My beautiful friend Hope R. Smarrito passed away on October 8, 2021 and I was flooded with memories of her as I unpacked my ornaments and decorated for Christmas.
Hope had vibrant eyes and beautiful auburn hair that matched her fiery personality, quick smile, and awesome laugh. She hailed from New Jersey and had the attitude that a lot of individuals from that state possess: they basically call it like it is and don’t put up with a lot of crap. And that perfectly sums up Hope to a tee.
Being a divorcee for many years, she raised three young boys – Mike, Nick, and Tom – into their adulthoods without assistance from their father. Hope always took life as it came and had the street smarts to manage anything that came her way including being a single mom.
Mike, Tom, their friend Dan Shaw, and Nick.
Hope was an individual that easily made the leap from being a “Work Friend” to a “Personal Friend” and we were friends for more than 30 years. At The IIA, she served as an Admin in the Educational Services Department. As a member of the organization’s Marketing/PR Department, my job entailed working with all departments and I worked with Hope throughout our entire IIA careers.
Hope and I on a golf outing.
Hope was highly organized and smart and literally trained every boss (at least three or possibly even four?) past the initial one that she ever had at The IIA. Due to their policy of not promoting non-degreed individuals to management, Hope basically held the same job throughout her tenure at The IIA. As you can imagine, it left a bitter taste in her mouth as everyone knew she was the true back-bone of that department and could have run it with no issues whatsoever with her vast base of knowledge and skills.
Despite her disappointing employment situation, Hope was fun at work. She was always quick to offer assistance and impart knowledge as well as to brighten your day. She also had a lot of great stories to share and if I was ever having a bad day at work and needed a pick-me-up, I’d head up to her office and chat and laugh with Hope.
Tom and wife Angela.
Nick and wife Jennifer.
Mike and wife Pam.
My All-Time Favorite Hope story that I requested her to retell over and over had to do with a bully that had moved into her neighborhood when her boys were young. Whenever her boys would go out to play, it seemed they always encountered problems with this particular kid. And, as it turned out, her boys weren’t the only ones in the neighborhood experiencing issues with this bully.
Sons Mike and Tom.
At first, Hope thought it best to not get involved and to let the kids iron everything out for themselves. She figured he was new to their group and they all just needed to get to know him a bit better. But as time progressed, things with the bully seemed to escalate and the day finally came that Hope decided to get involved.
That day, her son Tommy (if I correctly recall the exact son) was out riding his bike and the bully knocked him off and stole his new hat. When he came home hatless, Hope decided that she’d had enough of this kid and thought it best to go and chat with his mother. Her thinking was that mom-to-mom they could figure out how to get peace among all the neighborhood kids. She headed down to the bully’s house with kids in tow and knocked on the door introducing herself and her boys to the other mom and was graciously invited inside the home.
Hope deserved a WWE Belt for her neighborhood wrestling match.
As Hope was calmly explaining the dilemma and the ongoing issues with her sons and other kids in the neighborhood, the other mom suddenly went from being nice and cordial to turning on a dime. She accused Hope of blaming everything on her child and literally started screaming at and shoving Hope who actually fell down as she was attempting to back out. As Hope related, she then unbelievably found herself wrestling to get away from this woman who had her pinned down on her living room floor. The whole time, Hope indicated she was yelling at her kids to get out of the house and was finally able to extricate herself from the unexpected WWE wrestling match. She headed home on shaky legs with her kids in tow trying to wrap her head around what had just occurred.
When I retell this story, it’s funny, but it’s nothing compared to how Hope brought the story to life. It always had me laughing hysterically with tears running from my eyes to imagine my friend Hope in this crazy situation. Hope’s retelling of this story made you envision the insane scene and it always made my day magically turnaround from all the resulting and guaranteed laughter. Hope, in turn, would laugh at me laughing about this story, so it was a win-win for both of us.
DJ Dick Clark, at podium, is surrounded by teens on his nationally televised dance show “American Bandstand” originally filmed in Philadelphia, Pa.
Hope also loved to dance and another story I recall involved her skipping out on high school and taking the train from New Jersey to Philadelphia to participate in a filming of the highly popular TV show “American Bandstand.” This show, hosted by the famous Dick Clark, highlighted the latest music and bands and always included a studio full of teenagers and young adults dancing along to the music. With her dancing skills, I am certain Hope fit in with all the “Regulars,” the dancers that appeared each week and were highlighted on camera due to their dancing talents.
