[/i]A beautiful day here on the bay.  Everything shiny clean from all the rain, and and bay waters twinkling like a huge carpet of diamonds.

Jenny, while your loss and grief has been carving a wound in my brain, I looked up some of the past and found a particularly happy time for you and Bob back in 2012.  Do you remember, well of course you remember, your September 25th that year?  You spent it in PARIS!

You started your day in England, and took the train under the channel.  Oh, how I envied you.  And what a splendid, shining memory!

I never made it to Paris, but did send one of my daughters there to the Sorbonne for her Junior Year abroad.  She has been back many times since and thinks of it as her very own city.

I loved reliving your excursion notes once again.  It all made for a very long day, but a memory beyond price.

Our most beloved memories are the ones that constantly pop to the surface of our minds and wrap us in a cozy comfort of remembered bliss.

My daughter Becky surprised me with a visit Tuesday.  She flew in from Kansas City to surprise us all and be with a dear friend through the surgery she is having today.  My son-in-law Steve picked her up at BWI while Debi (Our Parisian) picked up Ava from her swimming lesson.  I haven't told you, or maybe I have, I am stone deaf now, so I was tidying up my bedroom when I cruised out into the living room and saw all these faces occupying the chairs & sofa.  Even five year-old Ava was quiet as a mouse!  Unexpected Fun!

Becky will spend some days with me and with other family members before flying home again.  Fortunately, we are having comfortable weather for June. 

Mary Page -  How nice to have a surprise visit from your Kansas City daughter,  Becky.  The best thing about having out of town family arrive on the scene, is that it's an excuse for all those who live near you, to come by to say hello!      Always fun to see everyone laughing and talking together, even if only for a short time.

I envisioned your view of the bay this morning, with the "twinkling carpet of diamonds".  Nothing more refreshing and beautiful, than the ever changing look of a body of water.  Throughout a single day, it changes constantly - depending on the position of the sun, or clouds,  rain or boats, et al. Then at night the scene shifts, and you have colored lights from businesses, anchored boats, and of course the moon!

I used to have a similar view,  in the long, long ago, but now my view consists of high mountains that surround us, called the Coast Range.  Separates us here in the valley, from the Pacific Ocean on the other side.  Twenty miles to drive "over the hill", and enjoy the cool ocean breeze, the sea food restaurants, and the beautiful  beaches.    Used to drive over at least once a week,  but now, the winding mountain pass is too much for me to manage.

It does change by the hour, Marilyne.  Any large body of water does, be it river, lake or estuary (that's what our Chesapeake Bay is: an estuary.)  I never tire of it.

June 26th already, wow this months has flown by.  Now getting into the heat of the real Summer here.  Just stepped out on the front porch and thermometer reads well over 90 degrees (can't see all the little lines) with the heat index, I'm sure it is 100 degrees+.

Looks like only the true stalwarts are here today, think the heat's getting to everyone.  Love seeing posts where the temps are in the 70's!  So, Amy, Jane, Patricia, Jackie and Gloria, stay cool.

I feel so sorry for all those people in Florida where the tall condominium collapsed, so many unaccounted for.  After having read the report that came with today's picture, I am deeply worried about other buildings in the same area that haven't had their inspections or remediated the problems that inspections showed.
Just another example of $$$ over lives.  Line their pockets and the divil take the hindmost.

Me too Tomereader. What struck me most is how fine much of the debris is. It can't be possible to clear this very quickly if one is looking for survivors or bodies. It will be a long, slow process and a horrendous wait for family members. DNA identification isn't all that speedy either. If the structural damage was a known for a while, why were people still allowed to live in the building? Isn't there a saying somewhere in the Bible about warning people against building houses on sand?

I was talking to my newest next-door neighbor yesterday morning. We mostly talked about allergies and local wildlife. She said a neighbor four door up from me spotted a bobcat the other day. I noticed we have a lot more birds this year singing and chirping away. We both remarked about the green space below us, across the alley, hadn't been mowed yet this year, unlike other years. Someone must have heard us, it got mowed yesterday afternoon.

