And another holiday trip to Orlando is ending...

I want to wish each of you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year and hope that all of your dreams are more than satisfied.

This past year has seen many ups and downs for all of us, especially me. I thank God for my chance to live in Belize in relative peace and harmony and in good health. If not for that I fear that I would be in desperate straits. Things in the states have happened that has put a massive cloud over my head, one which I know will take a very long time to pass. I have never bothered you with what was happening in my life and I won’t start now because I’ve always been a very private person. But some of it is the reason I left the country to try and start a new life. I do have several good friends to lean on when I need to and that means quite a lot to me. They will keep me on the road to recovery. Hopefully I can get on with my life now.

My holiday visit with my kids is rapidly drawing to a close. Its been a strange trip where, because of circumstances, I haven’t done all the things I usually do, visit the people I long to see, and eat my way through my “must eat” list. I've not gotten my shopping done but my list still has quite a few foods that may not be crossed off before I leave. But hey I can stand to miss a few meals and lose more pounds then I care to admit too. I most definitely ate my share of raw oysters though! In 2 visits to Vitorio’s with friends Vicki and Dempsey I ate my way through 4 buckets of 3-1/2 dozen each, less the 3 that my son Rich ate. If I could find a way to visit there again before I leave I would. Speaking of my son Rich, the gourmet, he introduced me to several very good cafes and restaurants around the Orlando area and my son Matt brought me to a sub shop that is 2^nd to none when it comes to their Italian sub.

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve found me at parties at my cousin Ed and wife Debbie’s which were grand. Being surrounded by them and their guests (OK here’s where I’m may cause some trouble…), especially Janet kept me grounded and kept my mind far from my troubles. Thanks you guys, I love you all!

I did get to spend time with many former colleagues on Friday 12/30 and while it was a terrible day and the circumstances were not the best for the meeting I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I met up with 2 women whom I haven’t seen in at least 15 years and I was amazed that they looked exactly as they did all those years ago. Some of us though are hard to recognize. Gray hair, less hair, no hair, weight gains, weight loses, sagging skin, you name it. And the same goes for the men! (Sorry couldn't help that…) But they all were the same people that we enjoyed working with and was honoured to call friends.

Tomorrow finds me on my way to Orlando Airport at 6am for a 9:20am flight to Cancun through Dallas/Ft Worth, a 6 hour wait in Cancun Airport for the bus leaving at 10:30pm for Corazol BZ, clearing MX and BZ and Immigration and BZ Customs before arriving in Corazol at 4am Friday, 4 puddle jumper flights starting at 7:30am flight from Corazol and ending in Dangriga at 10:30, and then the ride to my home in Hopkins. But at least I’ll be sleeping in my own bed and seeing my friends at Kismet again. Now I’ll start working on obtaining my Belizean citizenship so I won’t be back to Orlando until next Christmas (unless the Mayans are right about 12/21/12…). I’m also suffering from fishing withdrawals so look for me in the lagoon early Saturday morning!

And so, life goes on for the Fatboy in Belize… As always, stay well, keep happy, and practice peace. I am!!!