The first evening, we ate at The Mara. If there was ever an African-influenced restaurant, this was it. The beams exposed flowed upward with huge leaves above to represent the large African trees that one might sit under on a hot day in the great expanse. Lighting was dim and the tables were made of an African Rosewood; planed beautifully, but still with a rugged exterior.

The African-inspired food was phenomenal. It was unlike anything I had ever eaten. While they had some more traditional options for those without the refined palates of my children, the options with the "influence of the jungle" abounded. Basmati rice, yogurt sauces, raisins, Couscous...you name it, if it had an African influence, it was there on the menu.

We were tired from traveling and after dinner, we took a bottle of Pinotage to our room and the children had drinks from the African juice bar. Isabella was old enough to drink at this point, but did not partake. She and Liam; however, always asked to smell the wine. To my surprise, they each had a good nose.

As I went to sleep that nite, I wondered how the children felt about Paul and me. Did they want me to be connected to another man? In a relationship? Married? I knew not how they felt; as they would never say, so I had to assume that all was ok.

The next day we would do Epcot and we would be returning to Epcot for the end-of-year celebration. I was "flat out" excited to see what the folks at Disney would come up with for New Year's Eve. I had been to Epcot many times, and Disney was one of Brady's favourite places. He, too, believed it was a place of magic and even cried the day that Walt Disney died.

The rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge were absolutely perfect. As I peered over my balcony the next morning, I watched the animals play and eat and prepare themselves for another beautiful day. Even the sun arising over the preserve seemed to be as if I was in Africa, and far away from Florida in the United States. After two cups of coffee and some conversation across the balcony with the kids, it was time to head to Epcot.



 

It was now December 18th.

Paul was scheduled to fly into Asheville on the 21st and on the 23rd we would leave for Disney. Isabella was arriving home on the 19th and Liam was slated to be out of classes on the 21st as well. I was already packing, as I was terribly excited about our nine-day stay at Disney. We would be there thru the New Year's Holiday.

The next few days were a whirlwind as I helped the children pack and get ready for the holiday. We made several trips to the mall and other places like Kohl's to get some extra "duds" for the trip. Animal Kingdom Lodge had plenty to offer, and we had all purchased "Park-Hopper" passes so that we would have upgraded access to all rides and Disney properties.

On the morning of the 23rd at 6:30 AM, we boarded the plane at Charlotte International. We had stayed the nite before at Aloft. It is quite the hotel, seemingly lit up with neon lights; supposedly for the "young and hip" business traveler. The children enjoyed it more than Paul and I, as they liked that sort of thing. I guess it is a small and minor generational difference.

The plane ride was smooth and short. By 9:00 AM, we were on the tarmac taxiing toward the gate. Our luggage arrived safely as well, which it seemed was always and issue when Brady and I had traveled. I had learned in my mature years to always pack a days worth of clothes in case the fortunate circumstance of the absence of a bag took place.

We were greeted in a Lincoln Town Car. Our name was embossed in permanent marker and a taxi driver waiting as Paul had arranged a private car. He was sweet to do so, and it also made me feel a level of comfort; as Brady had always done that sort of thing. While we did not vacation often enough; when we did, we did so in style.

Our arrival at Animal Kingdom Lodge was a monumental one. Having never been the kids were enthralled by this monstrosity of a resort. The African influence, the exposed wooden beams and the pure enormity of the place seemed unimaginable, even for me.

We had booked a room on the third floor purposefully so that we would be closer in height to the animals such as the giraffe and elephant. Monkeys were abound in the trees; and while we were not close enough to feed the giraffes, they seemed bigger than life and it felt as though we were "in the jungle". We all took short naps, and then it would be time to prepare for dinner.

Having Isabella away at college made he house kind of lonely. I had lost my little girl for a time, but it was an integral part of her life in order for her to "spread her wings" and fly a bit.

Liam was busy with football, as it was fall once again. He had lettered his freshman and sophomore year, and this year would be no different. He was slated as the season favourite to be an All-Area star running back and slot receiver. During the course of his short career, he had caught eighty passes for an average of sixteen yards per catch and had rushed for over 3,000 yards.

Bella was busy at school and would soon have to declare a major. To my surprise, she picked economics, with a Spanish and computer science minor. She had stated that she might even follow in her father's footsteps. I could see her in the top of her class and working on Wall Street not far in the future. Better than Sally Krawcheck? Perhaps.

We kept in touch via email daily as I was interested in her progress. I probably asked too many questions; as mothers do, but she was kind enough to give me bi-weekly updates when she called home and I got a brief synopsis daily by email.

