Home Is No More Home ~

It's time to say goodbye, but history never really says goodbye. 

History says, 'See you later.'How lucky am I to have known,

 to know so many that makes saying goodbye so hard...

It's time to say goodbye to so much.  This may not be the

 "grandest" of homes nor places as far as many are concerned

 me included, but a part of me is heartbroken today as we

 say goodbye to Branson and yes for me home.  It was 

the one place where I felt a sense of belonging.  

Life in Branson gave me a purpose, and I leave very sad.  

I leave behind too many people I care for and too many

 memories.  Life in Branson kept me busy and my

 mind was always occupied.  I leave  part of my 

heart here. I never expected this to be so difficult.

Arvid and I have moved so many times, something I am 

really getting tired of.  I have never been attached to any of 

the places like I am to Branson.  I leave with a heavy heart, 

but with the satisfaction that we accomplished, and did

 something that will forever be one of our biggest challenges. 

It's now time to seek something new again.  Time to 

move on again.  And we sure know how to do that.

Branson will forever be special to me, and I definitely look

 forward to going back and seeing everyone next summer.  

For now it's goodbye.  I will miss you very much, but I have 

also learned to keep moving.  Our life is a constant move.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing

 new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps 

leading us down new paths.  There is truth in it.

Today I am very sad.  Tomorrow is a new day,

and we move on.  Everyone does. My dad taught me not to

 overthink things, that nothing will ever be perfect,

so just keep moving and do your best.

It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are 

sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. 

It feels right. But it's emotional. Saying goodbye

 to anything you've done that long is hard...

~Nadiya~

On The Road Again ~

Woah, all I want is on the road again.  Just can't wait to get on 
the road again The life I love is makin' music with my friends,

And I can't wait to get on the road again..

Quoting Willie Nelson.  Seems like our life is constantly 
on the road again.  I don't mind it.  Arvid likes it, but
 sometimes it can definitely be a little too much.

Today we say goodbye to our life in Branson.  If all goes
 well we will not have to come back and take back the hotels. 
 Today we close on the sale of our house.  Bittersweet day,
 but if you want to keep on having adventures
 one has to keep moving.  It's life.  

We accomplished all our goals and more than what
 we expected to do here in Branson. Proud to say we have
 definitely left a positive and lasting impact in Branson, 
and in the lives of many.  That is my reward.  

  In return they changed mine.  For that I will forever
 be in their debt and always grateful.  Today as 
we leave, I also leave a little of my heart and a Branson 
family.  Thank you Branson and Almost Home. 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, 
a stranger into a friend.  That being said I am sad.

We can’t know what’s going to happen. 
We can just try to figure 
it out as we go along...

~Nadiya~

Another Move ~

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's

 end.  Today as I close one door, another door opens.  

Time to start a new chapter in our lives...

I feel like a Gypsy.  Constantly moving.  I don't like it, 

 and I am having a very difficult time feeling "at home"  

I really felt at home here in Branson.  When Sniff and I went 

back to Fort Lauderdale I just didn't feel it anymore.  

Now that Sniff is not here I am even more at a loss. 

 I miss him very much.  Sniff anchors me.

Yesterday Arvid and I got the moving truck, and we 

started to load.  This may be one of the "easiest" moves 

we have ever done, even so I just am not into

 it anymore.  I just do it because I have to.

Arvid keeps telling me that this is the last time we will

 move, but he tells me that everytime we move.  I told him 

the next time he decides to move he can go alone.

Arvid never seems to get tired of moving.  He loves it. 

 Having breakfast on boxes is just "like camping out" he says. 

 One thing I have to say.  The man has a forever optimistic view of

 everything.  I have to smile even when I don't want to.

I am extremely sad.  A chapter is coming to an end.  

I am usually used to it, but somehow this is very difficult 

for me.  Now that the days are numbered it is very real. 

 I want to be where Sniff is, and now that's not here.

Wishing you all a good day.  I am in turmoil right now, 

but I know I will get over it.  I'm trying so very hard.  

I don't recall ever be so attached to any place.

We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, 

charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures

 that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open...

~Nadiya~

I'm Home But ~

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep 

your balance, you must keep moving...

Back in Branson, but now without Sniff it no longer feels

 like home.  Sniff is already settled in, well mostly settled in back 

at home  in Florida.  After all this time he sure got the

 hang of where everything was.  Real fast.

As we drove around, there are a few things here I will

 miss seeing.  Aside from Almost Home and my tenants/friends,

 I will miss a few sights.  These sights became part of my daily

 commute to work for almost two years.  One of my favorites 

is the Branson ferris wheel.  No matter how often I 

passed it, I almost always had to take a picture.

