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Thursday | March 28, 2024

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A CHRISTMAS SEASON LIKE NO OTHER!!!
Here we are about to celebrate an extraordinary Christmas Season in Key West Florida!  No parties are planned, and no company or guest coming…. And yet… because the spirit lives in our hearts, we are ‘Decking the Halls’ and clinging to the Christmas Miracle and joy that this season brings…. No matter what!!!  We are doing it on a tad smaller scale than usual… Bob carried less boxes of decorations down from the attic this year… We are not putting up the 10 ft. Tree in the Living Room… (Next year!!)  We do have a beautiful Frazier Fir in our Family Room… moved the Antique Feather Tree to the LR… and Bob insisted on a tree on the Porch, which is decorated with Nautical Ornaments we haven’t used in years!  Yes, it is the Frechette Family Christmas in a Pandemic Year!!!  

BEFORE COVID 19  
We, like so many, were oblivious to the oncoming Virus that was about to consume our World!  While Covid was soaring in China and Europe, we had heard from our leaders that ‘it was nothing to worry about…that it was not a threat to the USA and would disappear like a miracle.’ We continued on with our busy lives…attending all the shows at every theater in KW…going to galas, events, cabaret shows lectures, gallery openings, parties,…. The fun just never stopped!!  One highlight was the glorious production of ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ starring Christopher Peterson, David Black & Dave Bootle & directed by Tom Thayer at the Waterfront Playhouse (of which Bob & I are board members).  We had already seen it twice and were looking forward to seeing it again on closing night.  In addition, in Jan. I coordinated the 12th season of the Waterfront’s Aqua Idol fundraiser, and had assembled the most amazing group of vocalists who performed every Wed. to SRO audiences, raising dollars to benefit the Playhouse.  We had only two Idol shows to go to the finale……  But guess what happened???

AND THEN…. SURPRISE!!!
On March 14, we were planning to attend a theater show.  We were beginning to hear alarming things about the virus spreading rapidly in America.  Red flags were being sent out that something was not right with our world!  Just  before showtime, we received an eye-opening e-mail message from good and caring friend, Keith Dempster, suggesting that we read it and ‘take heed!’  It was written by a scientist who explained, step by step, what was, and had been happening, and how it was imperative that we begin quarantining and social distancing immediately.  After reading it we were convinced that disaster was lurking around the corner.  Our plans to go out were canceled and, the rest, as they say, is history!!!!  Key West, overflowing with Spring Break & St. Patrick’s Day revelers came to an abrupt stop, as everything closed down and everyone was told to return home and leave the Island.  It was all over!  Thankfully our local government put Locals first…. They erected barricades in Key Largo and no one was allowed to enter the Keys unless they lived there.  It became eerily quiet…no music on Duval St…. we were quarantined…. told to remain in our homes.  They did the right thing.  This shut down went on from March 17 until June and during that time our cases were miniscule and we only had 3 deaths.  We felt very safe and protected.  We never did get to see “Priscilla’s’ closing night show, nor did we finish our Aqua Idol run (but we will).  All theaters, shops, bars and restaurants, etc. were closed (except for take-out).  Things as we knew them, had come to an abrupt halt, and we were all facing new lives and were challenged to come up with creative ways to handle the way we do everything.  

