Christmas 2005.

 

Here I sit in the kitchen “office” at 5 AM trying to come up with something to write about…  Where do I start?  Right here in the kitchen office. 

 

I just about wore “Blessed” out last year but here we are again, Blessed all over the place.  WE dodged the bullet called Katrina; we almost missed Wilma.  I say almost, we did get winds over 100 MPH but the damage was minimal.  The dock is a disaster, however the boat is unscathed. Six roof tiles are broken or missing and 3 screen panels were replaced. I installed the SDS (storm defense system) by the first of September and vowed to leave it in place till Christmas.  Every window and door was protected and the garage doors had strong-backs in place.  Happy & I took the Camper to GA for the first ten days in September. Gara Ann went to take care of the Peiser “kids” (I think they actually took care of Aunt Gara Ann) and Mother Toalson while Bob & Alice celebrated their anniversary in Hawaii  She then came to the mountains and after a few days we then  came back to Marco to sort out business. We actually lived in “Ft.Apache,” all openings covered, till October when we went back to the cabin in GA.  Oh yes, Gara Ann had to first go to Missouri to spend fun time with “forever” buddies – Margot, Elaine & Cilla and the annual MIZZOU football game and visit with Bill & Vickie.  Texas really did the Tigers in, but maybe next year! Nate and Gina came to GA (complete with 4 rabbits, 3 dogs and NO snakes) to sit out the storm. The kids enjoyed cruising on the Harley and Nate & I went into the Cohuta (forest) on dirt bikes one cold day. It was fun having the offspring there.  The day after the storm left Marco they went home and took Gara Ann with them.  I (w/Happy) came home a week later.

 

As I said before, we suffered virtually no damage, however Nate & Gina’s property (Everglades sanctuary - see Nate News paragraph) was somewhat tattered & torn, five acres of disaster.  100-year-old cypress(s) and huge fig trees were blown down along with some really big slash pines.  One of the fig trees blown over carried three cypresses with it and the root ball is standing up 15 feet in the air.  It’s a good thing Nate is YOUNG & STRONG.  He will be cutting and burning the mess up for some time. It did open up the property a lot but it is a jungle and will grow back in no time.

 

Granny..  We moved Grandma Martin to Georgia on April 1st.  She is in an assisted living facility in Blairsville, Ga.  A really nice place with three buildings; her building has about 20 separate apartments with one resident in each and at the age of 91, she is the 3rd oldest in her building, with a 103 yr old and a 96 yr old ahead of her.  Of the 20 residents, only about 4 or 5 converse but she loves her apartment and enjoys visits to and from my sister Beth (Blueridge, Ga) and her grand and great grandkids (about 20 kin in all).  Still a clotheshorse, Beth rotates her four seasons of apparel (she has a small closet) so she can be up-to-date and stylish.

 

I think that Gara Ann, Happy & I have made about 6 trips to Ga. and back over the last year; getting the cabin ready for occupancy. The basement is finished now and the chalet over the garage is close to complete.  Each time we go north we pull a loaded trailer to get “stuff” up there..  Motorcycles, jeep, rock crawler “Aller Heap” (hillbillies can’t say yellow).  We had the garage built for the toys and it is full.  I hauled up #4,000 of shop tools and miscellaneous in October.  We drove up for 10 days over thanksgiving and enjoyed 4-in-a-row parties with family and granny.  Granny wanted to go home to Blairsville, just to rest up, after all that.  Beth put on a great feed on Thanksgiving Day for at least 25 people. I was only 2 hrs late for the dinner as the Marco guys insisted I go riding (Harley) with them and we went a little farther than planed.  By the way, there are at least 20 families from Marco that have places in Blue Ridge and 4 of those are bikers.  On the day scheduled to come back I got on the Harley (spur of the moment) and rode it to Marco. 732 miles in 12 hours of riding; 38 degrees in the morning and it was Ocala before the temperature hit 50 degrees. I would have trailered it if I had one with me. Gara Ann came home in the van with Happy for company. What a great ride.  I hope I never get too old or decrepit to do that; however that seems to be the track I’m on. Old age.. is creeping up on us!  I am approaching 63 in the next week or so. Not only do I feel it, I look it also. I can remember my dad giving out a groan when getting out of a chair… I do that..  It takes a few steps to get my legs working first thing in the morning and more..  Memory? What memory! I guess I’ll just get used to the fact that I’m OLD. I find people calling me sir. I look in the mirror and shave this old guy every morning! I’m starting to check out rocking chairs instead of girls..  I think I’ll retire the Harley and my leathers..  Maybe cut my hair and buy a 4 door sedan.. NOT!!! I may look it, feel it and be it but as long as I can get a leg over that seat….. I’m gone!  For my 63rd  I may just head down to Key West, ” without Gara Ann to cramp my style”.  How much trouble can an elderly feller get into?

 

 

Gara Ann…Our business…  After 20 years (5 months short of) with RE/MAX Gara Ann has gotten this terrible urge to change. So… after much soul searching and a great deal of research and planning, we are now Keller Williams Agents.  Core Values of the company are God, Family and Business.  That and a host of other reasons were enough for the change and challenge of building a new business on Marco Island.

 

We are working out of the house till we can get better accommodations, hence the “kitchen office” & the two others in our actual home office. In the next few days we should have a decision made regarding  office location. She is still a staunch part of the First Baptist Church of Marco Island and my favorite Sunday school teacher! She is as busy as ever at Real Estate and still finds time to be a mother and a wife. I couldn’t begin to tell you what all she does in a week, besides it would wear me out just writing about it.  As you know we seldom get more than a few days away from work together… Well, this year it was different!  The main reason is the cell phone, portable computer, fax machine, e-mail, internet and Carla.

 

Carla Lindburg is our assistant and she brings over 8 years of experience, has a wonderful way with people and we are really excited to have her on our team.  Gara Ann has everything needed to do business on the road. (An office on wheels). She has made 3 trips to visit her mom in AR.  I just remembered that she also packed Granny Martin for her move to Ga.  She is a BUSY girl!  She is also my BEST friend!

 

Nate news:

Nate wrote (script & Music), directed, filmed and played the music for a documentary about the Everglades Skunk Ape (Nate stayed out of the film).  For news articles see the web sites below

 

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14388703&BRD=2256&PAG=461&dept_id=455823&rfi=6

http://www.ghostlytalk.com/displayarticle231.html

 

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=31096

http://monkeydaynews.blogspot.com/2005/01/skunk-ape-movie-to-debut-in-april.html

 

Or type, Nate martin skunk ape movie, into your search engine for ten + sites. Check it out.

 

Went to the first screening of his movie down in Ochopee (pop 11), Everglades National Park.  Appeared to be a success. All the swamp rats he interviewed in the movie showed up.  Now there are some real characters and society dropouts. There were 70 people there, the movie was screened outdoors in the campground; and at least 6 swamp buggies were used as seating for the movie. Sort of an Everglades drive-in theater. 

 

Gara Ann, Nate, Gina & I have been looking for acreage close in to Naples and Marco for some time now.  We went out to a home on Myrtle Lane and the next morning decided to make an offer.  It had been on the market for 5 months and no! offers.  I called the owner on the morning after we toured it and it was GONE!!!  Bummer! Just what we wanted. A usable home (for Nate & Gina).. A guest cottage (for our old age) and a big barn... Wow! Swamp buggies - airboats - motor homes - TOYS!  But it was not to be.  We went on with our search but nothing was just right.  Nate & I went out to Barefoot Williams road area on Monday to go thru 2 homes.  Gara Ann called us and insisted that we tour home on Griffin Rd (5 acres and a home, barn and $100,000 worth of trees. (Royals etc). Nate said he wasn't ready to be a tree farmer BUT!!! On the way out of Griffin there was a FOR SALE! Sign on a property that wasn't there when we went down the road 20 Min before.  Called the listing agent - wasn't even in the MLS as yet.  Made an appt to tour this (Tuesday) morning and WOW!!! Five stars.  Mosquitoes, gators and GOD only knows what else in abundance (lots of razor-back hog evidence in the yard. Hog roast!) A real tropical rain forest! Every type of temperate flora & fauna (bugs) existing.  A real Everglades refuge.  5 acres of swamp & jungle. OK home! Big barn. 2 ponds and one with a Island.  A 50 x 25' orchid house that needs much TLC. Just SUPER!  … Did I mention the Mosquitoes (Swamp angels).  They keep the sissies out! Do you get the drift of this message? GOD saved the best for last!

Nate has really taken over.  He, Gina and a friend did a total gut of the house and have moved & removed walls, added closets space and expanded the bathrooms.  Two bedrooms were turned into a studio (sound) and a recording room, complete with window between.  They have done a super job and we are proud of them. One early morning we went out to take a load of trash to the dump and there were 4 Everglades Otter in the lagoon.  Just a fun place and loaded with exotic palms and plants.  Orchids grow wild and bromeliads abound.  Nate & Gina live there now..  I see a legal battle with the county to be able to put in a “guest house” for Gara Ann and me for our mature years.   Nate & Gina get to take care of us. 

It will be known hereafter as the Everglades Sanctuary. A major Element of the Everglades University (EEEE-UOO) 

Yes we are BLESSED and we know our blessings are from God….all things are His and on loan for us to enjoy and use for His honor. We have mentioned many material blessings, but His goodness is much more.  It includes relationships, opportunities, friendships and the peaceful knowing that because of HIS SON we are assured of a PERFECT ETERNITY in HIS PRESENCE.  Our prayer is that you too have this assurance.

Blessings & Joy,