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Getting Personal & Key West Dreaming

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Hi my friends,

I admit, I’ve been living a bit of a roller coaster these past two weeks. Not that anything is really wrong or desperate, like illness or death, but emotionally I’ve struggled. In times like this, music and writing nourish my soul and make me whole again. I write romance, and to write romance, a person needs to truly believe in a happily-ever-after. My relationship with my husband is a huge inspiration in this way. Lately, I haven’t always appreciated him or the sacrifices he makes on a daily basis for our family. He works long hours far from home, and yet I still expect him to pull his weight (and more) at home. He always has, but that doesn’t mean he always will. I wonder if someday he’ll say, “Enough.”

I thought a lot about that this week. I considered many ways to show him how much I love him. I thought about sending him love texts (no, not sexts, that’s not my style, and with my luck, I’d accidentally sext the sitter or one of my colleagues). I’ve never done that, so I didn’t want him to be suspicious. I considered writing a love note. I also thought about surprising him with his favorite meal–but I’m not such a great cook.

None of those ideas seemed right.

Then I was on my way to work a few days ago, and I accidently hit CD instead of FM radio. I only have one CD in my car, and it’s David Archuleta. (Yes, I adore the beautiful purity of his voice.) His song, “You Can” played, my love anthem. Not because of him (Sorry, David!), but because the lyrics bring me back to 1984 when my husband was my best friend on the verge of becoming my boyfriend, when I first realized he could be the one to “save me from myself.” I wasn’t a lost soul by any means, but I lacked belief in myself, and I didn’t grasp my true potential until he came into my life.

So this is for my husband, the one who always believed in me and helped me believe in myself:

What song reminds you of a special person in your life?

Key West Dreaming…

For my fellow Key West lovers, here are some recent photos I took just for you:

Ocean Key Resort Sunset Pier Restaurant
Mr. Rooster on Duval
Pier at Westin Casa Marina, Key West
Duval Street — After the Storm

Until next time, I hope you spend your days doing what you love best.

xoxo

Jolyse

PS  Any Key West topics you’d like me to blog about? Let me know. I love to chat Conch Republic.

12 comments on “Getting Personal & Key West Dreaming

  1. Sorry you’ve been having an unsettled time, Jolyse. I hope things are better now. Your husband sounds like mine. Good men, They do so much unselfishly and we accept it as they accept all we do for them, the home and family. It’s give and take but it makes things even better to tell each other, every single day, just how important and special we are. It’s great that you have memories of Key West to think of on your tough days and that you always have your man. 🙂

    1. Hi, Marcia! Thanks for your kind words. I’m very blessed and appreciate every moment, but this inner turmoil has set me back a bit. I guess I wanted to let my husband know that it’s not him, it’s me.

      My favorite of these KW photos is the same as Nicole’s, the happy bar-restaurant on the water. What about you?

    2. I LOVE the colors of that furniture on the pier! When I was single, my apartment was all beach colors. when I married Jim, I had to fit in with what he already had in the house–darker more victorian style. I will have my beach-look again, next house in a couple years. I’ll paint my kitchen chairs in these colors!

  2. I got one of the good ones too, Jolyse! Works hard at the office and cares for his family at home. He’s not a big music guy (although I love music), so maybe our love song is a cheering crowd at a baseball stadium. (He likes that.) LOL.

    Love the pics! Beautiful place.

    1. Hi Julie! Your man sounds so sweet, and I like your idea for his kind of music. My husband is a huge sports fan, too. Happy you enjoyed the pics. I really did take them each with my blog readers in mind. Have a wonderfully proific week. 🙂

  3. It’s so amazing when a certain song can bring you back or take you some where. I love the positive associations music can bring. It’s like we get to relive a memory somehow. I love the picture of the colorful patio furniture!

  4. It’s amazing how easy it is to get used to someone being there and to forget what they do. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂

    Love the pictures, no wonder you love going there.

  5. Love your pictures! We have to talk at work. Im looking for a get away trip for my daughters birthday and the Keys have always been a place I have wanted to go. I would love some advice.

    1. Hi Patricia! Thanks so much for stopping by. I’d love to talk with you about KW and the Florida Keys. It’s a beautiful travel destination. In the meantime, maybe check out some of my past blog posts. Write Key West in the search bar and up will pop all related stories. From there, just pick and choose whatever topics interest you with a click. Lots of photos, too! Enjoy. 🙂

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