Holiday Newsletter 2007

Listen, the earth speaks wisdom, tells when and how to move. Sets a cadence for the rhythm of our days, our lives and unleashes the wildness within.

There comes a time in our lives when we are called to believe the unbelievable. If we allow ourselves to believe, we open the door to the infinite possibility of who we might become.

This is my first attempt at a Holiday newsletter. I tell you this with the hope you will grant me small license to indulge myself. Since keeping a blog for over two years, I questioned if this newsy draft was necessary. (Blog site plug: www.bearfootpath.blogspot.com) (There are pictures on it - I like pictures). Thanks to my small group of loyal readers, the journey and therefore, the blog continues.

As I sat outside the other morning with a cup of rich coffee flavored with vanilla, soaking up the warm balm of the Florida sunshine, the true reason for the season revealed itself to me. Nothing I didn’t really know on an unconscious level but here it was in the moment. Generally at this time of the year, I am taking antacids and sleeping pills as I fret over what to buy for each member of my family, how to ship it and how to pay for it. This year the dilemma has been removed from my hands. The extra funds are not in my wallet to make any purchases. A deep sense of love, peace and fulfillment washed over me that day. Remove the money and obligation from the Christmas equation and there you will discover the pure love and reason for the birth of Christ. Certainly not a profound or previously unexplored epiphany but one that, for me, brought me to this place of writing a holiday letter.

Naples, FL has been my winter home for the last several years. Breathtaking beauty, clean uncluttered beaches a short bike ride away, abundant art and music, dancing under the stars, a safe, friendly and supportive community and superb BIKING. Biking has become my passion. Three years ago, I bought a Trek. It has served me well once I found the appropriate seat for my tush. I managed to ride over a 100 miles a week while in FL. I rode with a group of riders (all over 55 years) twice a week but then rode alone or with a friend or two the remaining days. We rode to Santibel Island, Captiva, Everglade City, downtown Naples, Ft. Myers Beach as well as all the Naples beaches.

In April, Sebastian and I moved to Riverview (where I am now since Nov.29) to stay with our friends, the Harmon’s. Towards the end of April, I purchased an older motorcoach, a 38' diesel pusher bus. I still dream of the western trip and this coach has the power and the brakes to do it. As the time wore on and the punch list wasn’t completed, I left for the north with a promise from the service dept. that they would complete the work in the fall. (That work was just completed a week ago). My heart yearned for my family and I had two eighth grade graduations to attend. Bash and I motored up through the FL panhandle into western GA and into TN. There I visited with my dear friend, Marte in Maryville,TN. We hiked in the Great Smokies, laughed and laughed as we shared the fullness of our lives and consumed vast amounts of good coffee and rich dark chocolate. On to VA and a short visit with my grandson, Travis at Virginia Tech where he is now a sophomore in the Army Corp of Cadets. Continuing on to Ashland, VA near my daughter, Lisa and her family. Then we rolled on northward to Vermont in time for Colin and Emily’s graduations. Emily from Dorset School; Colin from LaSaille Academy.

Five months were spent on one side of the border or the other between Vermont and New York. Earlier this year I had decided to set ‘08 as the deadline for buying a permanent home somewhere in the bony ridge from Vermont to Tenn. My finances ruled out Vermont and Virginia, two states I hold dear. Tenn was a definite possibility since Marte would be nearby. It is still a long way from my family. Western NC, although beautiful, would be a lonely place for me since my friends are all on the Eastern side of the state. My eye condition worsened this year and I drove very little. One day while driving with my sis, Gloria, her hubby, Emory and my granddaughter, Emily, I had a true epiphany. “Why not settle right here”? Everything I am looking for is in the area; rural beauty, bike trails, an active art community and best of all, my family is within a hour’s drive. I also made a few dear friends. The only challenge would be the long winters (something I haven’t experienced in 20 yrs.) But the other mountainous regions also express strong cold winters as well. Following a few weeks of “shopping”, I found a cottage and barn situated on an acre and a half in the town of Hartford. The house had been renovated recently. I like things with history and this little house has a story. It seems it was two cabins up in the Adirondack Mts. Someone bought them and brought them to Hartford where they were put together in 1907. Of course, over the years various additions were made to complete the 980 sq. ft.

I had a storage unit in VA that I have been eager to empty. My friend, Pete and I drove a marathon run in one day to Goochland. The next morning I rented a Penske truck (very large and very yellow) along with a tow dolly for my car. We were joined at the storage unit by my daughter, Lisa, her hubby, George and my friend, Alice. We loaded that truck ‘til we could barely close the tailgate and it was dark. The next morning, Pete and I began another marathon drive back to Hartford arriving late in the evening. The following morning found us unloading the truck at my little cottage and into the barn. We had several people come by and lend a hand. On the morning of the 4th day, the truck was returned to the Penske people in Glens Falls, NY.

It was Christmas for me as I opened boxes that I had packed 4 years ago. I managed to sleep in my new house for 4 nights before moving back into the motorcoach, Bearfoot. Sebastian and I left in 29 degree temperatures for Virginia where we would visit with my family, the Taggarts as well as special friends.

A blown head gasket put the coach in the Cummins repair shop in Richmond while Bash and I luxuriated in comfort at the Spadora house in Rockville. Sebastian found new dog friends and spent the week romping.

Our first night out of the repair shop (a Friday night) found us tucked in tight with the “big dogs” at a TA truck stop near Emporia, VA. I don’t drive after dark and we needed to get off the road. We made our way the next day to Oriental, NC and the only “gaited” community in this town of 1100 sailing/fishing souls. Our trip south was highlighted by this special visit and Thanksgiving spent with my dear friend, Judi Wills. I also was able to connect with friends and neighbors from the past - I lived there for 11 years - John and Linda Hinners, Greg Bohmert and Marquerite Garrett.

We rolled on down to Florence, SC on Nov. 23. I experienced a flat tire which was promptly repaired by a man sent by my roadside assistance service. On down to Point South, SC near Savannah, GA, then on to Rally Park in Seffner, FL. The last day was a 370 mile day. I rarely cover more than 200 miles a day but I was coming down with an upper respiratory infection and wanted to get to where we were going. The coach was cold the entire trip from NYS all the way until the FL border. I suffered while dressed in woolen socks, ear muffs, a parka and lined wind pants. As we crossed the border into FL, the four-way flashers went on, I pulled onto the shoulder, raced to the back of the coach tearing my layers off as I went. There I pulled on a t-shirt and shorts. It was with no small amount of glee that I turned off the heat (that was ineffective anyway) and opened the drivers window.

The coach went in for that leftover warranty service while Sebastian and I visited with friends from Lake San Marino, Marion and Gary Gaffney. They had stopped at Rally Park for a few days to kick tires at the RV supercenter (Lazy Days). Within two days, we were bedding Bearfoot (my motorcoach home) down at a storage facility nearby. Bashey and I moved our necessities over to Brent and Sharon Harmon’s lovely home in Riverview where we will spend the next 3 months offering whatever support we can while they endure a challenge to Brent’s health.

I guess that sums it up for this year. Expect miracles no matter at what place life finds you.

Blessed Be,
Donna and Sebastian


Current address info:

Until March 1st -
c/o Brent Harmon
10504 Skylark PL
Riverview, FL 33569

After March 1st –

355 Shine Hill Rd
Fort Ann, New York 12827

Email: djlewis1992@globalweb.net
Cell Ph: 804 514 7825