March 23, 2010

Hi Friends,
Well, it sure had been a long time since I blogged. Not much went on in Bonaire except diving and spending time with friends until the last two weeks. At that time, the owners of Buddy offered to buy my condo. I did not intend on selling this soon but after much thought and talking with the kids, I decided to go ahead with the deal. I will still get to use my condo when I am down there and can keep my owners closet with all my dive gear for a period of five years.
I will continue to go to Bonaire in the winter but now have some money to invest which is a good thing.
It was really hectic trying to tie up loose ends in such a short period and I was so glad for Cassie and her friend Mary who were with me the last week to help. Even though I will still have use of the condo, it will be different because they will turn it into a three bedroom. They will keep Joe's photos of fish up but I had to say goodbye to "our place" as it was.
I came home Saturday night exhausted from the trip and the emotions.
But now I am recovered and will start swimming today to get ready for the state meet the end of April.
Our diving was terrific. I did 62 dives while I was there but more important were the times I spent with friends from Church there and friends like Ed and Jayne and Bob and Diane with whom I spent most evenings playing cards or dominoes or dice.
Our kids are all fine. Several are in theater productions this spring and Isabelle, Mike and Heidi's daughter just did her first horse show. I hope to visit the out of towners this spring and some of them are coming in to see me.
The weather here in IL. is not quite like Bonaire but I am glad to be back home with my midwest friends.
Hope you all had a good winter. Let's catch up on email.
Take care and God bless.
Mary Anne

March 3,2010

HI Friends,
It's been awhile since I blogged but nothing much goes on in Bonaire except diving and spending time with friends. It is great exercise to dive and wonderful to nap afterwards. Some of our European friends have gone back and others have arrived or are still here.
I have a friend from MN here who is a diver and we taught her hand and foot. Now we can olay four handed or six handed so that is a lot of fun. We are seeing more turtles this year and the friends I dive with are good at finding sea horses and frog fish, which are hard to spot because of their ability th change color and blend in with the coral.
I will be here several more weeks and Cassie, our daughter will be here the last week with me.
Lucky continues to enjoy the warm weather and the nice walks in the morning. We generally dive two dives each day and take Sunday off for church.
Television is Ok down here but everything comes on two hours later than in Chicago so I generally can't stay uop taht late. We watched some of the Olympics but missed the late night stuff.
Hope you are all surviving the winter. It sounds like it was bad in Florida and midwest.
Take care and God bless.
Mary Anne