LIFE CHANGED AS WE KNEW IT!!!           
Our social life took a major dip.  We hunkered down in our house.  And we were grateful to have a home big enough to hide from each other when we needed our ‘space’.  No more movies, shows, events, parties, entertaining, dining out… no guilty pleasures like listening to Bobby Nesbitt sing, watching Denis Hyland dance at the Little Room…no more late night stops at the Monkey Bar to hear some great singers… We began to watch Sunday Mass at St. Mary online… Easter came and I recall being teary as we listened to Gayla Morgan sing and Fr. John Baker give his homily…Wearing masks became the norm, along with constant hand-washing sanitizer and social distancing, things we were not used to doing.  And yet, we took it all in stride.  We knew that these were simple things to do to keep others and ourselves safe from the virus, until a vaccine could be found.  Kind people like the Elwell Family delivered meals to our house…we had Zoom meetings with family and friends…We listened to the Radio Shows that the Waterfront Playhouse presented…it was like when we sat and listened to the Lone Ranger when we were kids…Prior to COVID, my fave recipe was ‘Reservations’… but no more….I took my old recipes out of mothballs and we dined in….Bob had forgotten that I was a pretty darn good cook… and Bob became King of the Grill!  We expected it all to be miserable, but found we were resilient and we adjusted easier than we thought to this new way of life!  We read more, watched more TV, and I was kept busy with my blog, In Key West With Lynda and my correspondence.  And folks, being quarantined with Bob Frechette is not bad duty!!  We started receiving wonderful videos and messages from caring friends like Alison Teal, Carl McMackin, Diane Strong, Alan Robbins, Marilyn Rintamaki, and Bruce Moore.   They picked us up and kept us going … kept us entertained, laughing, sane and hopeful.  We began to look at this Pandemic more as an Adventure than a Misery.  We found comfort in the fact that we weren’t in this alone, the whole world was in this together, & unless we wanted to live in a constant pity party, we had to make the best of the situation. (Note:  That didn’t stop me from being sad that we had to cancel our annual NYC Broadway Extravaganza!)       

OUR ROSE COTTAGE SUMMER!!!                        
Once the barricades were lifted up the Keys, things began opening up and tourists started to come back.  We knew it was time to leave for Rose Cottage at Chippewa Lake.  So, we packed up the car, closed down the house and headed north, returning to Ohio on June 5.  It always amazes me how welcoming returning to Rose Cottage is…our garden needed tending, but our roses and perennials were abloom and lovely!  The cats we had fed the prior summer magically appeared on our porch within a short time of our arrival….no doubt waiting for their Fancy Feast!  It did not take long to settle in.  Life at Chippewa Lake is much slower than in KW…We garden, Bob mows, we see a small group of friends and close family members… we read a lot…There are several restaurants we frequent and we were glad to find them being vigilant so we felt safe going now and then.  We were thrilled to have our daughter Melissa, and son Rob visit in July and August.  They are both well and have become the best of friends!  Melissa has become quite the crafter and is making wonderful masks and quilts!  I started to play tennis again after nearly a year off….the pain from a bone spur I had in my shoulder miraculously disappeared!  We celebrated sunsets most every night, either at Friends of the Circle (thanks to the Weimers’) and many with friends Pam & Paul Vereb on their boat or patio.  We loved spending time with family members Ed, Sally & Jennifer, their spouses and children.  Our Magic Porch had many fun, socially distanced gatherings this summer.  We stayed at the Lake long enough to see the gorgeous Autumn colors, and even had snow flurries one day & knew then, that it was time to head south.  We returned to Key West on 11/12 just in time to celebrate Bob’s 11/13 birthday!   

BACK IN KEY WEST
We encountered mostly heavy rainstorms en route and when we finally got home, we discovered that neither AC Units were operating… our pool pump was broken…our TV was not working….a couple of smoke alarms were beeping…and with the hurricane shutters closed, it was akin to being in a dark, hot cave!  Slowly, but surely (and don’t call me Shirley!) we are trying to right all these wrongs.  But hey! we are in the midst of the Christmas Season… and we are planning to enjoy every minute & celebrate as best we can, and we trust you will do the same.  Needless to say, no matter what, it is always a JOY to get back to Key West, this town we love so much… even during a Pandemic! 

WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT US THIS YEAR
Sadly, we have lost many people dear to our hearts this year….Please join us in remembering….Cheryl Cates…Charlie Allen…Lottie Domski…Cynthia Silverman …Barbara Vernovage …Sheri Brown …Ron Maranian…Martin White …. Caroline Cash …Virgil Williams… Erin English Beitko …Colleen Ramer …Terrence McNally…Bob Donohue …Danny Holloran … Constantino Vitale …Peter Valentine Teal …Nancy Lima … Clifford Nowak… Michael Stallard …Angela Presto …Ruth Warmouth … John Gadonniex… Patrick Tierney …Brewster Chamberlain … Reggie Jenkins …Glenn Hummel … Catherine Good Duncan…Carol Bush… Carol Hines  …Richard Simone….James Auker …Emily Selph …Sandy Crawford….Don Strang …Arlene Doty….Ron Johns…. Dink Bruce …Norbert Leszcz . … Jim Brogan….John McNealey …Hank Smitley … …Terry Wetmore …Seward Johnson… Jerry Hoegner …Isobel Sabo… Jerry Herman …Joe Faron…Claire Ryan …Alexandria Hoyes…. Brian Belanger….Rick Roth …Michael Davidson …Mary Burgess ,,, Paul Worthington….…Bill Mangano …Dick Goddard….Elissa Knowles…Sonny McCoy …Jamee Field …Rory O’Neil …Dave Tagliaferri…David Koontz…John Jones… We also mourn the loss of the nearly 1,600,000 people we lost to the virus worldwide and the nearly 300,000 we have lost in the United States.  Their’s were lives well-lived and we pray for them and their families.

ADDITIONAL INFO        
Please note that I am still sending my Blog out to nearly 1,600 people… The thing is, my blog mostly contains info on everything happening in Key West and things are just not happening!  I am concerned about suggesting attending things only to have these events cancelled, and I do not want anyone getting sick going to an event or place I that I recommend.  So, until things settle down, I will be sending my blog out less frequently.  For those interested in receiving it, personally, let me know by emailing me a kwlynda@bellsouth.net, and I will gladly add you to the lists.  Or you can read my blog at https://www.conchtv.com/author/lynda.    You can also get on my Birthday and Anniversary Lists by sending me your dates.  If you need to contact Bob, who is still a KW Realtor, email him at rfrechette@bellsouth.net or call him at 305-304-2584.  My cell is 305-393-6273.  

LOVE AND JOY TO YOU AND YOURS!!!!
How fragile life is…how fleeting!!!  We have missed so many things during these 9 months….but it is the people in our lives that we have missed the most.  If you are reading this, we want you to know you have been a very special part of our life….we have shared cherished times and moments through the years and we thank you for any memory we have enjoyed together.  We have missed your physical presence, but we look forward to everyone getting the vaccine so we can all reunite safely once again in 2021.  We would love to hear from you so keep those cards, letters, emails, texts, etc. coming our way… and if possible send us photos!  Please stay in touch and please know we care and we wish you love, joy and peace always.  In the meantime, continue to wear those masks, wash your hands, sanitize and social distance!!!!  Like you have heard over and over… We are all in this TOGETHER so let’s help each other out!  And…. until we meet again…. Have a glorious Christmas and Good Health in 2021!!!!

*** THE CAPRICORN PERSONALITY…DEC. 22 TO JAN. 20***

Capricorns are terrific company and are known for their wonderful sense of humor.  They are also the perfect person to turn to in time of any crisis.  Anyone who has enjoyed a good laugh with a Capricorn will want to come back for more.  One of a Cap’s greatest strengths is learning from experience.   They know how to turn a bad mistake into a valuable lesson.  And that is important, as it is a rare Capricorn who goes through life unscathed.  Most have their crosses to bear, but they usually grit their teeth and get on with it.  This endurance and sticking power stays with them through life.  Capricorns do have a tendency to be a tad pessimistic…seeing the glass half empty rather than half full.  They often have a feeling that something awful is just waiting to happen, and if their fear comes true, they can become quite depressed.  They are often fearful about the future and they need sympathetic listeners so they can unburden themselves.  Reputation is very important to Capricorns.  They want to be seen in a good light at all times by everyone.  They often dress quite formally, as though they would let themselves down if they wear anything too casual.  They tend to wear blacks and grays rather than bright colors.  Another Capricorn bonus is that they never seem to age.  Other signs will age, but the reverse seems to happen to a Capricorn.  In fact, they seem to get younger right before your eyes.  They mellow, learn to relax, and by the time of old age, they can make teenagers look positively boring!