The temp this morning is 72, with it getting up to around 91 with the possibility of some light rain, or so the weather report says.

Be leaving for church in the next few minutes, not an inside but sitting outside to the roadside, will be going in my mobility scooter as elderly man who offered to take me has gone to his daughters this weekend, several counties away...Our weather has been this week for rain showers and thunder is forecasted today, so far so good but it looks dismal out there at 3.30 pm...anyway i bought a mobility scooter waterproof cape-poncho for myself if need be...

Yesterday, they had a fast-moving fire in the condominium debris field, so it's a recovery mission now. From what I understand, Florida is sinking. Sand shifts, water moves in, and in many cases, sinkholes are developing. The entire area is and has been unstable. ACCORDING TO SCIENTIFIC SOURCES, most US coastal regions in the lower forty-eight states will either be underwater or disappeared completely.

By most credible sources, "At any rate, it could even be as early as 2050 when much of the Florida coastline would be underwater, depending on what the results of newer data might say. Flooding would affect Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay, and any other major center touching saltwater. That same fate awaits any coastal residence, regardless of nation or continent."

The condo disaster in Florida, is incredibly shocking. 
As you said Patricia, I'm afraid this is only the beginning.  More and more of those sink holes have been popping up all over Fl, in recent years, which is a bad sign.  I sure do wish they would evacuate everyone from the other half of the condo!  I know if I lived in the other half, I would be out of there in short order!

For those of you who remember one of our members from Senior Net, and also for a short while here in S&F - Marty from Miami.  He and his wife Barbara, lived in a high rise condo in  Surfside!  I had their address, and have been searching through all my old address books, looking for it, but haven't found it yet.  Although Marty died, about five years ago, Barbara planned to continue to live out her life in the condo, which they owned.    I have been watching for the names of those who are presumed to have died in the collapse, but I haven't seen her name - so hoping that they likely lived in a different building.    I have no idea how large of an area Surfside is?

If I lived in one of the remaining buildings I would be moving and fast!!! They said that they knew about this problem in 2018  and they were just going to do something about it this year but the collapse beat them to it.

Can't imagine what the families are going through ,waiting to hear if their loved one is alive or not...so sad..

I thought of the Climate Change problem with the water right away when the news came to us last week, but decided I must be over reacting, as I have heard not one word about that other than that water has damaged the concrete under the swimming pool and that one tenet had filed an official complaint about water damage to her apartment.

The New Yorker has had some really great articles about the Florida problems.  It seems that they are saying this, but I am no expert and it takes one to fully understand:

Apparently, because the aquifers are becoming empty of water storage, the sinkholes are occurring.  This is the same problem, or one of them, causing Miami Beach to have water in the streets and on the sidewalks when they have bad weather now.  Not flooding such as you and I know it, but the water is literally coming up from the sea UNDERNEATH the roads and sidewalks and buildings, etc.  Not down from the clouds above, but UP FROM UNDERNEATH.  Never in Life have I heard of this other than through those articles.

There was also mention of acreage that has been growing food having the same problems and salt accumulating making said fields unable to grow crops.  This is what is already happening in Central America and is one of the causes of hoards of people coming up here: if they cannot produce food, they want to go where they can!

I may have some of this wrong, but this is my interpretation of what I've been reading.

MaryPage, you're not wrong, "Sunny-day flooding may sound like an oxymoron, but it's becoming common in coastal cities like Miami, Charleston, Norfolk, and Boston. It happens when tides reach up to 2 feet above average levels and spill into streets or bubble up from storm drains. Sea level rise, driven by climate change, is making the problem worse.

Some of these cities are considering spending billions of dollars on seawalls to hold back the tides and also protect cities from surging water during storms, but coastal scientist Gary Griggs of the University of California Santa Cruz sees this as a temporary solution at best. In his view, cities should be thinking about a bigger question: when and how to move back from the water's edge." Re: The Conversation

Some islands are becoming uninhabitable and being evacuated in the Indian Ocean and Southern Pacific due to higher storm surges and rising sea levels. We are seeing the same in the Aleutians and the Priphofs off Alaska's coast.

