Fabio!

Got an email from Fabio Abreu (the guy on the blue ball which he got at Orange High School After Prom) who was our exchange student from Belem, Brazil in 2002-03. He has graduated from college and is now a physical therapist and looking for work. He said in the next year "I hope to get a job, save some money and try to go there visit everybody." Now THAT would be great! He would love to work in the U.S. so if anyone knows anyone who needs a great Physical Therapist, let us know!

Memories

In the Keys, this week is referred to as "Hell Week." That is because inordinate amounts of tourists descend. Locals complain because of traffic and all of their haunts being populated. Business operators and fishing guides love it. But, it is exhausting and after 5 straight shifts at the motel, I fell asleep at 7 last night and slept for over 12 hours. That sleep was interrupted three times - someone locked out of a room and people looking for rooms despite the sign on the door saying "sold out".

One of the first emails I saw today was a reminder from my cousin Nancy, that our twin mothers would have been 93 today. Despite how busy the week was, and how un-Christmas like the 25th was, I still thought often of loved ones who are gone. I know that is a common occurrence at holiday time. The wonderful memories of the past mixed with a longing to recreate them.

I realized how vulnerable I was to that when a guest told me that they had come to the Keys this year because their father had leukemia and was in remission but had a wish to go to Key West one more time and see a sunset from Mallory Sq. I became so teary when she recounted their reunion celebration. The family occupy four rooms at our motel and are often outside picnicking and talking and we enjoy chatting with them. Always reminders to enjoy time with loved ones and to laugh and share and create the memories to linger when they are gone.

Best Quotes

Two memorable ones:

When I asked my grandson Jack about his Christmas present - he told me he "got a Herocopter - what I have always wanted " (he is not yet 4!)

Motel was crazy busy today and we got a call asking if we had a room for a single person. We said yes, we had a few rooms left and the caller said "good because I live in town but my schizophrenic girlfriend is visiting and she is driving me crazy so I need to get a room for the night."

Llama Drama

I bought Jack a book about a baby llama who doesn't want to go to sleep and creates numerous attempt for his mother's attention. She tells him "no more llama drama"! It is Christmas Day and we are working from 8am until 10pm to let staff off. I will recount our latest llama drama at the motel, as well as the normal day in the life activities. Hope all of you are having a wonderful Holiday. I toasted friends and family last night with the annual Grandad Urich Bacardi Cocktail. First sip always makes you wince because it is so tart, and then it is smooth sailin'!

1. The "sabotage" of the hot water tank. Two out of the past three nights, after the office is closed around 11 PM., someone has turned one of the three tanks that we have to the off position - creating no hot water for 8 of our rooms. That means discontent guests and middle of the night phone calls to find someone to start the tank up again (we live 50 miles from the motel).

I just don't get people and why they use their creativity for mischief, and not for the greater good. Like Maddof's Ponzi scheme. If he was that financially smart and that capable and had so many great connections, why didn't he figure out how to fix the economy.

2. The first check out of the day. She is an author writing a book about how her son, who is 8, has been thrown into the DARE program because he walked into a field of marijuana and is now being chased by the owners of the field and that she is an ex-FBI agent who was disgusted with the program and is exposing it now and she was in jail for possession of marijuana and yadda, yadda. Oh, and did I say that she was dressed as a pirate this morning (?) and going to the casinos up north because they are running from this man who owns the marijuana field and who is in her book and they cannot stay at home because he is threatening them. Hmmm

Not drama, just fun...

3. Alex, our former employee and artist friend, stopped by to hand deliver an exquisite, hand drawn card. I will scan it and post it on another blog, because it is so special. It is going to be framed. His leaving the Sea Dell was his choice because of some interpersonal staff problems but we miss him.

4. Kids from Germany in room #17 found a coconut out front and cracked it open as part of their breakfast, which they are enjoying outside at a picnic table.

5. We have guests from France, England, Sweden and China checked in house today. The world is really shrinking. Interesting how so many speak English - at least passably. Down in the Keys, I need to take an SSL class - Spanish as a Second Language.

6. Two fellows from south of Athens, OH are staying here and are scouting out a place in Key West to open an NFL theme bar. Their buddy just retired from the Philadelphia Eagles and they are going to have him do the fundraising from his NFL contacts. Great idea, hope there will be a new place in the Keys to sit and watch the Browns lose next season. Smack me, NEXT year we will prevail...

7. Got a call from family up north who sounded pretty "festive" if you know what I mean. Although, my family needs no excuse to be loud and raucous. My brother made the call as though he were looking for a room to rent tonight. He asked if I had a room for a "loser like him" and I told him I had a room "especially for a loser like him". I didn't know he was pulling my chain until he told me who it was. Duh! As his friend Beaver said, "just because you are a loser doesn't make you a bad person." I will leave on that note to ponder and also maybe someone can remind me if quotation marks go before or after the period.