Today Arvid and I pack the truck in preparation for 

our move from Branson to Chicago.  Yes, first stop is Chicago 

where in the next couple of days I will see for the first time

 our apartment.  The one Arvid bought without

 my knowledge.  Should be interesting.

The last time we bought an apartment in Chicago, of course 

we both saw it.  We went a week ahead without Brutus to fix it

 up and make it kitty safe for him.  It would be the last time

 Brutus travelled.  This was in September of 2015.

After the apartment was ready, I then went back home to

 Florida for Brutus.  Was gone only a few days.  When I got back to 

Chicago, Arvid had already put the apartment we just bought up

 for sale, and bought another one.  He claimed the first one did

 not have the right view.  Said "this one is more our style."

Brutus had a few weeks in his new home in Chicago, we then 

went back home to Florida and he died November 5th.

Today is a busy day for us here in Branson.  I am already looking

 forward to going back home to Sniff.  I miss the little dude and

 without him we are not complete.  The house is way too quiet.

As I had my cafe in the morning it did not feel the same.
  Little Sniff was not around to keep me company.  As I left
him yesterday he was fast asleep. I got a text early
this morning.  His new pet sitter was already there.
She goes in twice a day.  Happy for that.

To all a very good day and may you always live in interesting times.
They say life changes, but memories as you know don't.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and 

doing new things, because we're curious and 

curiosity keeps leading us down new paths...

~Nadiya~

Feeling A Little Sad Today ~

Your emotions make you human. Even the unpleasant
 ones have a purpose. Don't lock them away. If you 
ignore them, they just get louder and angrier...

I am very conflicted right now.  I am happy to be going home.

 But I am home.  I hate leaving Sniff on his own, but we 

will be back soon.  Home is where the 3 of us are.

Sniff has gotten to be a little more familiar with his Florida home.

  He has already rediscovered his favorite spots.  Aside from 

under the bed, where he never used to go before,

 he loves it best on his condo.  From the top he 

sees everything, but mostly he sleeps.

I have had a very relaxing time with Sniff.  We had no 

agenda and we never had to rush from place to place. Peaceful. 

I ate whenever I wanted.  Did not follow a "schedule" for

 anything.  I visited many of the places I so much enjoyed 

and I even revisited our old stomping grounds.  

Downtown Fort Lauderdale sure has gone through some big

 changes, and it's still going through changes.  Will be interesting 

to see.  Everywhere new buildings are popping up.  Never knew 

there was still so much space left to be built on.  Not only in 

the downtown areas, but everywhere in general.

I enjoyed eating out at a few of my favorite places.  

Saw a few movies and did whatever it is I wanted without

 having to rush or feel pressured.  It was good.  Enjoyed the quiet 

times with Sniff.  Mornings were beautiful seeing the sunrise 

while having my cafe.  I thought of Brutus and Shadow a lot.

Now it's time to go home again.  Soon my Branson
days will be a thing of the past.  Like I told Arvid
 this morning, I will be missing some of Branson.
 A piece of my heart will always be in Branson.

As I go home to Branson for the last time, I am also 

sad because I leave Sniff.  For him it is still a "strange" place.  

He sure does not understand what happened to his window

 sills, the birds and his favorite places at home.

  Sniff is already home in Florida where soon Arvid and I will be.  

Here is to good times to come again.  The next few days will 

be very busy ones for us.  Loading a truck.  Closing on the

 sale of our house in Branson, moving to Chicago into our

 new apartment and then heading back to Florida.

As the new week begins I wish everyone happy times.
 Call me crazy, but right now I am sad at the thought
of leaving my Branson home.  Go figure.

The heart is a strange beast and not ruled by logic.
There is no market for your emotions, spo never 
advertise your feelings just display your attitude...

~Nadiya~

Life Is Good ~

To go out with the setting sun on an
 empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude...

It's hot.  It rains just about everyday, but I still enjoy my walks. 

 Have had a few and realized how much I have missed them.  

But the strangest thing is that when I think of home I still

 think of Branson, I want to go home, but I am home already.  

How strange is that.  Home with Sniff, and soon Arvid

will be here as well.  It will be home again.

At home in Branson for sure our views are quite different.

  All you see is bush really, how can one miss that when one
 has beautiful water views, palm trees and boats to look at?

Here in Fort Lauderdale the skies are blue.  No rain so far.  Not sure
what I will be doing today, but for sure I know something
exciting is in the forecast.  To all a good day.

As of right now Hurricane Florence has not caused any
 disturbance to my parents in North Carolina.  Some have not
 been so fortunate as them.  I'm grateful that they are safe.
Also sending positive vibes to everyone in it's path.

Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more,
 and don't get so worked up about things...

~Nadiya~

Friday ~

Courage is grace under pressure.  Be kind, 
be thoughtful, be genuine, but most of all be thankful...

