MADDERLY REVIEW
  • MAIN
  • GUEST REVIEWS
  • FEATURED AUTHORS
  • ABOUT
  • SUBMIT A REVIEW
  • CONTACT

Thru My Looking Glass

12/6/2019

0 Comments

 
"If you’re lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call them. Don’t text. Don’t email. Call them on the phone. Tell them you love them and listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you.”
—-J. k. Simmons

Thanksgiving is sadly in the rear view mirror as everyone prepares for the December holidays. During most years the week of Thanksgiving is my favorite week of the year. Son Michael comes for an amazing ten days and we re-explore all of the fun that South Florida has to offer. If you are planning a trip to my neck of the woods this winter, you shouldn’t miss Morikami Japanese gardens and Lion Country Safari.

Morikami offers about a one mile walk through the most beautifully manicured landscape you will ever experience. The hike is punctuated with waterfalls, peaceful zen gardens, several museums and a much loved Japanese restaurant. Tourists and locals alike explore the area in a respectful manner. Rarely do you see a person on a cell phone or a person littering, and the children seem to realize that this is a place for their inside voices.

Lion Country Safari, on the other hand, is a child’s fantasy. The first part is a slow drive ( (approximately 45-70 minutes) through the various African habitats that house an amazing collection of freely roaming animals. From zebras and wildebeest to rhinos the animals graze and wander about with no fear. The antelopes frolic in large herds and the lions (the only truly gated animals) are given lots of room to roam but generally prefer sunning themselves as cars drive by.

When the drive is over their is a walking area with miniature golf, boat rides, a small water park, giraffe feeding and smaller animals on display. The gift shop and restaurant help keep the kids satisfied, and rarely do you see an unhappy child. Although Lion Country is definitely child oriented, adults love it too. Arthur and I get yearly passes and drive through every few months. It is so much better then a zoo...no cages and much larger groups of the animals that live there.

This was a bittersweet Thanksgiving for our family. My dad, 95 years old and quite ill, died on November 22. He was a very vibrant senior citizen for most of his later life, taking full advantage of the activities offered to him in his senior life care community, but the last few months have been rough. Although his death was not a surprise, it is never easy to lose a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or friend, and his empty seat at Thanksgiving made it a difficult day. It would be nice to believe that he spent the day with my mom after being apart for seven years, but he was missed here.

That is why J. K. Simmons’ quote had a great deal of meaning for me this week. I can’t tell you how many times over the last few weeks I went to call my dad to check on him before remembering he was gone . Even though we talked almost every day, I still think of the days I skipped calling and wish I had them back. Our lives are busy, and it is easy to put off those phone calls or visits to those we love, because we believe there will always be another day. Forget any grudges or annoyances and enjoy your loved ones while you can. The holiday season is a great time to connect or reconnect.

It is also a great time to read. Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page. I highly recommend it as a gift for a friend or for yourself.

As always, a complete review of this book follows my blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
​Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Submit

    Genre

    All
    Biographies Memoirs
    Childrens
    Comics-graphic-novels
    Cozy Mystery
    Erotica
    Fiction
    Food Wine
    Historical
    Humor
    Legal
    Medical
    Mindbody
    Mystery & Thriller
    Non Fiction
    Poetry
    Political
    Psychological
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    Sci-fi-fantasy
    Selfhelp
    Sports
    Teens Ya
    Travel

    Site Search

    search engine by freefind

    Archives 

    January 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.