A New Chapter for a Special Lady

Over the years, Rose Lipke has contributed many articles to the Suncoast Post.  She published this story on Facebook and gave us permission to share.  We love you, “Rosie.”

I wrote this when my dad sold the old homestead in Cortez back in ‘01. Ironically ran across it today while I was sorting and packing for yet another big shift, perhaps the biggest of my life as I prepare to pull up stakes and leave my beloved Cortez, and my home state of Florida behind.  

Life is a constant flowing river, and while we may settle for a while in the cool eddies and deep pools, inevitably we feel ourselves the urge to rush back into the flowing waters and move. The unexpected and tragic loss of my brother 3 years ago made me realize just how short life is, and that we must always follow our heart.   

Florida has become unrecognizable to me, and it is painful to witness the changes. It’s impossible for me to keep up with the rising taxes and insurance rates. It’s not just the island and what it has become, it’s the rural areas of Parrish, East Manatee  and Myakka that are rural no more. It’s just too much. Too many people. Too expensive. Too much traffic.   

This next season of my life is to be filled with a paid-for family farm, with my China and my grand babies, whose lives I have missed far too much of and for too long. Mountain air, seasons and yes, even a bit of snow. Next stop…NW Arkansas and the Ozark’s.   

To all I am leaving behind, I love you all so much, and I of course will return for Festival every year, and hopefully a few more times. Most of you I have known for most of my life, we’ve done a lot of crazy things, raised our kids, lived and loved and shared deep loss together, and I am so grateful for the love this community has given me.  

I also need to thank Rob and Rachel, who have shared the past 6 years of my life, and whose own path has simply diverged from mine. I love you both so much and wish you smooth seas and so much love and happiness as you follow your own branch of this River of Life.  

I am hoping to have the house on the market by the end of this month. In the meantime, I am whittling my life down to a 5×10 cargo trailer. I am having a huge indoor moving sale this weekend, so stay tuned for details on that later today.

I love you all so much.

Photo from The Suncoast Post . Graphic from Rose Lipke.