(10th Post) How blessed to visit the ocean again in the same year! Still cool and lots of rain didn’t stop Nella and me for multiple walks on the beach. It just doesn’t get old. It renews my soul as I let the waves crashing into shore dissolve emotions that were troubling.

Bernee Brown talks about belonging and fitting in. Looking for where you belong can be a journey in itself. A place that welcomes you home and accepts you for who you are. You don’t have to ‘fit in’, because fitting in means you have to change who you are to feel like you belong.

Knowing who I am and what I would love in my life at this point is something I’ve been working on for a long time. After being a caregiver and babysitter for grandchildren – I just needed more. I needed a change, but I just haven’t found where that is yet. I know that water brings sanctuary into my life. Ocean side, lake views, rivers…where is my future home?

 Thanksgiving.

After two weeks at Mrytle Beach, we packed up and went further down the coast of SC to Johns Island.  My brother Jim and his fiancee Linda., have been inviting me down for years, but I couldn’t get away while caregiving. Now was the perfect time.

The island offers lush green jungle-like scenery. Every walk offered nature at its best. Birds of all kinds, low tides showing its beauty in the lowlands, and walks on the beach. I can see why they love it there.

The past month of cool rainy days caught up with me and I was coughing like a crazy woman. I didn’t feel bad, it was just a strange and horrible sounding cough. Jim and Linda were awesome hosts in helping me get over it. Plenty of rest and lots of bourbon cures anything!

Finally, a sunny day was upon us and we took a trip to Charleston, which was amazing! We took our pups to town and walked the streets, visited the open market, and had lunch at a pub with the patio to watch people come and go. The history and arts throughout the city were incredible, it’s certainly a must see to discover for yourself.

Jim’s neighbors invited us over for Thanksgiving. It seemed strange not caregiving and cooking for a crowd. The neighbors were gracious and loving. Their home was perfect! I could certainly feel myself living in a home like this, (I would need to win the lotto first!) Not too big, cozy, inviting, it had all the elements I wanted in a home. The hosts, food, and whiskeys were all amazing too!

November was coming to a close. I had time yet before checking into my winter spot in Leesburg, FL. Jim and Linda had plans to see her daughter in Nashville. It was time to head out.

I arrived at my bff’s  Cynthia home in the Villages, FL and was going to enjoy some time with her before going to my winter spot in less than a week.

Sunday night, November 26^th Jim called. Allison and Randy had flown to Ludington to visit her mom on Thanksgiving weekend. That morning they were flying out. Snow falling, fog, icey cold. No one knows yet what happened or if it was a combination of the perfect storm of weather, equipment fail or some other unknown factor. The plane crashed and exploded. They were gone, along with their beloved dogs.

We were all stunned. Heartbroke.

Grief sets in again.

The two brightest lights helping so many in their community, loved by all. Just gone.

That’s all I can say about that now.

(9th Post) November Gail winds. Michigan’s legendary story of Edmond Fitzgerald comes to mind as I look back on this month now. A perfect storm brewing not knowing and not fully understanding what’s about to happen that changes our lives forever.

My first stop was back to Allison’s to go over plans to expand her teachings to other Equestrian Centers nationwide. The grant foundation that she was receiving her centers’ funds from encouraged her to train other consultants walking the same path, on how she is organizing, consulting, promoting, and growing her business as a nonprofit. They saw her as a leader on how she is impacting her clients, veterans and community. As her husband said, let’s make her ‘Queen’ of her industry!

We discussed marketing, online courses and events to start in 2024, plus strengthening courses for the veterans was in the works.

Excited for the future, we spoke many times about the projects and started getting materials ready. Life is good.

Left Indiana and onto Tennessee for a surprise visit with my cousin Liz and helped her and her husband the great Phil, finish painting their deck and get their home ready for an early winter.

It had been a long trying year for them as well, and we had great discussions on life and how short it becomes as we get older.

Frosty nights at 27 degrees make living in a rv a bit chilly, and so the urge to move onwards south closed out that visit!

Next stop, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.