Into Every Life a Little Reign Must Fall

Meet Jenavieve Caplan Wells! Born on December 19, 2008 and weighing in at a petite 6#4oz. We are so excited for Jezebel and Matthew and also for us to have new granddaughter. Look at those lips! What a beauty! We cannot to go out to New Mexico in January to meet her.

The Visit

I came "up north" to spend time with family and friends before Christmas this year in order to be available to work at the motel on Christmas Eve and Day and let staff have some time off for their holiday. A side benefit has been that I have avoided the stress that seems to be inevitable with the holiday. I breezed in, enjoyed everyone elses beautifully decorated houses, ate great food, and visited with many people I care about. I will miss the cousins and their families on Christmas day, and the annual White Elephant exchange. I will not miss that next year. But, except for the heart hurting visits in the hospital with my friend Janice (who has a difficult road ahead but will prevail), this was a spectacular visit. I got to see all of my siblings and their kids. I tried to play "Guitar Hero" for the first time (I suck). I saw dear friends. I laughed and cried. I remembered how dismally grey and gloomy Cleveland can be at this time of year, but also how much the city has to offer and what wonderful people live here. I miss it.

Jack 'n Ruby

I spent a couple days in Toledo with Matt, Megan and the kids. Jack dug out this hat and wore it everywhere - it just happened to be Doug's (Matt dad who died 8 years ago). Ironically, Doug had a huge head but it wasn't all that big for Jack! Jack is getting tubes in his ears and his adenoids out Friday. He has snored since he was a baby and was always a restless sleeper. Ruby, on the other hand, goes to bed and sleeps through the night and wakes up smiling and happy in her crib. I call her Rubilicious. She is one doll baby. So happy and sweet. Jack and I made a gingerbread house and I so love his visits in the middle of the night and climbing in my bed. He is so smart! Currently, he is obsessed with trains and blow up holiday decorations. (He has three) .We spent a day in Cleveland doing the "Christmas" stuff downtown and then out to Aunty Bert's (my sister) for an evening of lasagna and fun decorating their tree. It was a great visit. Aunt Suzanne (sister from DC) came into town for a cousin's party in Poland the next day, and my brother Tom came up from Youngstown. The evening ended with us watching "Colbert's Christmas". Is this the new Christmas Classic?

Shooting Star

Yes, we do have Christmas decorations in the Keys. Although there is no snow, and the temp is in the high 70's, they decorate a lot down here. Maybe a little funky, like Santa's sleigh being pulled by 8 tiny dolphin, or Santa's sleigh being a boat, but hey, who said there was snow in Bethlehem???

Harry created this giant shooting star for the front of the motel. It isn't even a Star of David!! I think he did an awesome job. He went a bit crazy with lights, but no one will drive by and not see us. We will let you know how we do in the annual Marathon Chamber of Commerce decorations competition. Prizes include help with the electric bill!

Janice aka "Richie's Mom"

I got one of those dreaded calls; the ones that report bad news about a friend or family member. My friend Janice is in ICU. What started out to be a common health problem that required a trip to the ER has turned into something much more serious and life threatening.

I cannot stop thinking about her, her husband Fred and her family. She and I met through our sons - Sam and Richie - when they were in the same kindergarten class. Our families became melded, with the boys at each other's houses almost every weekend on sleepovers, and then going on trips with each others families, and then our sharing vacations. During those 14 years, we went through a lot of life's ups and downs and she was a tremendous support to me. The friendship was not always easy! We are as opposite as can be in some ways. I always thought that she provided Sam with fun and zaniness and I provided Richie with orderliness and schedules.

Janice is "one of a kind". Energetic beyond belief. Involved in so many activities and pulling those around her into those new and wonderful experiences. Very, very smart in a creative, imaginitive way. She can come up with a pun or clever use of words quicker than anyone I have ever met. She is forthright and not afraid of any confrontation. She is the proverbial Girl Scout (and she was a devoted leader) who carries a tote instead of a purse and can produce at a moments notice the makings for a party, campout, or flat tire repair. She does not cook. She is a talented calligrapher. She is generous beyond belief - with time and possessions. When Matt's dad died suddenly, the picture collage appeared for the funeral. When Sam was Bar Mitzvah'd, her assistance was invaluable and later, she gave him the most amazing scrapbook that remembered every detail of the event. The list of her thoughtfulness would go on for pages. She hosted numerous exchange students and just this past year visited one in Thailand. She is a fantastic photographer and not only carries a camera at all times and sometimes shoves it in your face, she documents every moment of everyone's life and then gives them a copy of the pic. In fact, if it weren't for Janice, how would I have made two huge scrapbooks of Sam's childhood? Who else brings a box of games to keep in a rental car on a vacation so the kids have something to do? Janice has never missed bringing a balloon to a birthday celebration. In fact, Janice makes life a celebration. And recently, she married a wonderful man, Fred, and her first grandchild, Ella, was born, and I have not in 14 years, seen her so happy.

Janice, I could go on and on about all of your amazing and wonderful qualitites. I am sorry that it has taken a negative event for me to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I appreciate what you have done for Sam. And I want everyone to know a little bit about you and send their positive energies your way. I am thinking of you, and praying for your recovery and sending all my love,.

