It is a dark and stormy day in Fort Myers.  At 58 degrees the snowbirds are shivering outside.  Very few are venturing forth.  It is 71 degrees inside the apartment, brr.  I spent much of this rainy day preparing a long overdue annual plan.  Anne and i will likely make an RV cruise along the coast from Jersey to Carolina this spring to see this season’s bird migration along the Atlantic coast and seek out rails.

Our time here is in disorder as a result of Mom Woods unfortunate fall and broken hip.  She seems to be recuperating well from this serious injury as a result of prompt surgery and her inherent strength.  Daughter Mary Helen has spent every night since her injury with her first at the hospital and now at the nursing home.  Mom Woods is already plotting an escape from there.  She coplains the occupational therapists are working her too hard.  That could be good if it improves her mobility so as to get up and down and walk from bed to wheel chair and toilet.  She now walks hesitantly and must do better when she comes home.  We’re hoping that she will be ready by the end of next week.

We will celebrate Mom and Dad’s 70th Anniversary at the nursing home.  Plans are being made.  Friends of Dad brought and shared supper with us last evening.  We will enjoy “superbowl Sunday” with the Davidsons.  Anne mostly drives Dad back and forth for visits with Mom.  I have been doing much of the cooking.  We haven’t been able to get out too much, but Dad took all of us, except Mom of course, to Pinchers Oyster Shack for dinner on Tuesday night.  We’re trying to keep life fun despite the difficulties. 

Anne and I are jogging most days.  I am recovering from my mother’s passing and beginning work on probate, another chore.  We’re catching up on other chores that were deferred during our crazy holiday season, the week of travel here, a week of canoe camping, and last week when Mom fell.  We have paid our bills.  I put off thinking about health insurance for a few months.  When the dust settles perhaps insurance will again be available to me.  I’m sure it will cost more.  I’ll be 65 next year and may wait for Medicare eligibility.  Ugh.

We’re happy to be missing the bitter cold at home.  As warm as it is here (even if it seems chilly) it is hard to imagine that it really is freezing at home.  Latitude and surrounding seas provide warmth in south Florida even when snow and ice reach the panhandle and northern areas of this state.  Even when frost fingers into the peninsula the cold does not stay long.  Tomorrow’s high here should be 77 degrees F.

The mild climate is soothing.  We do enjoy the weather even if we don’t enjoy the heavy chemical exposure here.  They spray the halls, the lawn, the trees, the bushes, and even the pond.  Little signs are posted but we ignore them on our runs.  We survive.   

Florida is always in bloom.  Hibiscus and bougainvillea seem always to be in bloom.  Other flowers appear from time to time  The pelicans, gulls, ducks, ospreys, and wading birds come and go all day.  Great show.