FlorIDA Hansons

A year ago yesterday we heard a homily at Mass about "rearranging deck chairs". It spoke to me like no other homily had before, and I think about it often. The last couple of weeks, I thought about it daily. I tried to remind myself over and over and over, "concentrate on what matters most. Stop trying to rearrange the deck chairs".  While Thanksgiving day itself came and went quickly, I think as a family we saw the big picture. We forgot about the deck chairs for a day.  We were together. And we were grateful. 

When Vivian finally got to be "in the room where it happened", it was better than I even imagined! Hamilton itself was incredible, but the best part of the entire night was watching Vivian's excitement!! Hamilton November 12, 2022 Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts Orlando, Florida Happy 15th birthday gift, sweet girl!  You are so loved! 

It's no secret that I won't miss very much of Florida...but this is my view going across the bridge to get Viv to and from school and swim, twice a day, day after day. This view I just might miss.   

Truth be told, I was never a big fan of Halloween when the kids were little. The mad dash home after school or practice to quickly change into the costume that was inevitably too small, too big, missing a piece, something. The kids would be spun into the ceiling and then hopped up on sugar after trick or treating and still the worst was yet to come, the-day-after-Halloween-too-much-sugar-too-little-sleep, hangover.  The best of Halloween world is really meant for parents of big kids...college kids...adult kids. Last night Viv got herself ready to go out with friends and Matt and I sat out on the driveway with our buckets of candy and said (probably) too many times, "oh man. Do you remember those days?!".  We didn't have to walk anywhere. There were no kids to wrangle. No flashlights to find. No race home for showers and bedtime.  These. These are the days of a real Happy Halloween!  The little little as the Good Witch  ...and the big little and middle little can't be