.   Jack brought in the beautiful cake and graciously offered servings to nearby guests, before taking his own.  Tom the Often Wise was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and was one of the first to get a piece.  BJ's whereabouts were not certain at this time.  According to eye witness accounts, Tom the Often Wise with deliberate and prudent haste finished his piece of cake.  He was apparently taught as child to clean his plate and this lesson was surely taken to heart.  Tom ate every, and I mean EVERY morsel of cake and EVERY trace of frosting.  The plate was so clean one could not tell what had been served and looked almost unused.  The plate appeared to be one offered to one of our canine friends with table scraps, who always lick their plates nearly dishwasher clean if they like what is given them.  I tried to clean my plate as well as Tom had, but could not.  To Tom’s credit he eyed the cake, as did I, which was next to him, but we both resisted having a second piece.  It was a very good cake.  Good choice, Jack.

I know that Sherry and Mario are appreciative of the support they have received from family and friends.  Our best wishes will be put in Jay’s Gator Hope Chest for the New Year as they deal with this bump in their lives.