ISTANBUL and GREECE

Well I am back from a really good trip with three friends that I have come to cherish! As I said before I was with three different people from three different time periods of my life, elementary, middle and high school. We all got along and I believe we all enjoyed each others company. The cruise that we took through out Greece fit its purpose. The cabins were large, the food good and the stops that we made was where I wanted to go. It made it easy, that is what a cruise is for. I look forward to another trip with these friends in the future!

We all met in Istanbul and spent a few days there before the cruise. It was hard going back to Istanbul, because I was there with Lewis about three years ago for about five weeks. I kept remembering what we did. What restaurants we went to, what Mosques we went into, what streets we walked down. I kept feeling like any minute he would appear and come running up to me with his great big smile. But that was not to be had. I was melancholy, but thankful that I had those memories. I was thankful that I had had him in my life for as long as I did!!!

Greece was fascinating!! But most of all Athens was hard to beat!!! We spent about 4 days there after the cruise. It is so hard to believe that ordinary people with no formal education, because there was none, no computers, no machines, living in 447 BCE had built such structures by hand, i.e.; the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and so many other structures now in ruins. They lived in such dynamic cities. They had advancements that only came back into use many thousands of years later. I kept questioning and still question, what happened that we as a people lost the knowledge to build such structures, live in such cities, have such insights, such conceptualizations as to governing and policies, art, literature and virtually go backwards into a period that lasted thousands of years of literally no advancements at all in most of the populated world. What happened? Could it be that women were no longer in control? Just a thought!!

So now I am home for less than three weeks. During this time, I have an MRI, a colonoscopy, a eye doctor appointment, an appointment to get a blood test, get my last shingle shot and meet up with my Oncologist. Not to mention close my law firm, empty the office, get rid of office furniture and finally work on my plans for the home I am building in Costa Rica. A bit much I must confess!!! I am also jet-lagged. I know I will get it done, but I wish I had more time. Such is life!!

I am proceeding to move forward with my plans to build in Costa Rica. This too is hard, because I am doing it all alone. Do not misunderstand me, I do have friends that are definitely helping me, but I am alone in respect to Lewis. For fifty years he was there. He was involved in every decision that I made. I am now proceeding on a course that I alone make. It is a conscious decision to move on without him. Not that I have any choice, but this is a total change to my world. It is lonely at times and sometimes I feel quit overwhelmed!!! But if we are alive, I feel we must live that life and like I always say, to the fullest!!

We all have choices in our lives. Some are easier then others, but there are always choices. We can be afraid to move forward and stay where we are or we can decide to take one small step towards happiness, fulfillment and even love and realize that we survived that one small step. Then take another one, until you find yourself somewhere you never thought you would be, happy again. Losing someone you love or having an incurable disease or both, is no reason to stop living. Find your happiness, find something or someone who makes you smile and live. There are no guarantees of a tomorrow!!!

Life is not merely surviving!!!!