Trying to Adjust - 36 -
The prior page of the Journey noticed we are not moving healthy forward, but it feels more like crawling. To overcome this feeling of sadness an image with some humor might raise all our spirits some and lets try to look at the approaching in a more acceptable and bearable way. Only parents with children will and can know the unavoidable parting of their children when they reach adulthood. The cartoon image gives parents; particular mothers some worthy hints, a little humor, but true. How to cope in situation of despair gives one a powerful tool to act and accumulating additional ammunition to confront the enemy, loneliness. In our case, Tina our youngest and last child is very close to become an adult with many plans to built and construct her future. All her ideas are workable and all including the departure from her nest, which was her security for many years. Yes, I know this is live in its trueness; however I a not complaining, only hurting. To help myself, planning to study the cartoon a little more and tell you what happen in Tina after she left. Since visited Wisconsin Dells some time ago, we sold our Permanent camping place. Our children were not interested to camp near the Amusements Parks and other not so desirable facilities. Tina asked to participate in our next Trip to Florida, a nice move for her and for us. On early April morning, and the beginning of the 80`, we started for the first time without a trailer in tow; southwards to Chicago,
Nashvilleand Atlanta. After Overnight, next morning continued to Macon, Tampa, crossing the very long Bridge over TampaBay to St. Petersburg. From there another three miles westward, our goal reached without major complication "Treasure Island",Direct on the Gulf of Mexico. Many time before did we used this route with our camper, when visitingFort De Soto, Disney World and many more different places in the closer vicinity.
In the morning, after a good breakfast we decided the second choice of our "Second" outing should be visiting a village one hour north of us called Tarpon Springs, which we visited years ago when the whole Family participated in Camping. Tarpon Spring is of Greek origin, there is a restaurant calls itself "Greek McDonald" Another specialty of theirs to have wonderful gyros such as a marinated octopus. Our selection, understandable, maybe to the disappointment of the restaurant owners consisted of food that is more traditional. The village known to be very proud of their Greek heritage and utilizes the areas special blessing having Sponges in their Gulf waters, which is harvested with reverence. One can have a tour on aboard a sponge boat and watch as they retrieve sponges from the Gulf of Mexico We left a little earlier to have fast look, before returning to Treasure Island, at the beautiful Tampa Bay Waterfront in St.Petersburg. To close the day we were at the beach in Treasure
Save Arrived & At the Beach
The car parked and the owner George and his wife Bertha welcomed us, and showed the reserved apartment. It was not a five star facility, but did not expect one, which consisted of Kitchenette, Living room with additional sleeping provision, and big Bedroom with adjacent Bath. The Pool, as the picture indicates, seem to be a big draw, our main interest is to be in the nearness of the beautiful Golf of Mexico, swimming in it and frolic with the Dolphins. The access to the Gulf seemed a little tricky, a heavy traffic Street in front of all the motels at the east site, hinder a total save crossing of the Street, to reach the beach. With God`s help and guidance we will survive. Starting to move in our new temporary hide and with Tina`s assistance created a plan which should meet all our dreams and wishes to make this particular trip one of the most memorable one. It is hoped, that all the "four" individual outings will fit the allowable time we have; however why not, we can always tailor or planned activity to get the most of our planned. The "First" outing entails visiting the nearby beach, have our usual walk along the beach and waiting for the Dolphins to appear. We were lucky, most the time our Friends appeared and played around sometimes quit a while. At the North end of the Beach a bridge, interrupt with a channel to a small tourist shopping center, very much-utilized .Sitting in the evening Sun and enjoy observing her disappearing in the west of the Gulf. Talked a little with the occupant at the Motel, and went to sleep, after a good meal, which Tina and her Mother prepared. Enjoy the image of a jumping Dolphin, unusual!