We have also lost some islands here in the Chesapeake Bay.  I saw a video of one.  The photographer knew it was going and took film over several years.  Then it was down to just one house, a fairly sizable old home, and he filmed its final collapse.  Left me feeling rather forlorn.

Is there still a flower gardening place on S&F.  I just wanted to post a comment, or info about a plant that I received.

Tomereader, yes there is but no one has posted in it for quite some time...link

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?msg=146852

Thanks, Jackie.  But no one would probably see it.  I'll find somewhere else to post.

A good SUNDAY afternoon HELLO to all. 

We have been out all morning trying to get all the rain water out of my patio cushions. The debris from trees and plants all over the place too. We received 2 1/2 inches on Friday.....then more yesterday and more again today. I am not complaining as any moisture is welcomed‼️ Sure wish theWest Coast could get some nice showers.🙏🙏

Dave and the kiddos are back in Boston after two days in NY City.  Dave's best friend from high school help to tour them around yesterday.  They walked over 22 miles, so they are exhausted and their feet are very tired‼️😅 Tomorrow they will fly home....and reality will set in as they are back in their home🙏🙏

JACKIE, hoping you had a nice outing on your scooter today. 

We all are at a loss of words over the Miami codo disaster.  How many more buildings like that are in danger?  So sad for the families that are waiting word on their loved ones🙏😩

MARY PAGE, tickled pink to read you had a surprise visit from your Becky....nothing finer than family time together 💞💞  Thank you for the reminder of our wonderful visit to Paris.....those kind of happy memories are what keep our spirits up these days.  Seeing pictures that the family shared from NYC yesterday also helped to remember our time there not that long ago.  One of my solemness  moments was standing at the reflecting pools of the 9/11 Memorial titled "Reflecting Absence" by Michael Arad. You could hear a pin drop....

MARILYN, your comment, "Twenty miles to drive "over the hill", and enjoy the cool ocean breeze, the sea food restaurants, and the beautiful  beaches."    Oh how I would love to take that drive right this very minute! 

OK....enough of my reminiscing.....loved all of the posts....thanks to ALL for giving us something to learn, remember or what every.  So blessed to have a nice group to chat with. 

Jenny

Here is a partial list of island nations or groupings that have experienced erosion, loss of villages or towns, and loss of populations, loss of entire islands due to rising sea levels.

Soloman Islands, Fiji, Maldives, Palau, Micronesia, Tuvalu, Seychelles, Kiribati, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Tangier, Virginia, Marshall Islands, Shishmaref, Alaska, all will be gone in the next 80 years.

Hi Jenny, Joanne, send me a photo, and I'll see what I can find out for you.

I guess no one remembers "Marty from Miami"?  I think he mainly posted in the Music, Television and Movie boards on the old Senior Net.  I recall that Joan Grimes, was in charge of those boards, as well as a few others that I can't recall at the moment?  When SN closed, and S&F opened, Marty was here for a year or so, and then slowly faded away.  I kept in touch with him and his wife, up until the time that he passed away.

RAMMEL  -  I know you remember Marty, and the many  interesting messages he posted over the years.

As for the eroding coastlines - It's happening here in California, as well.  Lots of sad stories of coastal homes, restaurants and apartments built high up on a cliff overlooking the ocean.  Then the waves wear away the under part of the cliff, and eventually the top part weakens, and the land plunges into the Pacific Ocean, taking the structures along with it.  Fortunately, no casualties, as there was plenty of warning of what was to come, and the buildings were condemned and fenced off from curious onlookers.   

Yes, I certainly do remember Marty. Somewhere I still have the multi-part story he posted - about his career and how it developed.

