A wise man said to me today, “I know you are successful by how you take care of yourself, your diet and the love you share with your husband.”  This man is so right in his evaluation of my success.  I have always judged success by how much money I made and his perception reminded me how insignificant the amount of money is when you have no one to share your life with.  I am blessed with good health and a wonderful marriage to the man of my dreams.  Sure, a little more money would be nice, yet not if I had to lose my health or my husband.  So that makes me a very wealthy woman without having to make deposits or withdrawals.  I suppose cash is not always king!

I hung out with two little men today.  One is six, the other eight.  The eight year old brought his digital camera, video games and electronic adding machine.  Crunching numbers throughout the day, the calculations entertained both boys as they gleefully ripped off the receipts measuring who’s paper trail was longer.  The six year old brought his enthusiasm and willingness to plunge into the icy cold pool to the count of five.  The card game was short lived, the batman lego video game got rave reviews, but the special treat was being able to luxuriate in the Master Bedroom amongst the designer pillows watching their favorite TV episode.  These little men are the big men of the future and I’m glad I had a hand in their developing minds and hearts for one delightful day!

I love my brother, I truly do, and I may not agree with how he chooses to live his life or be able to assist him with the messes he gets himself into.  However, we share DNA, history and the ability to create from nothing.  There are probably many similarities between us yet packaged in a completely different form.  Years ago, I worked on eliminating all the expectations I had about having the “perfect brother”, whatever that was?  I consciously decided to love him for who he is and who he is not, discovering the freedom this new point of view provided me.  It was expansive and I no longer judged my brother or his life choices.  This unconditional love is a mutual gift that both of us will continue to enjoy for the rest of our lives.

Mirela answered a few questions for me today using her Tarot Cards and her very active spirit guides.  While shuffling the deck throughout the Reading the cards seemed to have their own kind of physical energy and certainly got my attention. The do’s and don’ts of my Reading were very clear and although there are some challenges, in the end all will be great!  I like to hear that little phrase, “things will work out well.”  All I have to remember to do is enjoy the ride!

Every Sunday my best friend and I go to the beach to perform a prosperity ceremony at the water’s edge.  We bring white flowers, fruits, sweet rice and our prayer beads speaking a special mantra.  We pray with intent, purpose and possibility as we cast the contents from our plastic containers into the sea and watch the seagulls attempt to nibble on our juicy fruits. And why do we do this dramatic display of faith every Sunday before noon?  Because maybe, just maybe the goddess of the sea will hear our prayers and grant our wishes. Perhaps it’s our way to give thanks for the future joys we will be enjoying from our devotion and efforts.  Or maybe our Sunday ritual is a way for my friend and I to spend some quality time together experiencing the breeze off the ocean, blue skies and puffy white clouds feeling harmony, peace and oneness with the ocean.

Lately I’ve been so happy to come home after a day of being out amongst people.  I find that my home is my sanctuary from all the noise, stress and chaos in my life.  I think about how lucky I am to have a home to go to.  I know there are people that have no where to go, no place to call home, no familiar place with the comforts of home.  Having a home is a blessing and I’m grateful to have a safe place. God Bless my home sweet home!

Not being of the Christian faith, I don’t generally celebrate Christmas. Today was a wonderful celebration of the Christmas spirit.  Embraced by the love and devotion of my recent to Floridian kids and grandkids, we all celebrated the first Tropical Tucker Christmas.  The day began with baking cookies for Santa, followed by dinner, caroling, kibutzing, and Santa, who was in a hurry this year and only ate one cookie.  It’s nice to have traditions, special ancestral recipes, green wine and the love of family and good friends.  Merry Christmas!

Prince Willem is a few months old and I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with this sweet little wise man.  Some babies just have that ability to captivate and this gentle little buddha did just that.  I held him and we connected very easily as if we were old friends.  I adjusted to his rhythm as he moved about and discovered his new surroundings.  I’ve been thinking how hard it would be to bring a baby into this world now with all the stress, global warming, political strife and worldwide financial challenges.  But spend a few hours with Prince Willem and it all melts away.  The twinkle in his eye, the smile on his face, the strength in his arms and legs.  A new generation of people ready for new times.  God bless you all little ones.  It is you that will be caring for us one day.

The Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum transported me to a simpler time in America.  This artist captured moments of American life that made me smile.  The details were extraordinary, and the work was truly absorbing.  More than 300 covers of the Saturday Evening Post, each one expressing the artists point of view, with a pure sense of humor and raw honesty.  This was a nice way to escape today, a way to freeze time for a moment as if I was captured at the museum by the artist for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.

I’m on a new kick now.  I’ve embraced simplicity.  No frills, no embellishments, just work with what you got.  This concept is being applied to what’s in my refrigerator.  I play a little game about making something great to eat without buying anymore ingredients and it’s turning out pretty good so far.  I’ve been using up all my old hair products by mixing them together and that seems to be working too. I guess keeping it simple is a way to not spend during these challenging economic times.  I have so much to work with so why get more, different or new?  I’ve been redesigning my wardrobe too by wearing things that are mixed and matched and inside out so I can get two wearings out of my undergarments…Just kidding!  I wanted to see if anyone was paying attention to this blog.