Surprising a friend for their birthday!

This had been kept a secret for a while and only a couple of people knew about this surprise. My friend Jeanies husband was going to be turning 60 and she was going to be doing a surprise party for him. When she told me about it I looked into flights from Atlanta up to Ft Wayne and it was doable for me. So the tickets were booked and I was ready to go. 

Thank you Justin for waking up early and taking me to the airport. We were up early and traffic wasn't bad for a Saturday morning. The last time I was in the Atlanta airport must have been twenty five years ago for work and boy had it changed. It was real easy getting through security and then taking the tram to the terminal. 

It was pretty crowded but not uncomfortable.....

The flight was full....

Of course I did some Migueling....

I got a window seat and the flight from Atlanta to Charlotte was barely thirty minutes then I had an hour layover...

What I didn't realize was that the airplane from Charlotte to Ft Wayne was a much smaller one and I had never been a n such a small airplane. 

Thankfully there were a couple of empty rows behind me and the guy sitting next to me moved back and I had the row to myself. The flight was pretty uneventful when suddenly we came up on some turbulence. Holy mama mia! The stewardess dropped a drink on one of the passengers and had to stop serving drinks. This went on for about ten minutes and thankfully I had only eaten a small breakfast or else I would have lost it. 

When we arrived in Ft Wayne it was raining and the temperature was dropping. This is what made it worth it....

Jeanie, Alyssa and Bug were waiting for me. 

The afternoon got colder and we knew snow was expected. 

We woke up to a winter wonderland.....

All the dogs ran up to me and had not forgotten me....

The snow is beautiful, Jeanie and Dougs home is so warm....

What is one to do when it snow?

You go out and make snow Angels of course!

This is my first ever Snow Angel, not bad at all!

Several people couldn't make it to the surprise party for Doug because of the road conditions. Everyone that did show up had a good time. Jeanie made some very delicious Chili and a banana bread cake with ice cream. Everyone loved it and there were very little left overs.  

Birthday boy holding his granddaughter Bug. 

They wanted me to read them a book....

I had a wonderful time today. I'm glad to have decided on surprising Doug for his Birthday. Sometimes you just need to do something totally unexpected, whatever that may be, just do it because tomorrow is never guaranteed!

I leave you with my Angel today

Did you miss me?

It's been a while, a month to be exact, since it last made an entry. Moving down to High Falls, Georgia has been a non stop adventure with my buddy Justin. 

Justin is the youngest of my friends that I've stayed with and life is nonstop for him, and for me since I arrived. We've been down in Florida more than what we have been in Georgia. The first weekend we attended an exotic animal auction. We've visited old friends and made new ones. 

The country side around here is very rural and we have taken hikes down by the river. 

I can honestly say that I have lived more in the last month hanging out with this beautiful young soul than I have in a very long time. He has made me realize that I'm not old yet and that there's still so much to live for. 

Life in High Falls is very different than anything else I have ever known. The struggles in small Southern Towns are real and everyone does the best they can. I have always been proud of myself in being a very accepting individual. I have friends from all walks of life, some with all the more new they will ever need a n their lifetime and some that struggle on a daily basis for the basic necessities. The thing I can say is that every single one of them has opened up their home, and hearts to me without hesitation. 

Some might see falling barns. I see history and think about all that has taken place in such places. I don't see the old but rather the beauty in the wrinkles of time!

Sometimes time just stands still in some places and for me it gives me peace and time for reflection on how lucky I am in having what I do. This year my friends have taught me, and given me, something I thought I had lost. The room in my heart to love others unconditionally is something hard to achieve but it would s possible. I chose to concentrate on the positive while on my adventures and let go and f the negative. I've been pretty good at it and I once again thank my friends for it. 

We had the opportunity to go and visit Zoo Atlanta. They are doing a great job with their Pandas.

As well as their Gorillas.....

As well as their Orangutans. 

We've done countless other things that I never thought I would do but that's for another post, or maybe a book in the future!

I want to leave 2015 remembering how lucky I am to have lived an undiscribeably amazing year!

Thank you Justin for giving me back some of my youth and remember the promise we made to each other. You are an amazing, and beautiful young man that deserves all that life has in store for you. 

With all my love!

Leaving Leland, NC

John Messmer was a Facebook acquaintance for a while before I met him in person about four weeks ago. Now I can say that he and John are my friends. They opened up their beautiful home to me without hesitation and showed me everything North and South Carolina coasts have to offer. 

I never leave my host homes without taking their picture by MotelMiguel and this was not going to be any different. I literally took this tonight because it has been the only time you could get both of them at the same time. Poor John M. Was already in his pajamas, please don't judge him just because this is the South!

From the very first time I met John M. He was a true southern gentleman. He took my friend Mark and I around and showed us the beach, the Fort Fischer Aquarium, took us to Caseys Southern Buffet where I ate pigs feet for the first time....

The pier at Wrightsville Beach.....

This guy having a blast with his dog. I don't think he had planned to go out n the water with him but sometimes impromptu fun is the best kind of fun to let go of lifes pressures!

This seemed to be the end of surf season and most of the vacation crowd was gone. I really enjoyed going to the beaches and enjoying their true beauty without any crowds....

Columbia beach was so peaceful and quiet. I liked going out and just looking for shore birds and anything else that caught my eye...

Like the sand sculptures left behind during low tide....

Making a connection with the birds....

Getting to meet Norma Jean, the Standard Schnauzer, being silly and digging in the sand....

The free souls of youth....

The first time seeing wild dolphins and actually capturing a distant photo of one totally out of the water. 

Sometimes a simple feather on the sand made me go off into another world, for a moment forgetting all of the negative life challenges us with on a daily basis....

I will always remember Dawn, the beautiful lady that helps John around the farm...

And her grumpy husband Sam. I'm sure most of the time it's just an act but deep down he's a softie!

I'm thankful for being around friends on Thanksgiving that have just come into my life but made me feel as part of the family. 

Being here for about three weeks has done my soul a lot of good. Being at certain spots like this one below at the right time and place to capture it makes me realize that I made the right get choice in doing this adventure. 

I was walking down Holden Beach the morning I captured the picture above, I got very emotional because it really made me think how thankful I am for all of my friends and I had to scribble it on the sand and capture it to remind myself not to take anyone for granted. If it weren't for friends back home helping me, family being there for me and everyone else who has been a part of my life the last year opening their homes to me, all of this would not be possible. 

My feet touching the Atlantic Coast for the first time ever...

I stopped and watched this man capture the beauty of the carriage horses in Wilmington waterfront district. 

There are many historic sites around the coast and Fort Fischer has some beautiful scenes...

The trees are incredible...

The shoreline is bright with all the vibrant colors...

It's waves attract many surfers. I met one that welcomed me to the area and even told me to take as many pictures as I wanted. 

The bird life in the area is incredible. I got some amazing photos of many birds and other wildlife. 

There is so much I'm missing here but have saved in my heart, in my mind and in the memories I take with me. 

Thank you John and John for all that you have given me these last three weeks. You guys have huge hearts and a beautiful home. 

Until we meet again!