RAMMEL/Rick - As you know, Marty passed away a number of years ago, but his wife Barbara is still living, as far as I know?  She was planning to stay in their condo, in Surfside.   I'm just hoping that it isn't the same condo building that collapsed?    No way of knowing if that was their building but I will read the full list of those tenants who did not survive,  and hope that I don't see her name.

Jenny - I'm glad that Dave and the kids spent some time in Boston, with friends and family.  They will have a lot to do when they return home.  You will all be busy preparing for Michele's, Celebration of Life.  Do you have dates set yet, or probably you're waiting for Dave to return to make those plans?   Always thinking about you and Bob, and praying for strength and acceptance for Dave and the children.         

Good evening from the hot and
humid rocky coast of Maine.   
For a few days this heat etc
will be around and then cooler
weather is due..   
Hopefully.   

We are coming up to the hottest
Summer Months (July and August
 and a while in September) so
my AC will be working hard
for the next few weeks.   

That is what it is for!!
Better Breathing made possible
because of it. 

I have lived on or near the Coast
all of my life.  When I lived in Florida
for 7 years,  and in the great
North West for a year and
of course here on the
rocky coast of New England, 
Maine, NH, and Massachusetts.   

I can't imagine living away
for a coast,
and so far I have been lucky
not to have to.   

 I suspect that I will be here in
this apartment for the rest of my life.
(   Phew... )
I am sure glad that I do not
have to concern myself with
where I set up housekeeping
any longer.  Just continuing to
clean and de-clutter.. 

The apartments that collapsed
in Florida are terribly frightening 
and horrible to think  about...

Those poor people... 
It is terrifying
for me to  contemplate.   
I suspect that global weathe
 change is part,  if not all of
their problem.   

I am glad to see that Dave's
family went away
for a while...
They have so much to recover
from.   Hopefully  Dave will
find some one to
help them all recover
from such a terrible blow to
their lives.  The cost of losing
his wife and his children's Mom

Now that Covid is close to being
behind us perhaps the children will
get back in school and find some
relief there.   I can't even imagine the
distress they all are feeling and will be
feeling for a very long time.   

All is well here.   I  still have a date with
Kelly one day a week   (now it is Fridays)
and the city is opening up so I feel
very fortunate indeed ... 

Best wishes to everyone

Sandy   

Jenny...yes, just enjoyable to get out in the fresh air for the odd hour and amongst other human beings...and our rain showers kept off as well...

Tomereader ( Joanne ) it would be good if you opened up our " gardening " topic again...you could give it a try and see if it gets any response...

Rammel ( Rick ) & Marilyne...yes the name of Marty on our forum rings a bell...but that is going back some years....

Are there really enough voices left in Seniors & Friends to spread out into more specific topics?  It is something of a chore, a wee bit of a chore, mind you, but anything time consuming in this extremely old age time of my life punches necessary items on the Daily To Do List out of their accustomed order and leaves me in a state of confusion as to what their status is, as in:

Do I need to count out my pills into their little boxes?
Or did I do that already?
Did I take my pills due an hour ago?
OMG, I can't take a 2nd one of that blood thinner, or I might kill myself!  So did I take it?
I shouldn't have spent so much time on my computer.

So why can't we discuss gardening stuff right here?  Norm's place always entertained every topic under the sun, except the rest of us prayed bait & tackle, and especially bait, wouldn't be on the agenda.

I have loved, in my long life, Books first, starting with age 3, and gardens second, beginning with age 7.  My 7 year-old garden had one row of tulips and one of radishes.  I fell madly in love with a handsome young West Point Cadet, who was also my father's First Cousin, because of that garden.  He was paying a visit to our quarters, and I grabbed him by the hand and pulled him out behind our duplex to show him my magnificent achievement.  I tore a radish out of the soil and waved it under his eyes.  Upon which this future general officer took it from me and popped it in his mouth and proceeded to chew it up, DIRT AND ALL!

