Happy Snowbirds!

Two of our favorite winter guests, Dick and Jane from Bethany Beach , Delaware ( note the t shirt!) enjoying a February winter day on Tybee. They were on the deck at Marlin Monroe's- one of our favorite restaurants - on the deck over looking the ocean... makes you wish you were right there with them doesn't it!

When you go, be sure to enjoy the very yummy fish tacos! This is the restaurant where I had the Paula Deen sighting!

Our first mermaid sighting of the year!

We are always interested in Mermaid Sightings from all over. This was sent to me by one of our regular guests- there are several cities around the country that have public art like our Tybee Turtle Tour. Norfolk, VA and Beaufort, SC are two cities that had mermaid public art all over their towns. I believe this one is from Norfolk, I sure hope it wasn't from Beaufort since that's only an hour away from me and that means I'd be this frozen as well! Enjoy!

The saga of my travels thru Technology over the years...

I've been staying with my parents in Florida the past two weeks. My step dad has had some medical challenges and we have since found my mom as well. I'm the only one in the family in a place where I can be here with them, yet still keep my business going. Fortunately I'm lucky enough to have a team of people ( our mermaid pod) who work with us and handle all our operational needs with the cottages and guests, so I can be working remotely with the reservations and marketing . My friend, Susan Jacobs who is taking a mini sabbatical from her career is staying at Dutton Waller and also jumped in and be a true help to all. Thank you team!!!

I caught a glance of myself in the mirror this week while waiting at yet another doctor's office. I had my cell phone in one hand, my blackberry in the other, my day timer on my lap and my boat bag at my feet with papers. My Marriott friends who I've been reconnecting with via http://www.facebook.com/ will totally appreciate this..... a big part of our job in sales was travel out of the office which is why the company completely equipped us with the tools we needed to communicate while out of the office. Over 20 years ago, my boss at the time- Kevin Patterson- made sure we had exactly what we needed if a customer wanted to talk to us while out of the office. Kevin who was the man brave enough to ask the first President Bush and Bill Marriott for a job. He was in the military and working the White House- one of the young marines who was there for all the ceremonies and gatherings. He happened to help Mrs. Marriott at a White House function, she told her husband he should find that nice young man a job and before you know it , Kevin made sure that the President and the Marriotts had connected and when he finished his tour with the marines was working for Marriott! Sorry- long story but I loved that about Kevin!

ANYWAY- Kevin was the one that had us install the original car phones that remained attached in your car. He also made sure we all had pagers so our customers could page us, then we could run to our cars and return the calls from our car phone. Yes younger people reading this blog, that's how we used to do it in the olden days! Of course as technology improved we moved up to cell phones, computers, then lap tops, and of course the original blue Blackberries. I left my Marriott career two years ago but I'm sure they all have iPhones now. I still love my Blackberry and carry the older model that has actually keys for each letter and the screen is big enough so I can see everything without squinting. When I purchased it a year ago, none of the stores carried this, you have to go on line to buy one... I realize this is like using a computer before Microsoft Windows, but I gotta say , for what I need, I love it.. I just googled Blackberry Older version to see if I could find a picture to down load and found there are pages devoted to people like me who love their older blackberries!!! I need to take great care of my little one because she is becoming an antique and hard to find.

I laughed when I saw myself in the mirror at the doctors office because for years when I traveled the country and world, this was how I worked. Airports, taxis, lobbies of customers while waiting. There was one trip from Palm Springs to LAX where my wonderful "brother and sister "friends from Marriott, Steve Conklin, Judy Stern and I ( someone else was driving) all were on our phones and blackberries the entire drive taking care of our customers. We laughed when we all realized this, but this is the complete norm for traveling and working business people. The great part about all that training is I'm completely able to work any place where I am planted. I had a guest yesterday tell me they knew I was out of town helping my parents and I was very quick to say ( maybe a bit too quick and I'm sorry for that) that me being out of town has nothing to do with the business. What I should have said is all of the above, that my wonderful years of Marriott training and traveling has enabled me to be any place , any time and carry on work. It's just how we do things !!

Thank you again to my team for carrying on and thank you Marriott for training me how to work remote!

Angels walking among us on earth

Having now spent going on two weeks in Southwest Florida, I have made some very interesting observations. The area my parents are staying is called Port Charlotte. We are very close to a very charming little historic town called Punta Gorda and also close to Boca Grande. I hope the next visit to explore and visit both as my parents health allows but right now our days are spent in doctors offices, hospitals, pharmacies and the daily walk or two around the block.

