I had a difficult time sleeping last night. Maybe eating too much of the from-scratch chocolate black forest cake that our friend across the street made for the party last night. I cut the smallest piece possible, but it was still tooooo big. But good enough, that I ate it anyway, lol. At any rate, I was awake for hours in the middle of the night.

This morning, I am out in my sisters kind of zen front garden, hidden from the street by palms and fruit trees. There is a lovely breeze, and a sunny sky, which I’m sure is getting repetitive to write about. It’s just so nice to sit here with my coffee and wake up.

As I sat here this morning, before my coffee was even finished making, a raccoon came around the corner of the fence by the gate to the back yard. He stood about 15′ from me, and just looked at me. He didn’t run away when I talked to him. He was not a huge raccoon, maybe an adolescent? But he stayed here with me for a couple of minutes, under the grapefruit tree. And then just casually loped back the way he came. I’ve never seen one here before.

I always believe when an unusual animal crosses your path, the Universe is sending you a message. So, of course I had to look up the spirit animal meaning if a raccoon crosses your path. The site Shamanic Journey.com says the following:

Raccoon’s Wisdom Includes understanding the nature of masks, disguise, dexterity, seeking guidance and confidence, questioning without fear, balancing curiosity, shape shifting, secrecy. No one, including you and I, are ever quite what we may seem – even to ourselves, for in our lives we can experience the freedom of many identities. Be it with friends, partners, children, parents, work colleagues, strangers etc. This medicine helps us to take on and let go of the many roles we fill. Having various identities isn’t negative, for we can learn to become adept at changing identities when appropriate. Over time this becomes as easy as selecting and changing ones clothes. Your many faces are about to be revealed to you. The racoon will assist you how to mask, disguise and transform yourself. Masks are a powerful tool – through the use of masks, altered states can be reached. If raccoon comes to you may be being asked to let go of a situation, person, belief or habit. Reversely, the message may be for you to receive the gifts being offered to you by the Universe.

The mask is interesting to me. I have always prided myself on the fact that everyone who knows me, knows the same person. But, I do see on a deeper level, that we all change somewhat, in our roles from wife or significant other, to parent, to friend, to boss. However, I think for me, the mask may represent the fact that I am writing the 2^nd blog again, and presenting a slightly different person on that one than I do here. It is not a bad thing. It is something I felt compelled to do, to stay the course I set for myself. I felt that the raccoon message was to confirm that I did the right thing, to allow myself some freedom.

The part of this message that really resonated with me is that I may be being asked to let go of a situation, person, belief, or habit. While I have determined to let the past go, a particular situation and person, I know I have not done that completely, yet I let more of it go every day, as my new life unfolds. I have more clarity every day on the reality of something that affected me so much. I think that thinking about it is now a habit, and again, as my new life here unfolds, I think about it less and less.

Writing in the 2^nd blog again, ties into this, because it gives me a chance to express what I need to express, but to not start up any drama over it. As a result, this main blog can be about things I love, and new experiences, and growth. Eventually, I think I will end up with just this blog again, as the other just fades away.

If you didn’t see my post about the 2^nd blog, it is one I started about a year ago because of a huge drama that was going on in my life, and a couple of people who read my blog every day, causing trouble with me and each other over it. It is a private blog, access is by invitation only. The 2^nd blog is www. Livelikewater2. WordPress. Com. If you would like to access it, type that address in without spaces, and you will get a form to request access, which will be emailed to me so that I can grant it. If it doesn’t work, just leave me a comment in this blog and I’ll send you an invitation. However, please be aware that I only grant access to people who have a current blog, and with whom I have had some interaction so that I know who’s reading it.

It seems the raccoon had some valuable insight to give me. I love when that happens. It’s kind of calming, to think that the universe is able to give me what I need. We are all tiny but equally important cogs in the wheel of one great thing I guess.

Love and light, all.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We had a very laid back day. The weather was awesome, again, today! Everyone was so loving it. Ate, and hung out and read, and did a little on-line shopping for a kitchen rug, and swam in the pool for a good half hour. Really swimming. Trying to burn off some of the Christmas calories. I haven’t gained anything so far, I’m kind of proud of that! Then we went to one of my sister’s friends house for a potluck, there were like 50 people from her neighborhood.

An amazing thing happened. One of my sister’s friends who has only lived here part time had her mother here with her. Come to find out her mother was my sisters and my home ec teacher in jr. high school (middle school) when we lived in Iowa!!!!! OMG!!! We took our picture with her, and talked about the other students, and teachers. I actually remembered her name!! It was incredible! What a small world.