With charm like that, no wonder he made General!  And I attended his funeral clear back in 1958.  But I'm still gardening.  Still in big blue pots on my two balcony decks.  This year, I have added a brilliantly purple verbena to pots full of salmon-colored geraniums.  The color effect is stunning!

Mary Page...going back to the days i joined our forum eleven plus years ago, i was afraid to come over from (  Soda Shoppe ) and post in here as i had convinced myself it was all about " fishing " and a fisherman i was not....have to say when i did take the plunge, Norm Tock made me very welcome, fishing or no fishing...

MaryPage, I agree! There are too many posters like weathervanes, turning this way, or that, spreading everyone so thin on a whim. Norm's has always been for all topics and should stay, especially in these times.

What a wonderful West Point Cadet that young man must have been! I do enjoy your memories. All of my relatives have been stubborn Irish farmers who were rarely to be found on a coast.

Mary Page - I hear you, and I agree . . . as to wondering if there are enough of us old relics still posting in S&F, to dredge up an ancient discussion,  (in this case, Gardening)?  It makes more sense to incorporate some of the older discussions, into the three remaining, that still have a modest number of participants  > > >  Soda Shoppe, Norm's Bait & Tackle, and Bosom Buddies. 

We occasionally have a good discussion going in Library~Bookshelf, and used to have good recommendations and such, in the Movies and TV, folder.  However, very few messages in recent years,  so we incorporated the three of them about a year ago or so.  Still not much activity there.

The folder - Soda Shoppe - now consists mainly  of those who like preparing and cooking meals,  picking,  canning, and baking, and just enjoying each others company.    Bait and Tackle is more about every day events . . . right now the disaster in Florida, the Pandemic, Global problems,  and occasionally a discussion develops from one of our hobbies, local issues, or good memories from the past.  I don't usually read Bosom Buddies, but I do think they stay together and don't branch out much into other folders? 

Some discussions haven't had a message in years, I wonder why they aren't just deleted completely, or incorporated into other folders?  There just aren't enough members left to warrant all the many discussions.   

If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

I agree with every word you have posted, Marilyne.  I would love to compare my memory of the early Senior Net, which I joined in 1999 as I recall, with all of yours.  Why?  Well, because mainly I no longer trust my memories.  I leave too much out, and need other people to correct my own.

As I remember, we first organized by state.  Norm, for instance, hosted MICHIGAN.  How I wound up in Michigan, I do not remember.  But we did start jumping around in other states.  Perhaps it was because we had been to bashes and met people from those places?  I'll bet that was the trigger!

And then we did subjects.  Or did the subjects come before the states?  Or with them?

As it turned out, I went to bashes and met folk, but never Norm.  Twice, I had a definite date set up with Norm, but then circumstances burst in to make those dates impossible.  Bummer.  Nope, never met Norm.

But I felt I knew him.  Didn't you?

I have good memories of one folder we had going, yes back in our good days, of dogs talking to each other, or so it seemed that our dogs were telling us of their daily walks, what they got up to on them, what their masters or mistresses were doing, they were funny coming from our dogs point of view, the if only we knew what they were thinking or telling their other doggy pals but, like everything good, comes to its end at some point...

Two male members i have very fond memories of ( the which i felt that i knew them ) was Larry Hanna and Norm Tock...they both went out of their way to help, re, posting information by email...Now i wish we could entice Jack wv and Mimi back to our forum...and what happened to Sato and Sachiko...Sachiko was such a lovely lady....she often posted her video clips of her travels - of Japan....and Sato posted photos of his flowers..

I had never met Norm but knew him through the years from SeniorNet to here. He emailed me once long ago about an Alaskan question, and we struck up a tentative conversation through time as I so enjoyed him, Papa John, and their various get-together and gatherings!

I still respond with Papa John's daughter at times.

I joined SeniorNet in 2000, coming from Thirdage, and never looked back, so many wonderful friends met along the way, including you, MaryPage!   

I disagree with deleting the past discussions unless it has been previously saved in its entirety! That's history, once lost, never retrieved both for those only learning and those who were there and wandered through.