Southern Holidays

I do get a little maudlin at Christmas, being away from our families and friends at home. We had Thanksgiving/Christmas celebrations before we left and that keeps me going. The dynamics of our families have changed and I realize that it is hard to replicate memories but I am so thankful that I have them. I am changing some traditions and making new memories. Ironically, being away also makes me more appreciative of home and family and friends there. We have been so fortunate to have met fun and like-minded people on our RV adventures.

This year we ended up having a very large group staying here for Christmas so we pooled our resources and rented a hall for a BIG Christmas dinner. ! Even the Sandhill Cranes joined us. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane It was nice to have some younger people around too. Ages ranged from 2 to ….well we won’t go there.

We played Bocce Ball and had a fantastic meal although as with most pot-lucks we had too much food!

The New Year’s Dance here at Sanlan was excellent. We danced all night to “Tony John” an Elvis impersonator? He had a great sound system and sang very well. At 1:00 a.m. we walked home in balmy air by the light of the blue moon and sat out for a night cap with friends. No falling asleep by midnight for us! I love the joie-de vivre of this snowbird and RV community.

It is still quite foreign to see the south in Christmas mode. Snowmen and Santas, greenery and wreaths, lights and decorated trees, nativity scenes; just like at home minus the cold and snow. Strange but beautiful in amongst the palm trees! We have enjoyed the “holidays” going to movies, visiting, playing games, eating, sharing happy hours with friends. Sometimes people comment that we are on permanent holiday and that may be true in some sense. But I consider it working at living and it keeps me busy, happy and healthy. Haven’t had a cold since I retired! I am constantly impressed with the vitality and energy of the “old retired people” down here. They must have something figured out!

Joy to the World

One day after Christmas 7 of us “girls” drove over to Lake Wales to visit Bok Tower and tour Pinewood Estates, an historical mansion there. Bok Tower is a National Historical Landmark with amazing gardens, a tower with a Carillon which has 60 bells of all sizes. Concerts are played and can be heard from the beautiful grounds. Bok Tower and Gardens were built by Edward W. Bok who was the editor of Ladies Home Journal Magazine for years. For a short version of the history of this beautiful place check this out. Or go to the Bok Tower main website from there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bok_Tower_Gardens

John and I had visited Bok Tower last March but we didn’t tour Pinewood Estate. This Mediterranean Revival Style mansion on the property was built in 1937 by C. Austin Buck, vice president of Bethlehem Steel. He had quite the playground here! Apparently he and his family used the mansion for only 6 weeks each year. Buck was an avid golfer and bridge player and he and his family must have really enjoyed this great winter getaway! The “girls” wanted to tour this mansion decked out for Christmas which is what took me back to this attraction. It was stunning! Twenty rooms were decorated by different sponsors and designers in a theme called Joy to the World. Hallways in between were just as beautifully decorated by volunteers who work there doing tours.

Once again I was struck with the lifestyle of the rich and sometimes famous people that existed at the turn of the Century and up to the wars. We have come across this on Jekyll Island with the famous Historic District and “Cottages”, on Cumberland Island at the ruins of the Carnegie Mansion and several other places we have visited in the last 3 years. In those days the “snowbirds” were incredibly rich financially. Now their playgrounds are accessible as tourist attractions for those of us with much more modest means but rich with the opportunities that retirement brings.