A Blessed Life!

Just a short one this time ...

I'd be remiss if I didn't "fall on my sword" in admission that I have thus far led a charmed life, for hundreds of reasons far too plentiful to list in this post, but that fall succinctly into a relatively small number of themes. If you know me at all, it will come as no surprise that one theme is Family, but others include Teaching, Coaching, and Athletics.

On the theme of family, my extended family is filled with people I view as a huge blessing, leaving me with a deep appreciation of my loved ones. Topping that lengthy list are my wife, kids, mom, and brothers, so spending time in the winter with 3 of the 4 in a personal version of Shangri La brings a huge sense of satisfaction. While both of our kids have discovered partners that are the Ying to their Yang, we haven't been able to spend as much time together as these parental units would prefer.

That changed when our son Keaton and his partner Jessica joined the festivities here in Naples for a week's vacation from their personal Rat Race, and we couldn't be more happy.

Keaton (aka KP) has proven to be the more independent of our two kids, and choosing to sink deep roots in Guelph, making get-togethers significantly more challenging. When he and Jess let us in on the surprise that they had booked flights to join us, we were obviously over the moon. Fulfilling our parental duties included providing taxi service from Southwest Regional Airport in Fort Myers, a 40 or so minute drive north.

Revisiting the idea of being blessed, my mom (and dad, RIP) purchased a three bedroom condo back in the early 90's that is perfectly suited to hosting the three branches of our clan in perfect comfort. Despite the deep level of connection KP has with Jess, we've only had a handful of opportunities to get to know her, so the week's immersion was absolutely delightful. She's a wonderful young lady, filled to the brim with positivism and confidence, and the sparkle in her eye reserved for KP is a huge "tell". 

The week flew by as we entertained ourselves with boatloads of Florida-style things like beach walks, kayaking the mangrove, flea markets, and (of course) lots and lots of treats. Thanks to Valentine's Day and KP's 27th Bday, we indulged early and often, and supplemented the "normal" days with restaurant fare from some of the area's trendy establishments. I'm sure it comes as no surprise, but things in FLA are a profoundly different than Wasaga, eyebrow lifting moments coming fast and furious. From the Mazeratti's/Bentley's/Ferarri's/Rolls Royce's, to the niche market stores (look up Seed to Table), to the ridiculous serving sizes of both sweets and drinks (note the slice of carrot cake in the photo), we explored to our heart's content.

Sadly, Saturday came quicker than anyone wished, we said our thank you's/goodbye's and shared a tight hug before they jetted their way back north. The intense feelings of gratitude for the blessings we've been gifted are humblingly cathartic. 

This morning's coffee on the lanai was filled with contemplations.

#lifeisgood