What I wouldn't have given to spend February in FL when I lived in IN. You will be pretty far south--my sister lives down there, so you will be a little warmer. We do have cold fronts come through, but they don't last more than a few days. It will seem warm to you because you'll be acclimated to the cold. As far as clothes, just bring what's comfortable. Most restaurants are very casual. There is a boat from Ft. Myers that takes you down to Key West. I think it's $90 per person, but Key West is something else! You can stay a few days or go back to Ft. Myers that evening. If you like to fish you may want to take a charter boat out. That's really fun. Or take a gambling cruise out. They usually have a buffet meal and lots of slots. LOL! Or you can just bask in the sun and relax with a Pina Colada. I hope you enjoy your time here. Please do go to the bird sanctuary Joan/MN mentioned. We saw the most beautiful sight there one evening. A tree was full of roseate spoonbills and it looked like the whole tree was covered in big pink flowers. (Take your bird book along.)

My best friends are the girls I have known since childhood. Vicki, Kathy, Mary, Marilyn and Donna. Mary lived next door, Vicki and Kathy down the block, Marilyn around the corner and Donna I met the first day of Grade 9. She was the only one in the class who had a dress on. LOL I am close to all of them but they aren't necessarily close with each other. Vicki and I are close, Kathy and I are close, Marilyn and Mary are close, Kathy is Godmother to Mary's oldest. Marilyn has been close to each of us at different times but we all get along and a few times a year Mary has all of us over and sometimes Mary will only have Vicki, Kathy and I over. I spend most of my time with Vicki, Kathy and Donna. Vicki was with me at my Mom's bedside when she passed away and held my Mom's hand. Kathy's Mom just passed away a few weeks ago and I was really close to Kathy's Mom. Kathy's Dad called me his "adopted daughter" after my own Dad passed away. Kathy would say I was closer to her Dad than she was. He liked to tell stories and I liked to listen. LOL Mary's Mom is 91 years old and when she sold her house next door I missed her terribly. She is still going strong and I talked with her last week at Kathy's Mom's funeral. Donna knows Kathy from Grade school and knows Vicki through me. They are just acquaintances and know each other through me. Vicki's Mom used to be friends with my oldest sister since they grew up on the same street so Vicki's Mom has a picture of me and Vicki when we were just babies. All the girls are married except Kathy and I and still have good marriages. Marilyn met her husband Doug when we were in highschool and "had" to get married. LOL Those were some trying times. Mary's husband Mark was the boy around the corner - our paperboy and we always knew Mary and Mark would end up together since we were kids. Mary was Bucky and Mark was Duck. LOL Kathy was Moo, I was Higgy, Vicki was Druke and Marilyn was Armie. Kathy's Mom called me Higgy right up until the week she died. One day I will post pictures of us now that I have this laptop and once I get a scanner. We had such a good time growing up together and they will be my best friends 'til the day I die. Anne

Hi everybody, I am greatful to everyone who posts here, and although I do know some of you better than others, I consider this my family. I completely understand that posts that seem to be "needy" can be taken on several levels. There are so many scams out there now a days, that we are now more apt to look at the dark side of things more often. It is just human nature. I can say with all of my heart, that I read your responses to noochas post with an overwhelming sense of feeling loved. You really do all know me well, and yes, I have been here for a long time, in fact one of my first posts was almost 6 years ago when my sons (same son) wife and daughter were in a car accident. His wife did not survive. You did not know me from adam back then, but the outpour of deep concern and sympathy was overwhelming. I knew from that day on, I had found my family. You all mean the world to me, and I would never think twice about getting in my car, or sending something big or small to help anyone here that I could help, be it them or any member of their family. That is what families do. My son doesn't ask for help often, he has come a long way since 6 years ago, some good, some not so good, but I just put out a cry for help, because I did not know what else to do. I was only looking for advice. You all knew that, because you know me. And I know with positive certainty that I can post here anytime for help, or just fun, and we all are here for each other. That is what the K.T. is all about. Always has been, always will be. My son is doing very well, and was truly touched by each and everyone of you. If nothing else, you have all taught him a valuable lifes lesson, that people do care, and want to help when they can. Even complete strangers. I hope he remembers this hardship and passes this lesson learned to someone that needs his help someday. I know he will. Trin

The first two KTer's I met were Pat Lavender and FranCes....and my sister embarrassed me. She insisted on going with me in case one of them was an axe murderer. But now I know Wildchild is really the axe murderer. The only reason I have survived our visits is because I take her to Jocko's for steak. I remember going to a get together at Joni's in Ventura long ago and then a couple of them in Bakersfield I have pictures from a Tehachapi trip. I got rescued by Flamingo from a shopping mall in Branson...I think it was Branson. It is really great meeting KTers and hope anyone who travels on the central coast of California will contact me.