I got to talk to my niece who was married a year ago. She and her hubby are so happy, I’m so happy for her! And got to facetime with my son, which was awesome. He’s so cute and handsome. LOL. And funny. Love that kid, and miss him so much. He seems happy, content with the way his life is going. We talked to our other sister in TX, and she’s coming up here in February. I can’t wait to see her, it’s been since June that we have all been together.

My sis and I are going shopping tomorrow. With the crowds. But we both need news shoes, and some jeans, and some personal items, lol. I have undergarments that don’t fit me any more because of the weight I’ve lost. Which is kinda cool, even though I don’t really want to spend the money. Still, it’s a new thing for me to be buying new clothes because my old ones are too big!

Merry Christmas, again, lol. Love and light, all.

This was my last Christmas tree in CT, last year.

What a beautiful Christmas morning, here in the tropics. I went to sunrise at the town dock with my brother-in-law this morning. We laughed, because it is not all that spectacular when there isn’t a single cloud in the sky. Still, it was lovely to see it come up over the horizon, and talk to a few neighbors. Now I’m sitting outside by my sisters lemon and grapefruit trees inthe cool morning air, sipping my first cup of coffee.

I had a hard time getting in the spirit this year, because it is so foreign to me to have the weather so perfect, for me anyway, at Christmas. Though I do remember last year in CT it was 65, and my friends were water-skiing on the lake in town. In a Santa suit. They made the evening news, lol. But that’s so unusual. Usually it’s iceboats on the lake at Christmas.

I did finally, get into the spirit. At home I exchanged gifts with my two best friends there. Here at my sisters, friends drop by with cookies, and drinks, with santa hats on. People invite us to their homes for some cheer, and conversation. It’s the people, I’m coming to understand, not the weather.

I told my sister I feel like I almost have two homes now, because her friends have accepted me, and brought me into their lives. I feel like I fit here, and at my own home. I sleep so well here, I think it’s just having family around. Last night my sis sent all the kids (who are all adults) a pic of her and I and wished them Merry Christmas. Most of them answered back, as well as our younger sister who asked that we photoshop her into the picture, lol. I wish she was here. She’s such a loving soul, but also so funny. She’s coming in February and we can’t wait!

Well, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. And peace in your hearts. I’m so grateful for your guys who read my blog, and who comment on it. I have made so many good friends here. God bless. And if you don’t believe in God, then may the Universe bring you what you desire. I guess that’s true if you believe in God or not, lol. Much love and light to you all.

Floating on my back,
Weightless. Cloudless sky above,
Dreaming dreams of you.

I don’t know your name,
Yet. I cannot see your face.
But I see your soul.

You reach across time
And find my hand, long outstretched
Tenderly, you grasp.

The dream is long and
Lovely. In sunlight we find
Love to share this night.

By Deborah E. Dayen

Picture from Google Images

We’re having such a laid-back Christmas. I’m just loving it. Neighbors drop by, but there are no big dinners to make, no airport runs. We miss Mom a lot, but as my sister just said, she was struggling so much, it was much easier to let her go, and know she’s in a place now where there is no pain, and where she can talk. I remember going to the psychic a couple months after she passed, and the psychic identified a female spirit, older, who was talking incessantly. I laughed because not that Mom talked all the time, but because the stroke left her unable to speak intelligibly, she was now saying all the things she couldn’t say for 18 months. It was so like her, to make sure we knew what she was trying to tell us.

So, we are sitting around Christmas Eve morning. Having coffee, writing, doing crossword puzzles, just kind of planning our weekend loosely. “Should I make the angel food cake today? Or tomorrow?” My sister’s home has become my 2^nd home, changing from the vacation spot I used to wait all year to come to. I know the lay of the kitchen now. And laundry room. I am part of the morning routine.

Don’t we all have a morning routine? Mine is make coffee, check my sugar levels, get my meds, and then sit down and sip my coffee while I read my email, check my blog, my FB page, so a morning meditation and write. The writing kind of sets me up for the day, helps me to center and ground myself. I like to do it after my meditation, often, because I think I write better when I have cleared my mind that way.

I’ve been so upset that they (I don’t even know who “they” are) rounded up the peacocks over the summer and took them away. My sister said there are about 10 left though. I’ve seen one. She told me a couple of them have been roosting in the big tree just outside her fence. I’m happy to hear that, because if there are 10, then they can multiply. Maybe the intention was just to thin them down.

I know that they did choose some people’s property over others to hang out with. And I imagine that they might get to be an annoyance, to have to clean up after them all the time. I know there was one house that was raised on stilts, as all newer houses here have to be because the ocean surrounds this narrow strip of land, that the peacocks loved to lay under the house, and hang out in the shade it provided. And yes, they can be noisy at 4 AM, but to me, it was a sound of Florida and I didn’t mind at all.

