I’m back in my routine this morning, eating my bagel and fruit, perched happily in my porch swing watching the birds fluttering around the bird feeders. A breeze is playing a wind chime symphony that sounds like welcome home, welcome home. The sky is azure blue, full of fluffy white clouds kissed on their crowns with bright warm sunshine. Strange to watch the hurricane news and then look up and see the beautiful fall sky Father Sky rendered today. Glad to be back in my nest in Alabama’s sunshine.

I enjoyed getting a real Icee, one of my most favorite things. I’ve loved them since I was a child. Roanoke doesn’t even have a service station that sells them. Always got an Icee in Alexander City when I filled my car with gas. I was so excited to visit Buc-ees twice and get a Dr. Pepper Icee. On the way home we stopped at the Horse Creek Winery and they had wine icees. No, I’m not kidding. I know I embarrassed everybody when I said, too loudly, “Look, they have wine icees!” Yeah, I know, but you could have a little taste from four different ones!! Haven’t had a glass of wine in years but I could not resist the icee. I brought home a quart of muscadine wine slushie. Gonna save it for a porch swing visit with friends. I might even bring out the hoop cheese and crackers.

On my Florida trip two of us had never been to Florida with a group of friends, one of us hadn’t been to the beach in 20 years, and the youngest had been several times this summer. I have never had as much fun in my life. The rain didn’t even deter me and my Alexander City friend from sitting on the beach and watching the waves and the birds. We collected shells and bird feathers. We laughed and talked and bragged on our children and grandchildren. We snacked and thrifted and boutiqued and enjoyed eating out. And they ate lots of cookies!

We laughed the days away on our trip. I kept up with the things we said because I knew it would make a comical blog. When we were driving around looking for the cute shops we stopped for ice cream. The youngest of us said, “The only time y’all are quiet is when you are sucking up ice cream!” Hurt my feelings but… it’s the truth. One of us got a small Wendy’s frosty and later a small DQ blizzard and was asked how she could eat all that?” She responded, “I didn’t eat all the Frosty earlier and that’s what elastic pants are for.” I laughed myself silly! So did the others and so did she! Laughter is medicine for the soul.

Constant quotes were “Pass the cookies.” “Who has the cookies?” “Where are the cookies?” “I am hot!” “I’m cold.” “I’m freezing, they must be part Eskimo.” “Where’s Mama?” “Find Mama!” Course I was always saying, “Look at the birds.” We rode by a liquor store with a drive-thru window. A bunch of white ibis were standing in line like they were waiting to order a bottle of bourbon. My friend got out and made a photo for me. We heard a few “Come on Shuffles,” “Stand right here and I’ll come back and pick y’all up. Do not move!” I was saying, “Yes, Sir,” and saluting by the time we came home. And I’m being facetious. She was so sweet and kind to us old ones.

I was always saying, “Give me time to pick up my leg and put it in the car.” “Let’s fix some tea.” “Don’t put too much in there.” “Don’t eat the sea grapes.” “Somebody help me fasten my seat belt.” I’ll never forget this trip because it was full of laughter and love between the old and the young. I love all y’all, friends, and will treasure these memories forever. Don’t ever forget, “Is Timmy in the well?” That’s a story for another day.

Life is so beautifully fragile and we’re never promised tomorrow will come. We should always count our blessings and be grateful for God’s gifts. Live each day with love and joy and make lots of wonderful memories to sustain you in the darkness of the storms.

Please say prayers for all those traumatized by the storms of late. It’s so sad to see what they are having to endure. I can’t imagine the heartbreak and horror they’re experiencing. Pray for the sun to help warm the hurting hearts in Florida.

“Laughter is the sun that drives the winter from the human face.” — Unknown