We went out of town this year for Thanksgiving.  To the beach.  In Florida.

I can’t imagine, really spending Thanksgiving in a hotel with family, but we did.  And, evidently a lot of other people do to….spend Thanksgiving in a hotel.  We met up with my brother and his wife to celebrate my dad’s birthday because it might have been a numerically significant birthday and he wanted to be away with his family.  I get that.

Anyway, this particular resort was full of snow birds from the northeastern seaboard. Apparently many of them make a habit of this annual trek out of town for various reasons.  Some came down to see Grandma, others were celebrating big birthdays, and for many this was their annual Thanksgiving tradition.  I think the housewives of the northeastern seaboard have this deal figured out.  No cooking, no cleaning, bed made every day, beautiful weather…certainly worked for me!

The guests at this hotel also provided me with some great people watching opportunities and forced me to realize that I seriously missed my calling in life.  I should have been a sociologist.

You heard it here first.

I became absolutely fascinated with the stark differences in culture and continually found myself studying and comparing those of us from the south to our neighbors from the northeast and so on…..Quite interesting and so fodder for another post!

Anyway,  I am really up posting the photos my children took of their time on the beach.  They both seemed to enjoy grabbing my camera and capturing the sheer beauty of where we were and what they saw.

I must admit…it was absolutely gorgeous.  Breathtaking in a way.

My mom is celebrating a birthday today.  It is not a “big” birthday, or significant in any sort of numerical way.  It’s just that special day in November when she graced the world with her presence… all eleven pounds of her!

She and my father were born a year and a day apart and our family celebrates them both at this time of year.  In fact, this year we went out of town to celebrate with family and it got me thinking….and wondering. At what point does age become irrelevant and the dialogue shifts to questions about what you have done with your life?

How have you spent your time?

Was it worth it?

What have you accomplished and are you leaving the world better for your presence?

My mom has.  She has done so much for so many in a quiet, graceful way.  She is a visionary.  A leader. A positive influence. And, she certainly doesn’t need me to tell her that.

Happy Birthday Mom.

Love….Love….LOVE this time of year.  I am so thankful for my wonderful family and the time we are spending with each other this week.  And, the fact that I do not have to cook.  Or clean. Big smile.

That’s all.

SW