As you can imagine, above everything, Hope always put her boys first. She took them fishing, camping, and golfing and supported them in all their sporting activities. Being a single mom, Hope did everything she could to bring in or save extra money to provide for her kids; even to the point of learning to fix her own car, whenever it was possible, rather than taking it into a shop for repairs. She also tackled her own home repairs and improvements and always maintained a beautiful home.
Hope was also a gourmet cook and outstanding baker. For many years, she hosted a Labor Day Party that included a delicious Low Country One-pot boil of shrimp, crab, corn, potatoes, sausages, and onions. The feast was mainly consumed on her porch and in her backyard and it was always a blazing hot summer day in Florida. Everyone would bring dishes to share and put up with the heat to partake of all the yummy food and fun company. In addition to the one-pot boil, Hope always made a myriad of other delicious dishes that always included her spicy Cat Fish Bites from fish she and her boys would catch in anticipation of the big party. Being someone that’s not a fan of freshwater fish (I think they taste muddy), I would eat my fill along with everyone else as they were that yummy and tasty. Her kids, grandkids, and all their friends were a part of the mix at these yearly parties and we all over-ate, played games, and had a lot of fun.
Hope was always top of the list for all of my annual parties for Easter, Fourth of July, and Halloween as well. She would bring the tastiest dishes to share and would go all out in creating unique costumes for my Halloween parties. If I had awarded prizes, she would have come in First Place for both her food and costumes.
As Hope’s kids matured, they naturally married and several gave her grandchildren who became the apple of Hope’s eye. She supported all of her grandkids’ activities especially Devan’s singing and Thomas’s baseball endeavors and she was the quintessential grandma you’d want for your kids. They knew beyond a shadow of doubt that they were deeply supported, loved, and admired by Hope.
In her later years, Hope met and married Paul, an ex-military guy, who brought a new element to her life. Hope had finally found someone that enjoyed her interests and their life together included lots of camping and fishing trips, especially to nearby Port Canaveral. Sadly, he passed before her and left a definite void in her life.
Hope and Paul at one of my many Fourth of July parties.
Hope loved the Holidays and it was fitting that her December 3rd birthday seemed to kick them off. She was big on baking and always gifted her creations to friends for Christmas. My favorites were her Zucchini and Pumpkin breads. They were unerringly perfectly moist and delicious and stood head and shoulders above everyone else’s. She readily shared her recipes and even following them exactly as written, mine never matched the taste of hers.
Hope was also very creative and crafty and would make amazing and often intricately painted and detailed Christmas ornaments and decorations that she would sell and gift to others. As I unpacked my Christmas boxes this year, I focused on her creations and was astonished at the number of her one-of-a-kind items I possess. They truly brought my friend back to life as I unpacked each and every one and gave them prominence on my tree and throughout my house this year in her honor.
Sadly, Hope smoked the majority of her life and its effects finally caught up to her. She started having heart issues and ended up having several strokes that required placement into a nursing home on a full-time basis as she was disabled and in a wheelchair. After several years, she also developed dementia.
I inherently knew the last time I saw Hope that it would be for the final time. During our visit, she grew overly agitated and couldn’t stop ranting that her boys – whom she raised into three responsible, talented, and respectful men – had taken charge of her health issues and were ultimately forced to sell her house and car and place her into a nursing home. And she definitely wasn’t happy when I tried to reason that her boys had done the right thing and that she was actually receiving the appropriate care that she now required. I was pained for her boys as I knew how deeply it hurt that she never accepted their decisions that were honestly the best for their beloved mom.
When her oldest son Michael relayed that she had passed at the age of 76, he also shared at one point she had tried to talk a staffer into breaking her out and we laughed about it together through our tears. That was truly the Hope that I knew and loved.
As I sit today and gaze at her ornaments hanging about my Christmas tree, I know my beautiful, talented, smart, funny, kind, caring, and amazing friend Hope lived a great life and that she will always live on in the hearts and minds of her family and friends; and most especially in mine.
Yes, I can definitely guarantee that Hope lives on.
Thirty-five years is more than half of my life and yet, that’s how long my group of long-time friends have gathered once a year at the Paradise Beach Club Resort located at 975 Florida A1A on Satellite Beach, Fla.
It’s an older, but recently renovated, four-story condo building presently situated in a row of newer high-rise condos that are the true bane of most Floridians. And yet, my friends and I have returned year after year, for some all 35, to what has become a truly special place for our group. Rex Menasco, our high-school friend, first beckoned us to Satellite Beach as his mother Renate and step-dad Glenn lived in the Sea Breakers, another condo complex located down the beach from the Paradise Beach Club Resort.