We are in the land of older people. This entire area is geared around older people, their care and their lives. I have been completely amazed time and time again on how this area caters to and makes their living off of older folks. And even more amazed at how incredibly pleasant, nice, cheerful and helpful these people are in their work to help you. I realize this is their business be they doctors or grocery stores, but there is a true degree of caring here that absolutely amazes me...

My step dad needed a walker. Still not sure why doctors back north didn't put him on one, but the Florida doctor ( and my sister) insisted this happen and what a tremendous difference this has made in his mobility. There is a reason why you use a walker. Doesn't matter if you look old using it, it enables you to get around and that enables you to have a better life and that's what it's all about. When I went to the place that provides walkers, I met one of those angels on earth. There were a few people ahead of me, 80 years old was the youngest I would guess. Sienna Rose ( she had renamed herself) who worked in the store was so patient and gentle with each one, making sure she repeated herself so they understood ( not like they were children, but like they needed help with this over load of info) When it came time for me, she treated me the exact same way. I'm certainly not a child, but the amount of info she needed to tell me, medicaid,medicare, prescriptions, costs - it just goes on and on and on... She set me up with exactly what my dad needed, including little skis that go on the front of the walker so it glides when he walks over carpet. Yes it cost extra, but they work and you know what- enables him to move around...

I have such respect for these people, be it the doctors offices that are kind and helpful, the pharmacy who tells you exactly what you need to know ( pill management tools is another entire industry..... but completely needed) to the people at Mr. Marvin's who cut hair and trim nails. Not to mention Pete's where they serve early bird specials daily , know everyone's name who walks in the door ( they'll know our names before we're done here) and even more important, know to ask how so and so is doing, if they need anything, and always hug the older folks sitting by themselves before they leave. Sometimes human contact, a touch on the arm, hug around the waist is the whole reason they come to Petes... ( it isn't the food.....) They all want to take care of their older clients but they understand they have become a little family here.

My dad got his hair cut at Mr. Marvin's . Mr. Marvin has moved back to South Carolina but his shop and name lives on. Barbara the Barber cut his hair. She loves her clients, she loves her orchids and she just loves life. She does a great job and if you ever are in this area, for a treat stop by the shop! She'll be very excited to see herself on the blog!

I've said for a couple of years now I'm looking for my old person home. I've found the destination in Tybee I do believe, but Mermaid Manor could not be that home. Too many steps. There are ways to adjust that by installing a lift ( and I've actually kept space in the back yard to do just that) but right now , if you are old, you'd have a hard time visiting me. I do believe that Tybee and Savannah are great communities to be old. We have not only old people living here, but families and all ages. We have a large community with lots of things to do even if you aren't mobile. Keeping your mind active is extremely important. Most of all we have the island mentality of taking care of each other and as I saw at Pete's restaurant, that may be the most important necessity of all...

Home soon back to the island , my dogs and my little world!

Look at my beautiful orchids!!!

What a different orchids make to a room! Still in Florida, the sun has come out and it's beautiful outside. My parents vacation rental needs some "mermaid cottage fluffing" and what is better then fresh flowers! Orchids are sold EVERYWHERE down here! In Walmart, in Costco, on the street corners, farmers markets and the prices are tremendous. I purchased 4 for what one or maybe two would have cost me back home. Look how gorgeous and look how they brighten the rooms!

When I come back the later part of March to take my folks back home, I'm hitting the orchid farms located south of here... one of the street corner sellers slipped and told me that's where they buy the flowers!

Happy Valentine's Day- Tybee Style!

What a fun, busy weekend planned on Tybee today and tommorrow! Not only is it Valentine's Day ( be sure to tell the people you love that you love them today!) but people are converging on the island for a number of reasons!

Seaside Sisters Coastal Cottage Shop is featuring two of my favorite artists this weekend. Pam Martin will be bringing her vintage trailer decked out in Valentine happiness for the weekend. She's bringing special cards, special jewelry, all sorts of coastal art and her usual very happy and sunny personality to share with everyone. If you didn't see her little trailer last visit- be sure to stop by, it's definitely worth the trip. She's also purchased and is restoring another vintage trailer which should hopefully make it's appearance for our big St Patrick's Day weekend celebration on March 14th Weekend.

