Author Archives: A Star on the Forehead

It is good to be back

28 Tuesday Oct 2025

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“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” ― Maya Angelou

After one week in Chile, two months in Brazil and one week in New York, I am finally back in Florida.  I have been here for one week.

It feels good to be back and try to start a routine.  Feels good to play house with Michael.  Well, I am already looking at cruises and ski trips… I love having things to look forward to. 

Our building is finally done with the renovations.  There are still some little issues, but Michael and I are fully enjoying our apartment. 

I have so much organizing to do.  Michael returned from Brazil before I did.  He stopped in NY and picked up some more of my stuff.  So I have boxes and boxes to organize, including tons of mosaic material and mosaics pieces.

After my father’s death and watching my mother struggle with debilitating hip pain, I decided to think about my health more seriously.   I want to have a very active future, and I know I need to address issues that I have learned to live with. 

I arrived home and hit the ground running:

  • I got a gym membership
  • I got a personal trainer for two times a week (I need that accountability) 
  • I got blood tests done
  • I got a physical and wellness check (cholesterol down to 174 from 248!! yippie)
  • I got an eye exam and ordered 3 new glasses (from Costco – the best place to get glasses!!)
  • I made appointment with:
    • an orthopedic doctor (time to revisit the hip issues)
    • an ENT doctor (time to revisit the vertigo symptoms)
    • a skin doctor (a big brown spot all of sudden appeared on my hip)
    • imaging center for bone density and mammogram
  • Bought a bedroom set.  We are not picky, hate shopping, and don’t like to wait.  So we just went out on Saturday bought a bedroom set and three hours later they delivered it.  We love it!  

There is more to do, but this all feels like progress, and progress makes me very happy.  The only problem is that all these doctor’s appointments, and possible tests and follow-ups are going to interfere with future travel plans 🙂

… not to mention the little detail of having a full-time job.  Retirement? Retirement? Where are you?

 

 

My view as I write this: so grateful!!

My view as I write this: so grateful!!

“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” ― Seneca

 

Meet Nala, Ze Jorge and Luke

29 Monday Sep 2025

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A year ago, a lady moved to a house next to mom’s house.  Her 3 cats immediately became mom’s guest.  My mom started feeding them, so they rarely went to their home.

Last week the lady moved away and the 3 cats stayed behind.  Instead, she took 3 other cats that she had acquired from another neighbor after she had moved in.

Nala is sickly, needs special food and constant vet trips.  Luke is all black, and thinks he owns the house.  He wants to lay on the bed or couch next to us.  Ze Jorge used to be a fighter, rarely home, until another cat got the best of him.  So now that he lost the sight in one eye he is the most docile and homebody.

Now that they are officially ours, we got them new beds and I am trying to have them stay in the little house on the back.  It doesn’t always work, but this time they were picture perfect.

A couple of years ago I had floated the idea of my parents getting a cat, since they love animals.  But Mom said they are too old to take care of a pet.  Now we have 3!

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The cycle of life

02 Tuesday Sep 2025

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My father passed away the Saturday before last.  He died at 8am and was buried at 4pm.  In Brazil embalming is not customary, so burials are normally within 24 hours.  I chose not to wait for the next day.  To me it would be prolonging my mother’s pain.

A lot relatives and friend’s didn’t make it to the funeral, or even found out about his death until after, but I am still comfortable with my choice.  To me, the faster the burial, the faster the grief process can begin.  We honor him every day by the fond memories and funny stories we share.

It was not expected, even though he had been dealing with many illness for decades. He died in the hospital, but peacefully, and for that I am extremely grateful.

I am grateful for God’s generosity.  I was here with my family so I was able to care for him on his final days. I was able to make the funeral arrangements, buy a plot, etc.

He is at peace.  I do not question for a moment God’s wisdom and timing. We, the family, are comforted by the memories and because we all have done our best to care for him and provide him with the best and most comfortable life.

I was sleeping with him at the hospital.  He had been admitted the day before, and that is when we found out he pneumonia, besides the other illnesses.  In the middle of the night I heard him say my mother’s name, even though he had oxygen mask on, and was no longer speaking.  I got up and went to him and he was sleeping.  I said: “Dad, don’t worry about mom.  If that is the reason you are holding on, go in peace.  There are a lot people to care for her.”  I said a couple of prayers and held his hand for awhile.

