Yesterday was a bad day.  The upper element of my oven caught on fire; my vacuum cleaner began to make a deep slash on my hardwood floor; and there are no vacation plans on the immediate horizon.

My closest friends and I solved that problem by heading to the Everglades for a little R & R.  (At least we pretended that’s where we were going).   Actually, we were in Clay County at the most peaceful place on the planet – Frank Portera’s retreat, which I like to call six flags over Tibbee ( Tibbee Creek for you Yankees.)

Childhood friends including Marie Portera, Beth Hooker Herron, Bob Marshall, Frank Portera and Norma Clark Atkins were needing a break too. We played together as children and it appears we will play together into the dark ages (that’s when your eyesight suddenly develops black holes).

A highlight was zip-lining for the first time.  I’ve always wanted to do it but when it was offered, I almost fainted. ( I just realized I was still standing on the latter when the photo below was taken, sorry.)  I did zip about 10 feet and almost lost my lunch.

After a lovely afternoon of laughter and mayhem I think I can face a dirty house with no vacuum cleaner and a burned out oven.  I’ve decided the cure for any stress or challenge is to go find some kids to play with. Preferably the ones you’ve played with all your life.