She was taking Spanish III, Economics of Micro-loans, C++, Java, Cold-Fusion, and Entrepreneurship. I knew she had it in her to start a small business or her own financial advisory practice in Asheville, but I encouraged her to join a mid-size to large firm to gain experience. Morgan Keegan had just been bought out by Raymond James, but at least they had a regional hub in Nashville, Tennessee, one of my favourite places to visit. We ad gone shopping at Thanksgiving there many times.

The fall quickly turned into winter, and Isabella brought her roommate home for Thanksgiving dinner. Since she lived in Nebraska, it was hard for her parents to fly her home for the holidays. We were happy to host, and she was more than glad to have a "family atmosphere" for the holiday.

It had been a long time since I cooked the Thanksgiving meal, and once again my thoughts turned to Brady. He was an excellent cook and usually did a Turk-duck-en. Having not the skills or ability to match this feat, one from Harris Teeter would have to do.

We did; however have a tradition of saying what we were thankful for. Liam was thankful for the time off of school. Isabella was happy to be home, and Emma was happy to have a place and family to celebrate the holiday with.

Paul had not called in a while, but he phoned me on Thanksgiving day. He was ready to fly across the country and reunite with me in my family. As I stood by the kitchen island on the phone, I could hear the excitement in his voice and I was encouraged by his eagerness to visit. He mentioned that real estate sales had been slow and he was ready for a break. He suggested Christmas at Animal Kingdom Lodge at Disney. In a swift moment after hanging up the phone, I was ready to pack.

When I hung of the phone, I let out a loud scream. Emma would return to Nebraska, but I invited her anyway. It would be Christmas at Disney for us and Paul.   

My 60's

Shortly after returning to Asheville, I turned sixty. Monumental, and disconcerting by design. However, I thought of myself as a young Farrah Fawcet or Olivia Newton-John. They looked great, right? And i feel sure that Cindy Crawford will look great at sixty. It was all about attitude, I decided.

The summer had been way too short. It was time to get Isabella to college and Liam into the 11th grade. Isabella had chosen William & Mary in colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693, this was an institution with some history. Many before her had successfully walked the halls of this prestigious institution and had gone on to greatness. I personally had known one of those folks; the current president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and he had written her a glowing recommendation.

Liam would be an easier transition as now he was driving himself to school, playing football in the fall and beginning the last to years of his classes. As an upperclassman, I looked forward to see how he would become a leader in his class. He was voted "most likely to succeed" and I could see the remnants of Brady more and more each day.

In the middle of August, we packed up the Suburban and headed for Williamsburg. We would stay the nite at the Fort Magruder Hotel and begin moving her in the following day. It was beautiful on that Saturday morning, August 16th, and I was full of excitement and sadness as we moved her in. Her roommate hailed from Nebraska; quite a ways away from home, and had come to study economics, Latin and history. Chloe would become a teacher, mother and wife someday; but for now, she was a "wet-behind-the-ears" college student from Nebraska.

After moving in what seemed like a mountain of stuff, we went to the dining hall for a bite of lunch. I had signed Isabella up for the meal plan, and she would be able to eat four times daily. I warned her about the "Freshman-15", as I had gained a little more than fifteen pounds my first semester of college. Having more resolve than I at that age, I knew she would be fine.

We stayed with her and roamed the campus until mid-afternoon. After purchasing some items at the Barnes & Noble school bookstore; like a lanyard, school sweatshirt and a few necessary ancillary items, it was time to retreat to Asheville. We left around 3:30 PM, and pulled into the driveway at 11:00 PM. I cried myself to sleep as my baby had left me. er father never got to see her go to prom, graduate or now go to college. My thoughts drifted from Brady to Paul, as I needed to feel something real that I could latch onto.

It was a long nite filled with tears, and the morning came too early the following day.




 

Sunday morning Paul and I had brunch at the hotel and then I would have to leave in short order to return to my children who had spent the night alone. They were good kids, so I had no worries. Amazingly, I had managed to be completely in-tune with Paul that evening, as Brady never once entered my mind. I wandered if that was progress or something not to be desired.

Paul drove me back to Casa Amor and I allowed him to have his first real kiss. The kids were happy to see me. They, too, had stayed up until the "wee" hours of the morning playing board games and watching movies. Isabella took me aside when the chance made itself available and asked me how it went. I told her exactly as I would have told any other, "Time will tell...". For a moment, she seemed excited which made me feel worthy of having "completed the exercise", so to speak.