The Paradise Beach Club Resort itself is comprised of privately owned condos that are rented out and filled up each year with our core group of friends along with their kids (who’ve matured throughout the years and brought their own kids), and additional friends and family members that have gathered year after year for this relaxing and fun time. We’ve had years where we have had upwards of 25 or more included in our group.
The May 23-31, 2021 gathering included core members Rex and Debi Menasco from Hammond, La.; Scott Schiltz from Safety Harbor, Fla.; and me – Mary E. Richard – from Longwood, Fla.; along with fairly recent newbies Greg Stevens, Tracy Snyder, and Nancy Calabro Stone, all from Lakeland, Fla. We also count local friends Eden Bentley (a best friend since 7th Grade) and her husband Vic Watson from Cocoa, Fla. in the core group. Over the past two years, we’ve also added local newbie Glyna Snap Rodgers from Melbourne, Fla. The “Locals” drive over whenever possible, to visit, join in the frivolity, and contribute and partake of our tasty dinners and rousing conversations and then return home each night.
Core members (L-R) Vic Watson, Rex Menasco, Mary E. Richard, Scott Schiltz, Eden Bentley, & Debi Menasco.
Out of this years’ group, Rex, Scott, Greg, Tracy, Nancy, Eden, Glyna, and myself are all Lakeland High School Class of ’77 graduates. Eden, Scott, Nancy and I also hail from Crystal Lake Junior High School. Ironically, both Eden and I dated Rex in high school and, while we all wisely moved on to other romantic interests, remained close friends. Also, oddly enough, only the core members from LHS were in the same circle of friends during high school, but through various other gatherings, we have expanded into this particular tight-knit group of friends. We typically see each other as a group only once or, if lucky, twice a year including at high school reunions, group cruises, various social gatherings, or at the New Orlean’s JazzFest.
Day One at Satellite Beach with beautiful clear skies and plenty of sunshine.
Pool time is a daily occurrence.
The view from Condo 340’s balcony looking south.
The first order of business upon arrival at the Paradise Beach Club Resort is to locate a provided shopping or hotel cart to unpack your car. Because we typically stay for a week, and never go out to eat, it can take some time to unpack and haul everything up the stairs or via the old elevator to the appointed rented condos; this year being 340 and 226. Condo 340 was beautifully updated with granite countertops and dark cabinets and had nicer furniture and decorations. Condo 226 was more typical of those at the Paradise Beach Club Resort with its beach-themed furniture and décor that often hails from an earlier era and has experienced a few visitors over time. The inhabitants of the posh 340 condo were viewed as upper-class compared to those in the 260 condo (thanks Greg and Tracy for inviting me to stay in 340!). As it turned out, we all hung out more in 260 due to its layout and furnishings conducive to seating more people.
The condos all come fully furnished, however, the selection of kitchen essentials is what you’d find in a typical rental place – a collection of odd and mismatched silverware, glasses, bowls, and dishes, along with over-used pots and pans, often without available lids, along with older blenders, mixers, and the like. Therefore, throughout the years, we’ve hauled in extra wine glasses, bath and beach towels, bathroom essentials, beach chairs and umbrellas, pool toys, coolers, wines and other alcohol, themed decorations and lights, large pots and pans, special foods and spices, sharp knives, frozen or fresh local seafood, area delicacies, a special frozen drink-making machine, full bar set-ups, cleaning supplies, and so forth.
While we’ve always hugged and greeted each other fondly, this year’s embraces had more meaning due to everyone being locked down for most of 2020 and into 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and pre-availability of the vaccine shots. We hugged each other much tighter and longer as we all truly missed seeing each other and needed connecting with close friends like never before. Sadly, and possibly due to the pandemic, this year’s group was the smallest gathering to date.
The week typically evolves with migrating between the condos to individually reconnect with one another as we fill every bar stool, chair, and couch in the living areas, relax together on the ocean-view balconies, hang out in lounge chairs by the pool, or camp down on the beach with everyone gathered around. Rex is truly “The Man” when it comes to setting up camp on the beach (and also during NOLA’s JazzFest). He is beyond insistent on hauling the vast majority of chairs, umbrellas, beach bags, and coolers, and staking out our locations. For this, we are all most grateful.
Look who I ran into at Publix…Dean Erskine, a high school classmate; or at least his doppelganger!
