We made an unexpected trip to Florida this week---just three days. We got word that Tracy's stepmother who we visited last January in Florida has been diagnosed with rapid-onset dementia. She was a vibrant, energetic woman who just a few months ago was still teaching piano and voice lessons, directing musicals, and singing in choirs. We had no idea what to expect, but she did recognize Tracy right away. I'm not sure she knew who I was the first visit, but she might have remembered me by the time we left. That's about all she remembers, though. She has no idea where she is, what's happening, and no coherent recall of past events. It's a pretty frightening disease. I'm glad we got there while she still knew Tracy.
The weather in Florida was truly a pleasure--generally 60° higher than the corresponding temperature in Rochester at any given time! We mananged to get some nice walks in on the beach, and Tracy's mom drove over from the west coast to visit for two days. The first pair of photos was taken on the beach. These are pilot gulls, and they always stand together in a group facing the wind.
Tracy's mom has always wanted to go to the Morikami Japanese Gardens, so one afternoon we drove down there. I have no idea what kind of flowers these are, but I just love them.
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I'll have more photos to share from the gardens in a day or two. I'm linking these to Helena's Zoom In, Zoom Out meme. The minute I got on the beach and in the gardens I started looking for good subjects for this meme. Such fun!