But still, it has always been magical to me that there were peacocks running wild here. When I would come in mating season, the males would strut around with their glorious tail feathers splayed. The first time my sis and brother-in-law drove me to their house from the airport, I remember seeing them, and saying, “Oh…..Everyone should live where peacocks roam wild.” They are just magical, beautiful creatures to me, and people are lucky to have them here.

But I do remember people telling me Canadian geese were wonderful and beautiful too, in the 30 years I lived on a lake in New England. And I said, yes, because you don’t have 30 of them in your yard, eating and pooping. Totally killed the grass on my property by the lake. And running to the water from the house barefoot was out of the question. So, the rational part of my mind gets the issues with the peacocks. But I still miss them.

Love and light everyone.

I am at my sister’s house. In the arms of my family. Sigh…big sigh. It’s so good to be with people who have known you your whole life, and love you in spite of it.

I got here about 3, after running a bunch of errands, doing a load of laundry. We sat and talked for a bit, then put on our bathing suits about to go in the pool, when 2 of my sisters close friends, now also good friends of mine, came over. We had a glass of wine, a little smoke, and some snacks, and sat and talked for a long time. I never did get in the pool, lol. It was around 80, and seems so crazy 2 days before Christmas. The weekend is supposed to be warmer.

My brother-in-law took us out to dinner, for lobster rolls. They make them with lobster salad here. In New England we are purists, it’s just junks of lobster with drawn butter. But they were still really good. It was warm enough tonight to sit outside, with a light breeze blowing, on the water, in shorts and a t-shirt. Just so lovely. I pinch myself every day, to think that my life turned out this way, after all the dark days with my ex, and then S. Really feel blessed.

Also nice to put the dating thing on hiatus. I just don’t feel like dealing with it at the moment. I had such a good time last night at open mic by myself, talking to my friends. Maybe I just need to leave it alone for the time being.

Going to bed early tonight. I’m very tired from being out so late last night, and being up in the night with a bug bite driving me crazy. Plus I think I instantly relaxed getting here.

Last night we all (all my friends and I) went to the open mic night. I was the first one there, of my girlfriends, because the others had gone to the somewhere close by to practice a song they were all singing together. So I sat down with the guys we hang out with, next to my good friend that took a walk with me last week, and the guy my friend Beth dates once in awhile. The guys had pushed enough tables together so 8 people could fit around it, and there were a bunch of the musicians there too, that I’ve come to know as friends. Anyway, the girls got there soon, and people came and went, we ended up with more tables pushed together, there were about a dozen of us, on and off.

My old bff from Iowa’s boyfriend came and sat with us. It was crazy, having 3 of us from the same small town in Iowa there! She’s coming to visit in a couple weeks with another of our Iowa friends. I have some good times with old old friends to look forward to.

The music was great. We’ve had a couple of new people performing for the last few weeks, different but good. They had so many performers last night, it ran kind of late. I love the relaxed atmosphere of the place.

Afterward my two friends came back to my house. We exchanged cookies, and just sat and talked in my kitchen for about an hour. It was good to catch up. It feels good to have my friends in my kitchen, you know? It seems like all my life, we have, my friends and I, ended up in the kitchen. Love sitting around my kitchen table with people I love and talking. It was late when they left, we were all beat. I went right to bed and would have slept through the night I think, had it not been for a bug bite from what they call “no-see-ums” down here. Teeny bugs you never see but that bite and the bite is worse than a mosquito. It was on my ankle, and I couldn’t get it to stop itching. I put cortisone on it, and finally after about an hour it stopped, and I fell into a dead sleep for about 6 hours.

Today, I’ll be packing up my stuff to go to my sisters for a wonderful family Christmas. It’s supposed to be warm, up to almost 80. I’ll be at the pool this afternoon, living the rough life, lol.

Love and light, everyone.

About a year ago I started a second blog, Live Like Water 2. I was posting in it for awhile to keep a couple people from reading my thoughts, and my heart. It began to feel like censorship so I stopped. Recently though, I have not felt completely free to tell my story, to work things out the way I do, here. Even though I have, I dislike doing it, because those same two people still read the blog (or were reading it last I heard). And I’ve had enough of not being able to put my feelings down without tempering them to avoid an ugly situation.

The 2^nd blog is private. You have to request access. If you type in (with no spaces of course) www. Livelikewater 2. wordpress. Com you will get a link to click on a request. I will get it in my email, and then allow it. I can’t put up the link here, because it would provide immediate access. I will still post here, but not so much personal stuff.

I also wanted to tell my new followers that I have a FB page called Living Like Water. This is the link to that: https://www.facebook.com/LivingLikeWater/ I’d be honored if you checked it out and liked it. It’s mostly a spiritual, energy kind of page. I don’t post a whole ton of stuff on it, but I get some good feed sometimes, and may be posting more in the future.

Love and light all.