Fall is in the air. Although fall in Florida is not quite like the fall most people know. A bit cooler for us than normal and snowbird season is still here. I am ever so excited to celebrate Halloween this year. In spite of the pandemic and everything else happening we decided to celebrate anyway. With caution and safety first naturally. Fall is near and pumpkins are everywhere. Retail speaking of course. Christmas is already showing up in the stores as well. I love it! There is so much magic and spark during the holidays. And this year especially with so much loss I feel it necessary to celebrate and enjoy the moment. Missing friends and family. Not being able to be social really takes a toll on a person. I have so much love and respect for life more than ever before. 

Pumpkins and costumes here we come. 

COVID-19 life - the world in a different place now

While watching the Today show I felt compelled to drop in on my long-overdue need to blog. By now we as a nation are being impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is something that is seemingly affecting us on a global basis. I can say I never thought I would see this day that we in. I really never imagined life this way and I am sure most of us can say the same. The pandemic seemed to evolve overnight causing a worldwide outbreak of Corona Virus shutting our nation down without any warning. Leaving millions unemployed. An unbelievable amount of families are not relying upon food banks to feed their families. No work - no money- no food. Families can not even pay rent or mortgages much less feed their kids. Restaurants, hotels, bars, nail salons, but more insane has been schools. Schools and ALL schools at that have been temporarily closed. With what seemed like a snap of the fingers and just like that ....closed. Graduations canceled. Colleges closed and classed now online. Elementary school, middle, high, and colleges closed, and classes online through an app called Zoom or others like it. Nascar, Golf all basketball, baseball football even the Olympics have been put on hold. It has left us feeling shocked and paralyzed. The need to be with others is real. The ability to be with our loved ones has been taken away or changed in some way. Family members and loved ones living in assisted living have been cut off from others. NO  visitors at all by order of the law. The risk of infection and spread is just too great. Isolation will kill some as it is so unnatural and some need human connection to stay connected and without it, they lose their ability to hold on. To say this is all sad is quite an understatement. There might not be just one word but many to describe the pain, confusion, and uncertainty that is here with us on a worldwide base. On the other side of the coin, there are people helping people like never before. People are becoming creative to celebrate birthdays, graduations, and events that are special. Virtual hellos and now caravans. Caravans with ambulances, fire trucks and so much more. Friends staying in their cars with the caravan holding sighs out their windows and so much love happiness joy and excitement. To be a part of so much love is a gift. We took part in a best friend of mine's daughter, she graduated HS and heads to Vanderbilt in the fall. Her success in life has already surpassed most. She is very unique and driven. It was an honor for all of us who have watched her grow up to be a part of showing her our love and congratulations. I just can not imagine what these kids and teachers are going through. No goodbye nothing. Overnight the kids of all ages were closed. Unreal. Jobs lost like never before. Cancer patients celebrating their last birthdays and others who are terminal. My gosh the pain, the emotional distress must run to your core. My heart aches for so many. I am still trying to wrap my head around all this and I know it will take a while before I can. 

The world is reopening and things are slowly returning to a "new normal" May all of you stay healthy and happy. I know we will be a better world once this is under control. I know I have seen a lot of love and need to be with loved ones. Maybe this will put a lot of our priorities in place and redirect us for the good. I have faith in our beautiful world as we fight COVID-19 together. You are not alone. 

Andrea Bocelli: Music For Hope - Live From Duomo di Milano