It is my 8^th night in the keys. It has been wonderful. The space, the time, the breath I get to take. A pause in the movement. I feel humbled by the warmth and friendship I’ve received here from the serendipitous picture from Mary that led me here.

Mary sent me a few photos. They were super random: a window, a room, and a cat. No descriptions or text. I didn’t hear from Mary often, so it was even more random.  I responded, those are nice pictures, can you tell me about them. She told me she was heading South for the winter, heading to Key West, and invited me to join. I urged her, laughingly, not to invite me unless she meant it. She invited me again, and I headed South to join her.

A week later, my friend the Perrones joined me.  Them joining me was also serendipitous. I was walking through Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, and I smelled someone who smelled just like Carol, light, floral, rose, softness, delicate.  It prompted me to call her, and soon after, she and her family were sharing the warmth and sunshine with me. 

It’s a great place to be, in the flow, vagabonding around, extending my trip, deciding simply on a whim where to go and how long to stay.  I love feeling warm while Atlanta is in the 30s and I am swimming daily, bikini adorned, diving into the clear water steps from where I’m staying.  Shorts and tank top, tiki music, Key Lime Pie.  I wonder where I will go after I start heading north, but the idea of the cold keeps me south.  This is the first time in my life that I have had total freedom as an adult to float freely and go as I please.  The freedom is the result of tragedy, a perfect combination of the pandemic, losing my work, losing my dogs.  Insulated in my world, I sometimes forget there is a pandemic raging out of control and huge political unrest.  It is only the masks, the physical distance, and the flags that flaunt a replaced president that constantly remind me.  

Living through a pandemic has been a strange experience. It is no surprise to me that civil unrest went along with it. When someone is afraid, it is easy to perpetuate more fear and terror. We are in the grasp of social media, controlled information, and divisive action.  We no longer know what is truth and what is not.  It is a confusing time, rarely 2 people agreeing on any 1 topic. My advice… Do what feels right in your heart, with your spirit.  Be kind.  Treat others as you want to be treated. Live with integrity.  And when you live in this way, that is what the world around you will reflect.  And you will see these things in other people: trust, friendship, openness, love, admiration.  It is then that we can blossom and grow into who we were really meant to be, that which is in line with our true happiness and life’s purpose.  For it is only when we step out of fear, out of fight or flight, that we can begin to see that there is another possibility instead of only the worst outcome.  We can reprogram our brains to see potentiality and possibility.  And think what we as a human race could accomplish then.