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?