Every morning as I wake up I check messenger.  Living in

  Branson my parents and 2 of my sisters are an hour ahead of us.  

There always send good morning wishes and we fool around

 a bit before each of us "takes off" to do what we have to do.

Rima lives in a completely different time zone so she sees
 the messages long after we have been chatting for a while.
 Then there is Norway.  Norway is now seven hours ahead
of us in Branson and six when we are in Florida.

Imagine my surprise when I checked messenger this morning

 and the first and only message was from Michelle.  My step

 daughter and mother of our two adorable grand daughters.

  The message was brief, but it warmed my heart.

She wanted to know if I was in any danger from Florence, as

 in Hurricane Florence I'm still feeling good and smiling thinking 

of her.  I love her, and right now I am feeling loved as well.

Hurricane Florence is making big news around the world.
Norway is keeping an eye on it, but what matters the most is
the text I received this morning from that special girl named
Michelle.  She cares enough and that has made me happy.
The best start of my otherwise gloomy day.  Yes, it's dark
and has been raining everyday here in Fort Lauderdale.

Sniff and I are doing good.  We are not in the path of Hurricane Florence.
For all of those who are just know everyone is praying for you to
be safe.  Today I go again to the movies.  I really missed going
to movies while in Branson.In the almost 2 years we have
 been there we went once.  Never had the time.

Wishing everyone a great start of the weekend.
Just remember, to say a little prayer for those less fortunate
 than us.  As you may know, the things we take
 for granted, someone else is praying for.

  Hurricanes are like women.  When they come they are wet
 and wild,  but when they leave they take your house and car...

~Nadiya~

Thursday ~

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. 

Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. 

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like...

Getting Sniff adjusted is taking some time.  He is

 terrified of all sounds and spends most of his time under

 the bed.  I really don't like it, but it is what it is.  

"Lucky" us.  This week the building is testing the fire system,

 and of course the fire alarm and all kinds of announcements are 

being made.  Extremely loud.  Have not seen much of Sniff. 

 He does reappear at nights and spends a little time 

with me while I read or watch TV.

For Sniff everything is new.  He is still looking for his

 favorite spots.  For the birds and trees.  Now he sees

 the boats, and the water.  At times it catches his

 interest, but most times he just ignores it.

As for me I am enjoying the water view, the palm trees,

 and the beautiful scenery that is the Sunshine State, but I can't help 

thinking of Branson as home as yet.  How strange is that.  I miss 

home, but home is here.  Where Sniff is.  I know once the 3 

of us are back together it will feel more like home again.

To all a good day.  There is a lot of promise 

in the day and I plan to make the most of it.

Every day is a new day, and you'll never be able 

to find happiness if you don't move on.  Live news teaches 

you some incredibly strong lessons: that every day is a

 new day, and it's never too late to fix something...

~Nadiya~

Remembering ~

Time is passing.  Yet, for the United States, there 

will be no forgetting September 11th.  We will remember every

 rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family

 that lives in grief.  We will remember the fire and ash, 

the last phone calls, the funeral of the children...

This year marks the seventeenth anniversary of the 

September 11th attacks, a day that will forever 

remain in our thoughts and hearts. 

A long time ago I lived in NYC.  This was my view from 

our apartment.  Back then the Twin Towers were still standing.

Never forget.  A time to remember those who died, 

those who served, and those who carry on.

  

It was the worst day Americans have seen, yet 

at the same time it brought out the best in all of us.

~Nadiya~

A New Week Begins ~

Let this Monday be kind to you, be happy with what you 

have and accept the things which you cannot change...

Sniff and I have been awake for a few hours already. 

 Sniff is getting a little better in his new surroundings, but even

 so he still stays under the bed quite a lot.  His most favorite 

spot when not under the bed is his condo. He loves to sit and 

look out, but mostly he enjoys sleeping in it.  He must feel 

secure there.  After all, he was the last to use it.

Sniff has this "surprised" look on his face.  It appears he is 

always spooked.  We miss Arvid, and we miss home.  

Sniff is still not eating like he normally would, and not using 

the litter pan on a regular basis.  I'm sure it will get better everyday.

  I hope that by the time I have to go back to Branson 

Sniff is more secure and better adjusted.

Aside from unpacking the many boxes that we brought 

back from Branson, I have also been able to do a few of the things 

I really enjoy.  Visit a few people, go to the beach, enjoy 

a few meals at my favorite places, and some more. 

 In the last two years Fort Lauderdale has changed quite a bit.

  There is construction going on everywhere.  Today I meet a friend

 downtown.  Looking forward to checking out the area because

 I also know it is going through quite a huge transformation.

Good morning everyone.  

Life offers you so many doors, it is up to 

you which to open and which one to close...

• ~Nadiya~