Throughout the week, the individual days lazily unfold with coffee or tea enjoyed on the balcony and breakfasts/brunch (depending upon what time everyone individually arises) that often includes fruit salads, yogurt, bread with cheese and sliced meats, bagels with cream cheese, lox and capers; cooked eggs, and even leftover pizza. Lunch is a casual affair with Rex’s shrimp salad and my chicken salad as traditional staples to make and eat throughout the week. There’s also sandwiches with fresh Publix bread, cheese and deli meats along with a variety of bagged chips; Debi’s homemade pickles, sliced watermelon, trays of veggies, bowls of fruit, or leftovers up for grabs.
Throughout the day, we slather ourselves with copious amounts of sunscreen and lie in the sun as we chat and often reminisce and tell stories from our junior high, high school, and college days, or mutually attended gatherings or other events. Our flow of conversation, crazy stories, and unending laughter often leaves me remarking how we would make a great reality show. Even strangers that we meet at the pool all marvel and seem envious when we tell them we went to high school together and that this is a yearly event. We also tend to naturally discuss and contemplate the day’s “Main Event” being that evening’s feast to be prepared by our cadre of amazing cooks. With a Publix Supermarket located directly across the street from the condos, a daily trip (who am I kidding??! multiple trips by multiple people) is quite commonplace.
By early evening, we are all freshly showered after hours spent in the sun at the pool or on the beach and gather in one condo to feast on a bevy of appetizers while dinner is being prepped and cooked by that evening’s chefs. This year’s appetizers included raw oysters (direct from Louisiana!), artisanal cheeses and crackers, conch salad, fresh chicharrones, chips and salsa, veggies and dip, and the like. Our dinners included Louisiana Creole Washday red beans and rice, paella, Mexican lasagna, shrimp fajitas, grilled steaks and chicken, roasted veggies, baked potatoes with all the fixings, rock shrimp, and expansive salads. Desserts included Debi’s just-made cobbler featuring fresh blueberries, my homemade passion fruit mousse, Tres Leche Cake, decadent and delicious Blue Bell ice creams including Moo-llennium Crunch, Southern Blackberry Cobbler, and Homemade Vanilla and even a box of Lindt mini-praline chocolates. To say we ate well throughout the week and had a ton of leftovers is an understatement!
Another tradition is taking one night off from cooking to eat a local treat – Bizzarro Pizza. Their large pizza is the size of a standard car tire and one pizza comes in two very large boxes that won’t even fit into a standard refrigerator. This year, we teamed our traditional visit to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop with a stop at Bizzarro’s for two large take-out pizzas – one with everything and the other with pepperoni. Rex went in to pick up the order as the remaining crew sat in the vehicle. We all laughingly took note that right next door to Bizzarro’s is The Red Leopard. Tracy Googled it and noted that it’s “a premier gentlemen’s club with the hottest women, the coldest beer and the best drinks in town.”
Location, location, location!
When, after some time and much joking, Rex finally returned with the four really huge pizza boxes that barely contained the two large pizzas, we, of course, accused him of “accidentally” entering the wrong establishment to pick up the order. After heading back and having our fill of pizza (and then some), it took three of us to cut up and stuff the leftovers into seven large Ziploc baggies which eventually got frozen. Greg feasted on it throughout the rest of our stay and there were even leftovers at the end of the week. Rex also made a special trip the night before his departure to pick up and freeze even more Bizzarro pizza to take back to their kids, Courtney and Andrew, who love this pizza and unfortunately, couldn’t make the trip to Satellite Beach this year. At least that’s what Rex told us as he may have once again mistakenly paid a visit to The Red Leopard. Who really knows? He’s always got a sly grin on his face like he’s been up to something for sure.
Throughout the week, we had amazing weather that was actually cooler and less humid than normal and an off-shore disturbance during the first days of the week left heaping mounds of seaweed on the shore and also attracted about a 100 surfers riding the unusually high waves. As most vacations go, many bottles of wine and beer along with White Claws (hard seltzer), Mezcal, rum, vodka, and Margaritas were consumed along the way. The Mezcal was featured on our Mexican-themed night topped with salts flavored with crickets and worms (gag worthy on my part), but consumed by the braver among us. Additionally, Scott proffered a large and pricier bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus Vineyards which he saved for one of our last dinners. Also among the many bottles of consumed wine was a Zinfandel from the Quakenbush Mountain Vineyards. Only those in our core group smile when this wine is consumed remembering a welcome mat displayed for many years outside one of the condos that bore the owners’ name and read: “Welcome! The Quakenbushes.”
Our Mexican-themed dinner, decorations, and attire including sombreros for everyone proved a huge hit. Dinner included shrimp fajitas, Mexican lasagna, Margaritas, salsa & chips, and shots of Mezcal along with flavored bug salt for those brave enough to partake. It looks like it wasn’t a smooth shot for Scott!
Greg really rocked the Mexican wrestling mask!
What lies between the lines that I’ve written about the place, the friends, the food, and daily routine is everything that makes this group and yearly gathering so special. It’s about Tracy being the ultimate mother bringing a huge bag of homey essentials such as boxes of tissues, hand soaps, cleaning products, air spray, and extra toilet paper and paper towels and constantly cleaning behind everyone. It’s about Rex and Debi, the ultimate hosts, sneaking off to buy extra wine, special foods, and decorations right after they’ve discussed not buying anything more as we already have too much and our refrigerators and coolers can’t possibly hold anymore.
It’s about Scott pulling out fun sombreros, chili lights, decorations, and Mezcal to kick up our Mexican-themed night and everyone dressing in Mexican attire for the evening. It’s also about the constant discussion among the guys as to which White Claw flavor was the best…I’m thinking Raspberry won out…or was it Mango? It’s about Greg proudly announcing that he’s discovered there’s a White Claw Profile #3 featuring “Pineapple!” and later hysterically twerking after he’s done his best to taste all the flavors. It’s also about the excitement over a tower of White Claw getting stacked in a display at the front of Publix indicating it was probably going on sale for Memorial Day. It’s about seeing a bunny at the beach. It’s about everyone complaining about me insisting on taking photos around the dinner table each night and then raving about those very photos. It’s about marveling at the skills of the window washer amazed at his meticulousness in cleaning the condo windows utilizing an extension pole from the ground.
You can bet we were all proud of Eden as recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the local bar association.
Contrail from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.
Furthermore, it’s about Debi racing to the upstairs 340 condo where I was prepping food to alert me that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket had just launched knowing full well that she was missing seeing a part of it herself. It’s about me making decorations to celebrate Nancy joining us after recently undergoing hip replacement surgery. It’s about watching turtles play in the surf and dolphins swimming by from our balconies. It’s about refusing the most gracious and pushy offer of mayonnaise by our “new friend” Paulette whom we met at the pool. It’s about laughing hysterically at a phone app that Scott uses to make himself look young and age others multiple times over in photos. It’s about some of us wrapped with beach towels in the seemingly sub-zero AC temps that the others can’t live without. It’s about witnessing the brilliant moon and starry skies over the ocean. It’s about me collecting bags and bags of sea shells every year to take home. It’s about worrying that the observed survey stakes meant the complex would be sold, torn down, and replaced by a new high-rise building and later learning they were due to core samples needed prior to replacing the aging seawall.
My Halloween costume from UF’s Halloween Ball.
Additionally, it’s about the retelling of silly escapades from throughout our lives, even if we’ve all heard them before, as the latest enhanced versions may be better. It’s about Scott and Rex teasing me unmercifully like a brother would do, especially over my Kooky Spooks Halloween costume. It’s about discussing and exchanging the latest books we’ve all read. It’s about Eden and Vic driving 40 minutes to join in the fun and purchasing a ton of fresh rock shrimp for dinner. It’s about Glyna who openly admitted she required “Me Time” to mentally and physically de-stress from work before joining us. It’s about a yearly visit to the Longboard Surf Shop to purchase clothing and gifts to take back home. It’s about marveling at the kite surfers racing through the ocean and watching a paddle boarder go out so far that he was virtually lost on the horizon, even with using binoculars. It’s about a poster board we filled with encouraging words for Nancy following her hip replacement surgery.
A rabbit bone?
Also, it’s about catching up and sharing confidences as we sit one-on-one on the balconies. It’s about trekking down the beach at night in years’ past to witness sea turtles laying their eggs and seeing the hatchlings emerge from their nest and race into the ocean. It’s about sitting on the balcony late at night watching lightning storms off in the distance. It’s about Scott always bringing a ton of colorful shirts covered with plastic bags on hangers from the cleaners and always sleeping in late. It’s about beautiful beach vistas along with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. It’s about wondering what the strange bone-like item is that Scott found on the beach (we believe it may possibly be from a rabbit).