In love, Caps always want to give a good impression and seem in control.  On the surface they may appear to be calm and collected but they aren’t nearly as emotionally unruffled as they seem.  Deep down they are extremely shy and vulnerable.  Their feelings are easily hurt, and they will distance themselves emotionally from people as a form of protection.  Caps are not noted for their demonstrative affections and they are very shy about expressing their feelings.  The thought of rejection is appalling to them.  Thus they shy away from scenes and close relationships, as they do not want to get hurt.  Though Caps can be quite solitary creatures, they benefit from being in a loving relationship.  Caps have a very traditional view of long-term relationships, believing that the man is the breadwinner and the woman should stay and take care of the house.  Nevertheless, despite all of these issues, they can be hot stuff in the boudoir.  The best signs for a Capricorn are Aries, Taurus, Cancer, and Capricorn!!!!

In career the Capricorn shines!  They strive to be taken seriously by the world and their job is a way to prove themselves..and they devote lots of time to it.  Life is often a struggle for a Cap until at least the 30th birthday….when things become easier and their careers begin to soar.  They are quite ambitious and harbor secret plans to go right to the top.  They are a valuable member of any work team…they can be relied on as they have a strong sense of duty….they may be chained to the desk long after everyone else has gone home….and they are often Workaholics!  Career paths they find appealing are big business, dentistry, medical field, civil service, and government work.  Even though it may be lonely at the top, they will manage beautifully.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SPECIAL CAPRICORN FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS!!!

12/22…Scott Wilson……Pat Burge…Melody Moore…Andy Weimer…..Kelly Castellanos… (Please remember Bob Decker.)

12/23…Dave Bootle…Suzanne Peranteau…Meda Bahlke… (Please remember Linda Russin.)

12/24…Leslie Boatwright…Michael Philip…Barry Cuda…Evalena Worthington …..Sr. Jane Silk… (Please remember Nidia Fuentes Borders and James Auker.)

12/25…Chris Lippa…Bill Belobraidich……Bill Porter…Emil Imbro…Jimmy Buffet…Eugene Flanagan …..

12/26…Richard Watherwax…Alissa Russin…Simone Bart…(Please remember Lincoln Borchik.)

12/27…Robin Deck…Skipper Kripitz…Ruth Cahoon…Rodger Stuart Davis…..(Remember Terry Muir.)

12/28…Fr. John Baker…Jeff Johnson…Leigh Pujado…..Bernard Sledz…Lou Hernandez…Bob Perlow… Kelly Farrel …Dawn King…Kelsey Wilson Lakeman….

12/29…Kitty Clements…Dan Cocco…Patti Ross…Larry Potoczak…

12/30…Tom Vetter…..Nauni Baillou….Jan Whitney…Zoe Valentine Zimring…. (Please remember Peggy Oppanheimer.)

12/31…Bob Badgerow…Gail Lima…Kim Romano…Joe Tripp…..Chris Stone…..Leda Andrews…..Michael Citro…Melissa Tausche…Daniel Margil….

1/1…..Kip Larson…Russ Scavelli …Pamela Kostmayer …. Brian Glassburg ….Kristen Wilson ….Phyllis Gagner….Chuck Ballish… Patricia Lasinis ….Gayle Foster …..Jim Pignatori….Bruce Burkhardt…. Bruce Hollering …. Jim Clark….

1-2…. June Hudson…Martha Barnes…Stephen Sagman…..Chris Rehm…Mira Negron…. Eva Limbert ….Jimmy Sydenstricker…Nelson Fuentes…

1/3…..Jean Carper…Howard Livingston…Genevieve Isaksen…David Herzog…..Carol Monaghan…Mary Beth Koerwer…Michael Blumenthal…..

1-4…..Cliff Sawyer …..Keith Lapp…Kimball Ingram ….Chris Higgins…Clarence Gladyszewski….

