2018 - Punta Gorgeous Life

Time has gone quickly since our last fall post!  

Joanne becomes 2018 Commodore, PGIslanders

Christmas was bittersweet - On the one hand, dealing with my 97 year-old Mom's severe shoulder injury (post fall into a glass table) and rehabilitation was exhausting.  On the other hand, my dear daughter, Michele, and wonderful sister, Claire, came to the rescue.  Claire spent a LOT of money flying here from San Francisco airport at the last minute.  That was so generous of her!  I needed them so much because Mom was released from Rehab right before Christmas and required MUCH ASSISTANCE acclimating to her condo once again with physical limitations.  Claire persuaded her to purchase a lift chair recliner, which helped immensely.  Michele, with her medical background, helped sort out her medications and was able to bridge the medical gap in figuring what needed to be done.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at La Florintina's and I made a delicious turkey dinner on Christmas Day.  Cousin Constance & Bill, friend and Christel helped us celebrate and it was fun!  

New Year's Eve Raft up Pelican Island

Fun with PGIslanders at Pelican Bay - 2018 New Year's Day

On New Year's Eve we celebrated Richard's 71st birthday at Pelican Bay with our PGIslander friends.  The weather wasn't as great as other years, but we still had fun with the gang on three catamarans.  Everyone enjoyed Richard's homemade carrot cake.

First sunrise of new year - Jan 1, 2018

2018 dawned.  I (Joanne) became the Commodore of the PGIslander's!  We had a great Change of Watch at the Isles Yacht Club and enjoyed the music of Latitude.  It is such a great group of people that when they needed someone to step up, I couldn't resist.  It's been challenging trying to get a few board members on course, but hopefully, club business will go well and we can get the Fun Meter to the MAX!

My sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Alan, visited in mid January and helped reorganize Mom's condo.  Bags and bags of old clothes were donated to St Vincent de Paul and slowly Mom started to heal.

We continue to be very active in Friendship Force, a travel club that hosts visitors from foreign lands and the US in our homes.  We also travel as a group to promote world peace.  In early January we welcomed Isaac Teye from the Volta Lake Club, Ghana, Africa.  He had missed out coming here because of visa issues.  He visited from 1/6 to 1/13 and stayed with us for a few nights.  Later in the month, we welcomed visitors from West Michigan.  We toured the Indian Mounds of Bokeelia, enjoyed lunch at Sandy Hook Fish & Rib House in Matlacha and explored the newly opened Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Garden. I created a program for everyone and Richard took pictures.  Lots of fun!  We are currently preparing to go to Brazil this spring.  Can't wait to see Iguazu Falls, Rio and Paraty along with visiting clubs in Sao Paulo and Nova Lima.

Richard accepted the position of President, Charlotte County District, St Vincent de Paul.  He chairs monthly meetings and interacts with each district president in the smooth operation of helping the poor.  He recently helped raise over $20,000 in the annual Walk for the Poor.  This is a 3-year commitment and I'm proud that he stepped up to help the community.