The Eviction (cont.)

I cannot figure out why I cannot get it through my head that people are users. I wake up in the middle of the night, obsessing over giving away or selling this guy's "stuff" and feel guilt! Then, I turn it around and think, why doesn't this guy feel guilt over leaving his "stuff" on Matt and Megan's property and not paying the rent or communicating or caring about their ji-normous mortgage payment that is due and that they, as responsible people, pay on time! And that they have lost revenue while fussing with this guy and the eviction. And that they cannot even rent the house until the "stuff" is out!

P.S. Anyone want an outside deep fryer? Nearly new - worth hundreds. Now why the heck can he afford that, a new Jenaire grill, etc. and not pay the rent? And, what does one do with a used, outside deep fryer? I am not into frying turkeys, unless they have the same name as this bozo!

Eviction 101

What is it about the Keys that acts like a magnet to draw the most irresponsible people? I think maybe it is as far south as you can go so there is a sense of distance from the rest of the country. Our latest adventure began with a slick character who rented Matt and Megan's house. He seemed nice enough, sort of a "good ole boy". We introduced ourselves and were amazed at the amount of "stuff" he had but he seemed ready to settle in and we were pleased for Matt and Megan. But, when the second month of the rental came and no rent showed up, trouble loomed. Megan tried to pin him down. Harry stopped by several times. He had more excuses - he was in Brazil on business, his parents were ill, etc. No rent. Finally Harry filed the eviction notice. The courts down here do NOT waste time. Boom, after they put the notice on the door he had one week to settle with the court. He did nothing! Then, the judge ordered a 24 hour notice to be posted. Ken lucked out, the sheriff couldn't possibly post it over Thanksgiving (after all, it is pretty hard to drive 3 miles and stick a paper to a door) so he got a 5 extra day reprieve. Megan emailed him. Harry called and left a message - clear and simple, after the notice is served he had 24 hours to clear all of his stuff out or he would be considered trespassing and it all belonged to Matt and Megan. We counted the time off, driving by the house every day, hoping he would have shown up and it would be gone. He didn't show AND his cell phone was now disconnected! We had no idea where he was or how to find him! Meanwhile, the mortgage needs paid and Megan and Matt have people interested in renting. So, we cleared it out. I mean, four days of going through somebody elses stuff. So strange. And, when I found the gun clips with bullets, and also the IRS papers showing hundreds of thousands of dollars of unpaid back taxes - oh, and how about the package of his belongings collected when he was in jail. And the report from Juvenile Court about his son, who was in trouble and the roommate who just got out of jail in MAHONING COUNTY (where I grew up). It went on and on.
At first I felt sorry for him. After working my butt off, I stopped feeling sorry and started feeling mad. He didn't seem too concerned about the $400 court costs, the hours of work, the loss of rent or the inconvenience he caused. We boxed up his kids video games and few little personal things to store but the rest will go to a charity auction and hopefully what the kids recoup will help cover ours and their losses. It won't be a good scene if and when this fellow shows up!

Harry's Home for Wayward Crack Users

Our "beloved little orange motel", as one of our former staff called the Sea Dell, was recently hosting a guest who apparently began running a little "business" out of his room. At first, I thought he and his lady friend were just a couple of the routine characters that blow through the Keys on a regular basis. He wore lots of gold bling and seemed a bit out of it but down here, that is pretty normal! Paid for the room in cash from a thick wad of hundreds. It wasn't until his lady friend left and a gentleman replaced her the next day, and then subsequently a hoard of various men in and out all in various stages of degenerate appearance. Maybe I should have thought something was awry when the guest accidently called 911 twice (he told me he dialed 9 for an outside line and got confused) and the sheriffs showed up and an ambulance. Or when the guest kept asking various staff for towels and we finally put two and two together that each new homeless guest was using the room to clean up and then get high. How could we complain when every time we voiced a concern, the guest peeled off a large bill as a tip to a staff member? Being a bit naive in this area of drug use, it took us a while to figure out the scene. I mean, these guys were as nice as could be!! When the sheriff stopped by looking for one of the fellows wanted on a warrant, we had to evict. And now, we are sanitizing and repainting after having to throw out all of the bedding. And, I now know what crack smells like.

Thanksgiving

It is very interesting to me that someone can say something very simple, in daily conversation, that has a lasting and profound impact. What causes the weight of some words to be heavier than others? My newly created blog is the result of such an interaction. I was told that I did not tend to be "introspective". This was not a criticism, but simply an observation, given to me by my beloved older sister. I am taking that observation as a gift.

My blog is my attempt to expand my "introspective" nature! But on a more selfish plane (if there can be one for after all, spewing my thoughts for the world seems rather selfish), I want a way to connect with all of the wonderful people in my life that I do not get to interact with as often as I would like. My hope is that they will add their comments and we can form a community of sharing ideas, thoughts and profundities!

And let us all take time to think of all of the many blessings we have and all that we are thankful for, not only today, but every day.