1/5…..Trish Manley….. Barbara Scerbo … Michael Munoz…Karen Ryan… Kelly Schmotzer….

1/6…Cyndy Livingston…Helen Harrison…Michael Roth…Jack Behmke……Ginger Boncek …Ray Fogg Sr….Mindy Duecker…Emily Domski Reuther ….(Please remember Patrick  Junior Winters and Paul Hilson!!!!)

1/7….Anne Fisher-Wood…Lara Fox…Jodell Roberts…Lisa Elena Monda…..Larry Ketron …..Jules Moodley…Frank Gren….

1/8….John Hammond….Bonnie Bajko…Maureen Ryan….Barbara Ruper ….Marissa Fowls ….(Please remember Milly Ashmore and Elvis Presely.)

1/9… Tevis Wernicoff…..Stuart Woods…..(Please remember Neal Hartman.)

1/10…..Michael Boyer……..Barbara Crespo…..Greg Policastro…Mary Lou Hoover…Mary Piszker…Bruce Paterson …..Rob Rey …..(Please remember Mary Jo DaSilva and George Maurer…)

1/11…..Nancy Campbell ….Agnes Varis… Alex Hall….Jeffrey Schmitt ….(Please remember…..Ed Knight and Kathy Cawley…)

1/12…..Mary Grusin…Lynne Vantriglia…George Beshire …..Luis Febo….

1/13…..Bob Arnold…Carlos Hoy…Jim Wallace…Devon Reimers…..Kristie  Reilly.

1/14…Linda Beach…Michel Appellis…Jessica Geide… Jason Borchik …

1/15…..Karri Daley…..Steve Andres…Eric Teves…..Sheila Taylor…Alexander Hunt… David Van Der Wehen …..Sophia Peranteau …Kay Breslin…

1/16…Rebecca Tomlinson…Michael Fatica……Mary Haffenreffer …..Sally Galbraith…Joe Shaw…Diane Strong..(Please remember Richard Crooks and Fran Ford.)

1/17…Blake Hunter…John McDonald….Karen Lockwood…..Scott Hall…..Ron Stadnik…Paige Dillow …..(Please remember Mabel Paul.)…

1/18….Jennifer Cornell……Eric Dean Davis…Carol Blaha Frac… Lenny Bornino …..(Please remember Tim Wegmen.)

1/19…Kathy Haymaker…Nikola Czerny…Michelle Dravis…Roger Harmon …..

1/20….Clayton Beattie…Stacy Ortiz…Gina Karr… Linda Curtis…Stephen Selka……Peary Fowler…..Coreen Adamany.. ….Dave Fronheiser …..Steve Richardson …Nancy Boyce…Nancy Norris….(Take time to remember Gladys Rybicki and Joy Peck. )

HAPPY CAPRICORN ANNIVERSARY TO….

12/24….Bobby Nesbitt & Michael Mulligan… and Anne & David Rein…

12/27…Nancy & Javier Lopez…Marion & Charlie Strauss…

12/28…George & Linda Beach

12/29…..Keith & Redza Dempster……Janet & Charlie Bengel…

12/30… Kris & Bob Pabian…

12/31….Pat & Carey Moore…..Terri & Phil Wilson… Scott Burau & Eric Teves….

½…Margaret & Ken Domanski….David & Irene Eyer

1/5…..Karen & Vince Taporowski….

1/8… Jean & Joe Thornton

1/10… Christopher & Liv Shultz

1/11…..Roberta DePiero & Reef Perkins…Teresa & Jim Wallace…Mark Buczak & Jon Grimm.

1/12….Virginia & Taylor Doebler

1/14….Bob Pracher & Jan Gebhart….

If you are one of those Capricorns, please let me know if any of the above description pertains to you in any way.  If you receive my blog and are not on these lists, please send me your info to kwlynda@bellsouth.net, and I will gladly add you.  We send love and best wishes to all celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries during this time period.

Love to you,
Lynda


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THE 2020 FRECHETTE GAZETTE

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