susannefortune

This week I got out of my lane and into someone else’s. I’m not talking about on the street and in the traffic, but sometimes it feels that way. I’m talking about dealing, interacting with people and paying attention to the communication lines on the road and other human dynamics is extremely important, also drive defensively. I know for me, the only person I can change is myself, to listen close is critical; stay aware and timing is everything!
This has nothing to do with Baltimore, ok? Anyone who lives or works with people has to know what I am talking about, if not, call me.

Last weekend I made a quick trip to Brooklyn, NY. My daughter Laura lives there. In the 25 hours there, we accomplished a lot especially in her back yard. Laura has just moved to an apartment with a sweet garden. Over the weekend we worked to bring alittle garden life and to freshen up the yard, edge a little and dig up the dirt in her garden. We planted a couple new fall perennials for color. What she really wanted was to build a square foot garden, she did. Gardening projects always take longer than you have, but we got a good start and gardening moments happened. Gardening is more fun is when you have someone to work and laugh with.
We worked down to the last minute on late Sunday afternoon. I quickly cleaned up and Laura would swiftly get me back to Manhattan to catch the bus to Baltimore.
This picture was taken by Laura on her cell phone, in the very last minutes standing in her back yard. The click… click … click sound of her taking pictures would make anyone laugh just in the hopes we would get one good shot. She did it. The picture says it all, I think.

Can you believe this? This picture is taken on my phone, not Instagram, but a shot or two of the evening sky on Tuesday. Maybe it was a cold front coming in off the water, I am not sure, but it was beautiful. This picture says it all!

Happy Birthday Adelle, she’s one year old today. She is the cutest little girl, she has beautiful blonde hair and those big blue eyes and that SMILE. When Adelle smiles, her whole face lights up, actually her whole body lights up. If you are watching her smile, you can’t help but smile back, even giggle or laugh out loud. Then… guess what? Adelle smiles back, her smiles are contagious. She is pure joy at its finest.

She is the happy birthday gift. Adelle is the gift; I mean a precious, precious gift.

This is the closest I got to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on Wednesday.  This is Gate 2.  There is just something about a gate, makes me curious about what is beyond it, I am happy to leave it there.  Our Naval Academy is safe with me.

It does remind me of climbing over a gate once when I was young, not this gate just for clarification, but one to a swimming pool.  I will never do that again even if I were young and fit to do so.

Gates….now there’s a little disclosure about me.

Whoopty-doo in my Subaru!

This might not be the showy side of the Port of Baltimore, but it is the working people’s side.  The cranes, trucks, trains, buses, in and out, someone is loading and driving them.  They told me that the Port of Baltimore is really booming these days, that means jobs.   These cranes, driven by men and women were really moving back and forth, loading them up and transporting.

I worked one day this week at the Transportation Authority, two days next week.  There is something about working people, we all have a story to tell whether we are blue, pink, white collar, we all have obligations and commitments of some sort.

This might not be the showy side of the Port of Baltimore, but it is the working people’s side

I liked this side of the port.

Sometimes we just have to stop and say how we really feel.   OK, in that case I miss my Water Aerobics Classes and the fine, fine men and women in those classes.  I miss the wonderful and dedicated leaders whose commitment goes way beyond the call of duty.

You know who you are.  You know how faithful you are to the improvement of your heart, soul and spirit.  Everyday being there building your muscles, adding flexibility to your joints, strengthening your body and mind and YES creating those sexy shoulders.

So let’s hear it for you! Let’s hear it for me who misses you!  Keep up the great work and know someone in Baltimore is thinking about Water Aerobics and her friends there.

I checked in the Mini Cooper at the train station in Sanford,  I took a few personal things with me and they drove my car on the Auto Train.  You have to look close, but you can see the silver little car being driven on the lower yellow ramp.  See it?  Sixteen train cars held 170 vehicles on the trip.  Since I was one of the first to check my car in, guess what?  I was one of the last to get it.  These cars were lined up for check-in.

The estimated travel time to Baltimore is 17 hours on the train, no stops.   The driving time from Tallahassee to Baltimore is 15.5 hours with stops.   Amtrak serves dinner and continental breakfast in the Dining Car which is included in the fare.  How cool is that?   I was really impressed with the comfort and service for me and the mini.

The estimated time of arrival is 9:30 am Saturday.  All aboard!

Slam! I’m on my first leg of the trip. The rain is pouring down, but my car is finally packed, and I’m in the car. My hair is dripping wet, my glasses are extremely fogged, but I’m on my way while still sitting in the drive-way. I’m excited and terrified in the same breath. I have to laugh out loud at myself, say a prayer of thanksgiving and ask protection over me and others. I’m on my way.
PS. It occurred to me 45 minutes into the rainy rainy trip, I had left the cat in the house ! Thank you Jamie for saving the cat and continuing to encourage me!