We would only have three days left. Silvio would be returning on Tuesday, we would be packing, and by Wednesday; Casa Amor, "My Casa Amor", would e returned to its present owner. Just as the rest of the summer had, Wednesday would usher itself in like a horse jaunting toward the finish line in the last quarter mile in the Kentucky Derby. As I was packing Tuesday nite, I received a call from Silvio. We made arrangements to trade keys once again, and it would be back to North Carolina.

On Wednesday morning, Silvio met us at a very early 5:30 AM. I wanted to get a jump-start on returning to North Carolina. I had successfully; to this point, created a memorable summer experience that my children would not forget, and I didn't have any doubts that a couple of days in the car would spoil any of the memories. Besides, we were so worn out, that Isabella and Liam would sleep most of the way home. They had played all the games, sang all the songs and seen all of the sites on the way out. Coming back east would not be as enthralling.

It did take us all but three days to return to Asheville. I had promised Paul I would call when I returned, so that we could reconnect. He had promised to make some time to make his way to Asheville; somewhere he had never been. IT was all up in the air now, and I felt a heavy feeling on my chest as I pulled into my driveway and turned off the car. After traveling three-thousand miles, what was going to happen next?

I was determined to spend some quality tome with Paul before leaving San Diego. I told him to pick me up on Saturday nite promptly at 6:00 PM. He agreed. I took him to Herringbone. It was American cuisine, but I had reviewed the menu and thought it would be spectacular.

I even told Paul that I would be ordering that evening. For him, I chose the Wood Oven Roasted Berkshire Pork Chop, and I chose the Summer Squash Fettuccine. We each added some herbed fries, as I had a notion to eat something a little less healthy along with my fresh fettuccine. Once again, as we had done at The Marine room, we would share a glass to complement each course. We started with a Cava from Spain named "Anna de Codorniu". We followed that with a bottle of Chardonnay from Caymus; Napa Valley, and proceeded to move onto Pinot Noir named "Emeritus", which neither of us had the luxury of enjoying before. The wines were excellent aside our meals and we knew we would be taking a cab to our next destination.  Finally, for a nite cap; Paul had a Sidecar and I a cocktail by the name of "Snake in the Grass"....cucumber infused gin, mint, lime and soda; extremely refreshing.

Unbeknownst to Paul, I had reserved a room at the Hotel Del, Coronado. One of the finest hotels on the west coast, we would spend our first nite together there. I had packed my toothbrush and some nice pajamas, but nothing extra. More time would be needed before Paul and I would become intimate. He would have to make a trip to the east coast and make quite an impression at furthering our relationship for that.

We arrived at the hotel around 9:00 PM after a great, wonderful and succulent dinner. I had requested two double beds so as not to give any impression as to any intimacy. We stayed up until 3:00 AM that morning; or Sunday rather, and he made statements to the effect that he wanted to come see me in Asheville.

Time would tell...

I only had a month more at Casa Amor, and I would begin to spend more time with Paul, and with Paul and the children. While it is always an interesting dynamic to see; and one that I hoped would never be a possibility at an early age for the children, Paul was doing an excellent job of fitting in.

Between the two of us, we found more free things to do in San Diego and nearby La Jolla, which was his favourite spot in the valley. There was the science center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the parks and beaches. We found a place for free concerts on Sundays' and while it was not your typical or even contemporary music, it was something to go and do.

Paul had taken the time to bond with Liam and they played golf at nearby Torrey Pines each week on Wednesday afternoon for the next few weeks. Neither Liam or Paul were good ball-strikers, but they enjoyed an afternoon on the course leading into evening. Additionally, there are two historic drives near San Diego; considered "must-sees" if you are in town, and Paul even let Liam drive the Mercedes. Impressive, I thought.

Isabella preferred shopping with her mother, and Paul did tag along a time or two and purchase a few things for her. To my surprise, she wanted to try hang-gliding, and so we all tried it. What a rush! I could hardly catch my breath from not only the experience, but the scenery as we flew like birds high above the land. She was my hiker, and took advantage of the National Parks, and also dragged us back to the zoo for one more attempt at seeing the lions and tigers be a little more active. We would return to the cages several times that day, but these ferocious beasts of the wild are just not to be caged and fed like house animals. I feel sure they feel frustrated, lonely, isolated and sad.

We dined at fine restaurants and in the next four weeks, I would have some of the best wine of my life. To be fair, Brady was more of a connoisseur than Paul, but he was not too shabby. He did appreciate food as much as I and the kids, so I have to give credit where credit is due there.

The eight and ninth weeks passed by way too fast, and I prayed for the eleventh and twelfth not to end. This was not my home; however, and I would have to relinquish the keys in a mere two weeks and return to North Carolina and Asheville, my home.