2019 Highlights

St. Lucia to Antigua, Caribbean Cruise - January 25 to February 1

We were lucky enough to have another invitation on our friend's boat which was in the Caribbean. We met the boat in St. Lucia and returned from Antigua. Click on the following link for photos and details Caribbean Cruise.

Margot Bay, Roseau, St. Lucia

Falmouth Harbor Antigua

Puerto Vallarta - February 10 to 17

We joined our friends Joe Possa and Chad Kenney-Possa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at the Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa. When we registered they talked us into upgrading to a penthouse suite. It was huge and very nice. We ate at a different restaurant every night but the best meal was the one we had them cater in our suite which included a nice kitchen and a separate catering kitchen. We lounged beside the pool or beach everyday having lunch there as well. We kept the staff busy bringing us endless cocktails from the bar.

For more photos click PUERTO VALLARTA

Dean's birthday celebration in Islamorada, FL - March 29 to 30

To celebrate Dean's 60th birthday a group of friends and family gathered in Islamorada, Florida for a weekend together. It was the perfect spot and the group properly celebrated the occasion.

Italy - May 23 to June 23

We spent four weeks in Italy with Cheryl Millar. Cheryl has spent a lot of time in Italy while she was in merchandising and for many years as her favorite travel destination. Between her charm and Italian language skills, she is the perfect guide/companion for Italy. We spent a week each in Sicily, San Gimignano, Lake Garda, and on the Ligurian coast enjoying beautiful weather, delicious food, fabulous accommodations, and beautiful scenery.

May 24 to June 1 - Sicily

Our home for the week was a beautiful villa in Mazzaró a seaside town which is connected to Taormina directly above by funicular. We loved our villa, Taormina, and exploring our side of the island. For more details and photos click SICILY

San Gimignano, Tuscany June 1 to 8

On June 1 we flew back to Rome and rented a car and headed to San Gimignano experiencing another incredible place for the week. Driving we visited Chianti and had an over the top lunch at Relais Il Falconiere in Cantona. By train to visit Florence for a day. Enjoyed delicious food everywhere but Tuscany was the highlight. For more detail and photos click SAN GIMIGNANO

A stop for wine with view

Piazza di Cisterna San Gimignano

Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda June 8 to 15

Lake Garda is in northern Italy almost on the Swiss border. Our apartment here overlooked the lake and ferry landing. It was an ideal location for exploring the lake by ferry to the charming towns of Lemone and Riva del Garda. For more detail and photos click LAKE GARDA

Our apartment view

The town of Lemone

Pieve Ligure, Italian Riviera, June 15 to 22

Our large apartment was on the top floor of the former Pirelli estate. We enjoyed the wonderful gardens, terrace, pool and balcony with spectacular views of the Gulf of Genova and bordering towns along the Italian Riviera. For more details and photos click ITALIAN RIVIERA

Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Gulf of Paradiso in San Rocco

Dean's Lower Lumbar Spinal Fusion July 1

Prior to leaving for Italy, Dean had an appointment with a neurosurgeon that he had seen five years previous. Dean had been experiencing pain in his right hip and numbness in his right foot. At that time the neurosurgeon told Dean to wait until he could no longer tolerate his pain before he considered back surgery . Dean's situation had deteriorated to the point where he could walk only a short distance before experiencing pain and his foot going numb When we met with the neurosurgeon it was decided that surgery was warranted. Dean was fortunate because even though the surgeon was scheduled several months out, his nurse was able to find an opening on July 1. Dean was a real trooper during our four weeks in Italy where we walked almost everywhere. He had to stop frequently and stretch his back relieve the pain so he could continue to walk.

The surgery lasted about four hours and seemed to go well. Dean was released on the third day after surgery. The following week Dean started experiencing pain in his abdomen. The nurse who came by daily to change his bandages observed the swelling there and suggested that he go to the emergency room at the Cleveland Clinic. During the initial surgery a pocket was created in Dean's abdomen. The complication caused by the pocket took two months to resolve another overnight emergency room visit as well as five more procedures. The doctors did not want Dean to leave for Highlands but when Hurricane Dorian threaten Fort Lauderdale, we evacuated to Highlands on Labor Day weekend. Dean did better in the cool mountain air. We returned for a checkup but otherwise were able to enjoy the two months left our summer there.

2019 Holidays

We spent a fun Thanksgiving with our friends Donald Laier and Garrison Boyce at their place in Miami. We enjoy their special friendship in both Fort Lauderdale and Highlands.

For Christmas, we returned to our former home of Baton Rouge for our annual celebration with Joe Possa and Chad Kenney-Possa. We are treated as family by the whole Possa clan. Their warmth and love always make it special.