A nurse came in, and said all was okay and that I should try to get some sleep.  This was about 5am. I woke up at 8am, shocked that I has fallen asleep. I looked at him and knew in my heart he was gone.  He was still warm, but not breathing anymore.  As a family we chose not to try any invasive method to keep him alive, such as resuscitate or intubate. 

No regrets. We will now continue to love and care for my mother as best as we can. 

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

By Mary Elizabeth Frye

 

 

El Colorado and Santiago – Chile

19 Tuesday Aug 2025

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It has been a bit crazy since I left Florida on August 3rd.

We spent 4 days in El Colorado ski Resort and 1 day in Santiago.  Not enough time to see a lot, but enough time to see what a gorgeous country it is.

The winding road from Santiago to El Colorado, with mountains on all sides, is gorgeous.

While there I didn’t open my laptop once, and also didn’t check work email.  That is a first in decades.

From Santiago we traveled to Brazil via Latam airlines.  It was such a great flight, even the food was good, specially the passionfruit dessert with merengue. 

The view from the plane over the mountains is breathtaking.  I want to take that flight again to just stare out of the window.

I have been in Brazil now for one week and it has been nonstop.  Both my parents are elderly and with health issues, specially my dad.  Lately he has been requiring extra care.  

I am also working remotely, so it has been a juggling act.  I am taking one day at a time here, and trying to be the backbone for everyone.

Since I am going to be here awhile… I haven’t bought a return ticket yet, I am trying to establish good routines so I don’t get burned out.  I signed up for a gym and I am going at 6:30am everyday.

Thank you for visiting! I hope that everyone has a blessed remainder of August!!

Whatever you do, do it with passion!!

 

This is the little hotel we stayed at El Colorado

This is the little hotel we stayed at El Colorado

Gorgeous view from our room

Below are some pictures from Santiago.  I only took a few pictures there.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrises

03 Sunday Aug 2025

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I start my walk on the beach about 30 minutes before the sunrise.

I don’t always take pictures, but I always take some time to admire the beauty and be grateful for the new day.  

From hot and humid to cold and snow – I am on the way to Chile tonight and then on to Brazil. I am really looking forward to skiing in August.

A wonderful August to all! Blessings!

Turtle life

02 Saturday Aug 2025

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Turtle traffic? Some days the turtle tracks are very confusing.

Mama Turtle

Mama turtle in action

Baby turtle

2 baby turtles in action – it took probably about 20 minutes, as the tide kept returning the to the sand, but eventually they both made it to the ocean.

People seen at sunrise on the beach

01 Friday Aug 2025

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A Surfer

‘

 

A kayaker

 

A fisherman

 

A photographer

Wishing everyone a blessed weekend!  May August be full of love, adventure and discoveries!

Just a pirate on the beach

30 Wednesday Jul 2025

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This morning, besides a turtle laying their eggs, and some baby turtles getting to the ocean, I saw the pirate again.

I am not sure if I have mentioned here before or not,  I see a pirate walking on the beach every morning.

Yes, a pirate! and I can prove it! I took a photo, and he even gave me a gold coin  🙂

His words: “I started walking on the beach dressed as a pirate this summer to get some exercise as well as share my love for history and most importantly to bring some smiles and magic to the beach.”

And he does bring a lot of smiles.  🙂

He made it!

25 Friday Jul 2025

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This morning I saw another baby turtle making its way to the ocean.

It is really amazing that they are able to make it against all odds.

My video making actions is still a struggle, but it is very hard to record those little guys.  They move faster than they look, plus I am trying not to get too close to them, and had just taken a fall.

It was 6am, still dark and all of a sudden I spot this little guy going towards the sand bar the tides created. I realized he would fall, which he did and landed on his back. I fell as I stepped on the sand bank to go down to him. By the time I got up he had turned himself over and was on his way.

All is well that ends well!

Sunset Bliss

24 Thursday Jul 2025

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I love my sunset bike rides.  Before returning home I normally sit at a bench by the river and spend some time doing some or all of the following:

  • Watching the creatures, such as dolphins, jumping fishes or the birds diving to catch them
  • Calling my sister and catching up 
  • Reading my fellow blogger’s posts
  • Playing a game of buraco on the phone (buraco is a Brazilian card game)
  • Watching people doing yoga (free class on Thursdays, I may join in the future)
  • Composing a mental gratitude list.  I have so much to be grateful for
  • Nothing (this is very hard for me, but I do attempt it)

Here is heaven: