Forgot to mention the birds I saw at the Retreat this past weekend. Saturday morning, I sat on the back porch of the cabin and was looking towards the lake as I drank my coffee. A huge white heron flew by. I'm used to seeing them on the ground, but am still amazed when I see one in flight. During yoga, while taking pictures, there was a cormorant sitting on a floating object nearby, watching the ladies stretch. Blue Jays were everywhere during Jane's Vibration class, singing and playing, but they left the instant someone used a tuning fork. LOL Lots of mourning doves hoo-hooting everywhere. Sunday morning, I saw a bird that looked like a robin, but was not, hunting, finding, and then eating (with relish!) a large fat worm found under the bark of a pine tree. As I got ready to leave, a hawk flew in large, low, lazy circles overhead - it felt like a blessing.
I have just finished reading Duma Key, and believe it is one of Stephen King's best novels. (Note - the fictional Duma Key is located off of Sarasota in the Gulf - not in the southern Keys as some critics say.) I grew up in SW Florida and usually do not care for "native" novels since most writers get it all wrong or they center the stories on drugs, sex, and city beaches. King does not. He captures the essence of old, wild Florida in a way I have not seen before. His writing transported me back to memories of my youth and I was able to picture Duma Key as clearly as if I stood there in person. His characters resonated with me as well. He made me know and love Edgar and to understand his hardship, to admire Wireman (a man who moves to Florida and becomes a native, in my opinion lol), and to mourn Elizabeth as she succumbs to Alzheimer's. Many reviews I have read of this novel have complained about the book being rather mundane most of the way and then, at the end, introducing an "ancient evil" with the two parts either not fitting or being forced together. I have to disagree, I think it flows quite well all the way through. I personally have stood between a jungle and a beach and felt the positively ancientness of Florida with the currents of change and time that ebb and flow over her mysteries. I wish I could thank Stephen King for this book - it made me homesick for the Florida I used to know...
Health-wise, I'm not doing too well right now. Haven't tested my blood or taken my blood pressure in two whole days. Felt so unbelievably nauseas for the past two days. Haven't thrown up, but have laid in agony trying not to. Had my coffee and almost lost it this morning. If this keeps up, I'm going to have to call the doctor.
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