Moreover, it’s about making the yearly two-mile, round-trip hike down the beach to visit the Sea Breakers Condo where Rex’s mom used to live. It’s about seeing cruise ships parked off-shore and wondering when they’ll set sail again. It’s about me creating special decorations and presenting a cake to celebrate Eden’s upcoming Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented by the local bar association. It’s about an annual trek to Clayton’s Crab Company to purchase fresh seafood and fish (if no one’s been out deep-sea fishing and caught some). It’s about driving by the Cape Canaveral Port on the way home just to see the booster sitting on the recovery platform from that week’s rocket launch. It also quite simply about loving and supporting one another through all that life throws at us, determined to make memories through it all, and keep up familiar traditions and amazing friendships.
A major highlight of the week was experiencing the “Super Flower Blood Moon,” touted as the “most spectacular full moon of 2021.” According to sources, the blood moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth is positioned directly between the moon and the sun, hiding the moon from sunlight and is so named for its red glow. We all excitedly squeezed together on one balcony on the appointed night and were all equally awe struck as the night sky first glowed orange and then a red sliver appeared on the horizon signaling the rising moon. It was a mesmerizing display that none of us had previously witnessed. As the moon rose in the sky, it turned from red to orange and then to a brilliant and familiar white glow gleaming magically on the surrounding clouds and reflecting back on the ocean waters below. We likened it to a sunset in reverse and all unsuccessfully attempted to capture the spectacle on our cell phones. It was definitely a sight we won’t long forget. So much so, that for the next several days, we dutifully checked to see what time the moon would rise and gathered together to watch the event; sad that, while each rising was beautiful, we possessed the knowledge that they wouldn’t compare to the Super Flower Blood Moon we had witnessed.
A shot of the Super Flower Blood Moon posted on the Internet.
A smattering of the beautiful sunrises, sunsets, moons and vistas we enjoyed throughout the week.
As the week played out, sadly Tracy had to return to work and was forced to head home after only a few days spent with us. Tracy works at night and I always marvel at how she manages to stay awake and join in the fun while she’s with us; but she does, and was greatly missed after her departure. Next to depart on Friday, was Greg, who was desperately missing Tracy and always seems a bit lost without her. By Sunday, Rex and Debi decided to leave in the afternoon, one day earlier than anticipated, to avoid the Memorial Day traffic and to rest up before starting back to work. Scott who had spent a part of the previous week partying with other friends in Key West, decided to head back the same day, as well as Nancy who wanted to get back home for a lunch date with a friend. As Eden, Vic, and I were in the parking lot seeing Scott off, the last to depart that afternoon, we noted he had a flat rear tire. Not exactly how anyone would want to end an amazing week, but that’s life. He called AAA and a guy appeared in less than 10 minutes to expertly change out his tire and send him on his way to purchase a new one. Later, Scott texted saying he had coerced the shop into quickly changing his tire and had located a Mexican restaurant nearby to wait out the time. All of us thankful it happened in the parking lot and not on his drive home.
Who else but Scott has AAA show up in under 10 minutes?
It was great to catch up with Glyna.
Late that same day and on the last night, Glyna finally appeared and stayed through dinner with Eden,Vic, and me and lamented that she had not been able to visit with everyone else. Not too long after dinner, Eden and Vic departed and Glyna stayed late to further catch up prior to heading back home to Melbourne. Her departure left me alone in the condo where I decided to sit on the porch, soak in the roar of the ocean, and gratefully reminisce on the much-needed past week with unbelievable friends and thoughts of those that couldn’t make it this year.
If I were to pick one moment that stands out, it would be the night I stayed up late with Scott and Greg. Everyone else had their fill of the night’s food, drink, laughter, and stories and had much earlier departed for bed or for home. The ongoing sampling of White Claws was prevalent as we laughed and often sang along as Scott played the entire album of “The Complete Hit Singles of Three Dog Night.” The songs from our younger days evoked and prompted much sharing and memories of days gone by. Towards the end of the evening, Scott, sitting beside me on the couch as Greg danced and swayed nearby to the music, grew pensive and commented to me: “We’re lucky we get to do this and really need to soak this up. Gathering together like this is really special. And we don’t know how many more years we can all do this.”
And Scott was right. When we collectively grow old and this yearly event is but a distant memory, hopefully, we can all look back fondly and recall all the support, warmth, laughter, and love we shared for so many years. We honestly know that we are truly blessed to not only experience this yearly reunion on Satellite Beach at the Paradise Beach Club Resort, but to be a part of this truly amazing group of friends.
The Wonder and Wanderings of Everyday Life 