The car parked and the owner George and his wife Bertha welcomed us, and showed the reserved apartment. It was not a five star facility, but did not expect one, which consisted of Kitchenette, Living room with additional sleeping provision, and big Bedroom with adjacent Bath. The Pool, as the picture indicates, seem to be a big draw, our main interest is to be in the nearness of the beautiful Golf of Mexico, swimming in it and frolic with the Dolphins. The access to the Gulf seemed a little tricky, a heavy traffic Street in front of all the motels at the east site, hinder a total save crossing of the Street, to reach the beach. With God`s help and guidance we will survive. Starting to move in our new temporary hide and with Tina`s assistance created a plan which should meet all our dreams and wishes to make this particular trip one of the most memorable one. It is hoped, that all the "four" individual outings will fit the allowable time we have; however why not, we can always tailor or planned activity to get the most of our planned. The "First" outing entails visiting the nearby beach, have our usual walk along the beach and waiting for the Dolphins to appear. We were lucky, most the time our Friends appeared and played around sometimes quit a while. At the North end of the Beach a bridge, interrupt with a channel to a small tourist shopping center, very much-utilized .Sitting in the evening Sun and enjoy observing her disappearing in the west of the Gulf. Talked a little with the occupant at the Motel, and went to sleep, after a good meal, which Tina and her Mother prepared. Enjoy the image of a jumping Dolphin, unusual!
Prepare to Return & Last Minute Shopping.
I love who can smile in trouble, can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.
Tis the business of little mind to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death
- Leonardo da Vinci
Tis the business of little mind to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death
- Leonardo da Vinci
Looking forward to meet you again at the continuation of our Journey.
Sincerely,
Alfredo D` Eljama.
Sincerely,
Alfredo D` Eljama.
Discovered, Ebb Tide, Treasure Island. Florida
Like all the other days walking after supper on the Beach and had many nice memories not only from the present trip although from former visitation to this Beach site. While observing our usual Sunset recalled the forming by Artist of Sandcastles in many forms and very unique displaced and observed by many tourists. People liked it very much because of the novelty itself. The displaced image shown not displaced at the year we were there. Tina and her mother patronized a store close by at the north end of the Beach were everything like Souvenirs and grocery for the return trip tomorrow morning. We went beyond our goal of trying to adjust. With the help of our Friend and God it worked. The drive home will be a much happier ambient, we all did our part without thinking about very much, and can say proudly, Missing Accomplished! At three o`clock in the morning, last night we said to all present Auf Wiedersehen, did we start our way home, on the same route we used coming down. Instead of overnigting in Atlanta, we did in Terra Hoot. From there it took about five hours to return to be in Home, Waukesha, WI. I have a feeling that from now on the trips we planning many will in a whole more to the South in particular to Florida. Observing the Sunset is an event One might never forget, And that`s why I leave an image of the "Floridian Sunset "as a Finishing of this Website.
Island and admired the daily setting of the sun into the Gulf. Tina insisted to revisit Disney World, which originally is our "Third" places in the plan, and could according to plurality not even debated. A few days later, we were on our way to Disney, approximate two hour drive. It is always nice and adventures to patronizing the always-exciting venues they have to offer. After many times one becomes a child and enjoys as a child. Visiting The Pirates of the Carrabin, Space Mountain, that was not my favorite, and many more good ones. We all had a good time and Tina in particular, after so many times there already, appreciated and thanked, not necessary, but accepted. This evening, like many others before, we never missed our Sunset at the Gulf. Around that time, we got to know some of the present Tourist at the establishment and had very nice conversations. There were many Canadians, Germans, and from all over the States. The closing of this day
included a Grateful Thanks to my God and my wish, stay with us. In between our planned event, the girls had a lot of time to do their own thing, in particular sightseeing and shopping, much more pleasurable without my present. While they did what they liked, I got to know many nice people of many nations and different interpretations' of politic and religion, very educational. In one of the last days, we went to Fort Desoto, where we many times gathered as a complete family and enjoyed again the beauty of the Park. This is the planned "forth" outing of our voting at the beginning. We swam, looked for Sand Dollars, walked along the Gulf Waters, and reminisced many days past. While this was going on, we came close to the Pier, a shrine for angler, where some of our Friends, the Pelican waiting to rival with the Fisherman for their catch. After we visited our children special, McDonald, waited for the nightly Sunset and returned to the Motel. You might enjoy the image of a waiting group of Pelicans for a meal.
"The sun fades like the spreading
Of a peacock's tail,
As though twilight might be read as a
Warning to those
Desperate for easy solutions"
Of a peacock's tail,
As though twilight might be read as a
Warning to those
Desperate for easy solutions"
John Ashbery