Some of you know of the artist named Gypsy who sells her work in the shop as well. Gypsy will be here in her vintage hippie trailer ( but it's actually not vintage to her, just her usual mode of transportation - hey- when you've named yourself Gypsy- that's how you travel!) She has an entire van full of new art she'll be sharing with everyone. For those of you lucky enough to stay at M. Paddy Cakes Vacation Apartment this spring or summer, be sure you check out the mural she has created for that home! M. Paddy Cakes has two outdoor shower ( hot and cold- private- and we know showering outside is one of the true pleasures in a beach trip!!!) so be sure you admire her terrific art!

Tie the Knot on Tie is also this weekend and since it's the third year is aptly named "Three times a charm" ( actually one of my personal motto's in life!) You can get married or renew your vows on the Tybee Pier tonight with assorted strangers and people in love if you so chose. Last year there was a very large March deployment and we had a number of very young soldiers getting married before they left. Quite an emotional evening to be honest. Fortunately we have more soldiers coming home then leaving, so perhaps we'll have alot of them returning to renew their vows!! www.tietheknotontybee.com for more details, or better yet, stop by tonight and cheer them on!

Sending love to all of you!

Dogs and their Humans

I'm still down here in Florida ( and still freezing- what's with that!) with my friends and family. I've had time to really observe older people and their dogs. This has really been a very eye opening experience. I know how much I love my dogs. I hadn't had dogs in my life from the time I left for college until 2001 when I started working with the guide dog puppies. Now that I've had dogs in my life, I'll never not have a dog with me. Maybe not too big labs when I'm an old lady, but some dog!

I see how as you get older, sometimes the only consistent living creature in your life is your animal. I see so many older people walking their dogs. One lady I talked to- well into her 80's- told me she was getting a new dog from the shelter this week because her wonderful little dog had just died. I thought about the power of that statement. Here she is- not a young woman- but determined to love and care for another living creature until she no longer was able.

I saw another friend who had just lost her dog of years and more tragically her brother 4 months ago. She was determined that she could not take on another living thing because the loss of the past few months was just too hard. When she went to her Vet to pick up the ashes of Gucci and was crying over her extreme loss, a little rescue dog with two broken legs started to lick her tears. Then two weeks later when she stopped by- "just to see how the little dog was doing"- the little dog literally hobbled over to her and rested his little head in her lap. You can guess the end of this story. The little guy has a new home and is about as spoiled as a dog can be. Named after her brother who died a few months ago. She's been brought back to life by the love of her dog.

So many of my homes are pet friendly ( but not every one and that's ok to. Some people have dog allergies and we want to be sure we can welcome everyone to Mermaid Cottages!) This picture was sent to me by an upcoming guest who will be staying at Caretta Cottage.

"Diane, I had a week long training session last week – snooze city! – so when it would get to be too much, I would mentally pack my bags. I planned our driving trip, got our things put away, and have walked to the beach and the park. Hahahaha!
I have attached a picture of Buffy, our baby, who will be joining us. We don’t normally have her dressed up as such, this picture was from Nicole’s 16th birthday party! She is going to LOVE the fenced in yard! We live in an apartment and so her daily routine is long walks on a leash, running free is usually limited to weekend trips to the doggy parks! We will all be spoiled after this vacation!"

Thank you Lisa! We look forward to welcoming you and your entire family ( including Buffy) to Tybee Island!

Miss Syliva has turned 100. It's all that good Tybee Living that did it!

There was a celebration on Tybee Thursday night that was indeed an event! The cause for the celebration is so big, that it will be repeated again on Friday and Saturday nights! Our friends at Doc's Bar have described the event so well, that I am sharing it with all of you just in case you didn't see this. If this doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. So... in Roy's own words:

"The Party starts Thursday night @ 7:00 and doesn't stop till sometime early Sunday morning., We will celebrate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Every night we will have a birthday cake and many surprises. Strippers, musicians from around the world, a singing Iguana, politicians, singing politicians, a working ant farm, fantastic drinks, exotic birds smuggled in from country's with names we can't pronounce, and many other things we can't begin to make up.

Ms. Sylvia has requested no presents please. Come on she's a 100 years old. She doesn't need an I-Pod or that new kitchen gadget, or that new push up bra. She's a 100 years old people. She has asked that everyone give her a hug. If you are sick - DON"T. If you feel that you have give her something then a cash gift is fine. Unfortunately she was not listed in the current stimulus package and at a 100 the government does not come up with any more social security. Do you think tambourines grow on trees. No they cost money.
There is also a great article about Ms. Sylvia in this months Tybee Breeze by Mike Sullivan. Please check it out when you get the time.


And......... If you don't think Ms. Sylvia turning a 100 is worth your time. Well then listen to this..........
Our beloved house musician Roy is on the cover of Coastal Senior this month with a lovely article written by Tybee's own future Pulitzer prize winner and upcoming novelist Sherri Simmons. He will be autographing copies this weekend along with boxes of Depends, and six packs of Ensure.

It is going to be a great moment in Tybee history this weekend. Ms. Sylvia is truly a wonderful person. We all love her and we are getting ready for a 101. If you can't make it please send us an email. We will make sure she gets it. Thanks"

Doc's Bar Tybee Island GA.Oldest Bar On Tybee, And Still The Center Of The Universe

Now folks, if you don't think Tybee is a unique place to live or visit, then re read the above! This is just one of the reasons why I love this island!!!

Susan comes to visit

I had a very special treat recently , one of my dear friends, Susan came to visit me from her home in Aiken, SC where she has been managing a very old Southern Dining Club. For someone like Susan or myself with hotel background, to be dealing with a membership of a small southern town is quite a unique experience. So she was in need of a getaway...... Fortunately we had left over champagne from the Teva's and Mink gathering in January and Susan is a Champagne gal like me! Here she is enjoying our bubbly drink! I took her to two local restaurants over the course of the visit- Fanny's on the Beach and Sundae Cafe. There is something to be said about the slow season. Great food, great service and no wait. It's so terrific to have our restaurants open year round so even on a Monday in January and February where you can enjoy a great meal on island.

Susan brought me a beautiful coffee table book called "The Beach" which celebrates beaches all over the world. There on page 67 is a picture of the south end of Tybee Island! A surprise for both of us and how great to be including with beaches from all over the world.

Thank you Susan for visiting and except for that one stop sign which now leans a little bit more to the left then it used to, Tybee is ready for your next visit! In fact, we're hoping she may make Tybee her home for longer then just a few days! We could use her creativity and hospitality!

Once a mermaid always a mermaid.....

I just can't help it. I really try and resist, but I've accepted the fact that Mermaid Cottages is now officially in my blood. One of the reasons why I love our homes some much, our guests love our homes so much and most of all the owners work with us is because we treat them like these are our own homes. One of the things I've learned in this middle aged experience of recreating my life is how extremely important my surroundings are. Be it my full time nest , a hotel room or now- a Florida condo for a few days, I just need to love where I am. Doesn't need to be the same, in fact the more varied the better to give me ideas and inspiration!

I've in Florida with my parents- they needed some help getting to their vacation rental in Port Charlotte, FL and I drove them from Tybee here. My mom actually drove from Berkeley Springs, WV to Tybee by herself which is a pretty big deal, but I've taken over from here.

We arrived in their condo last night and proceeded to get settled in. I did my usual walk thru of the home ( Mary Lou and Judy have trained me well!) and started my list of what the home was missing and the little list just started getting longer and longer. I remembered yet again why our homes and cottages are what they are. Simple things like the phone number and address on the refrig with our Mermaid Team to call if they need anything- nada at this home. So I pick up the phone and call the owner who lives up and Nova Scotia- she hasn't been to her home in two years so she had no idea about the condition.. Full permission to go shopping to get what the home needs. I can create my mini Mermaid Cottage here!

I'm now working in the local Starbucks- such a fascinating experience and great concept! I'm sitting here for 2 hours ( that's how long I purchased- no longer free wifi...) working with the other adult children who's retired parents are also here, we're all sitting on line , drinking our coffee and Chai, chatting about where we're from , how are parents are doing, great music is playing, the regulars are in and out- actually a lot of fun! This is the community that Starbucks has built where ever they set up shop. I'd forgotten how much fun it can be to be in a coffee house connecting!

I also understand the lady in the movie Titanic who brought her own art to hang in her stateroom while crossing the Atlantic. If I had known, I too would have brought a Bellamy or two to decorate the walls of this Florida condo!

Back to work, Mack the Knife is playing, the coffee maker person ( I know they have an official name) is dancing behind the counter - what a world!