Living their dreams in SWFL
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting these past few days, in honor of my father who just passed away.
As sad and unexpected as his death was, I’ve found solace in the life he led, a true example for us all, one filled with passions pursued and dreams fulfilled.
So it’s been heartwarming to read the stories of so many remarkable people living here in Southwest Florida. Like my dad, they too are pursuing their passions and chasing their dreams.
There’s Ross Chastain, the eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Alva, who notched his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
While my father wasn’t necessarily a big NASCAR fan, he was a huge sports fan who also had a need for speed, whether as an Air Force pilot, snow- and water-skiing, or driving a sports car.
There’s also Casey Bishop, the Estero teen who made it to a fantastic fourth place finish in “American Idol” in May 2021.
Well, she could barely contain her excitement when she talked to reporter Charles Runnells about realizing her dream and her first single debut since the TV singing competition aired.
As much as my father loved to use his deep baritone voice to belt out “Happy Birthday” or a tune from Burl Ives or Elvis Presley, I’m not sure he would have done as well in any singing competition.
He seemed to do well when it came to first dates, or I should say a blind date, that eventually led to him marrying my mother. But I’m not sure that first date would have passed muster with Mimi Lee, who since 2011, has helmed My Top Matchmaker, an esteemed agency in Naples helping singles find love from Punta Gorda to Marco Island. Mimi also worked with Patti Stanger, star of Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker.” And she’s provided some tips to reporter Diana Biederman just for our subscribers.
Someone who seems to have fallen in love with a particular sport is Naples resident Catherine Parenteau, the 27-year-old originally from Canada who has become one of the biggest names in pickleball. She’s been competing in the world championship here this week. But as reporter Greg Hardwig found out, she got her start in tennis, something I did a lot of in my younger days, with my dad right there at all my matches.
Catherine became successful enough that she quit her job as an instructor at Collier's Reserve to do what originally was her hobby full-time.
And my heart goes out to the family and friends of Mel Meo, a local artist from Pine Island who died recently. If you didn’t know her, chances are good you knew of her, or at least her art work, auctioned off at far more charity events than I have space to list.
Reporter Amy Williams explains her foray into the art world and writes Meo “found a clientele hungry for her images…”
Now that she's gone, observed one person, "Southwest Florida just became more monochromatic."
That’s kind of how I feel, as someone told our family that “the world became a little less bright” when my father died.
But our family’s wish is to keep his spark alive. Be kind, live life to your fullest, and follow your dreams.
If we do, it’ll always be bright and sunny in Southwest Florida.
And as always, thank you for subscribing. You can reach me at wfullert@gannett.com.
Best wishes,
Wendy Fullerton Powell
Southwest Florida Region editor/ The News-Press/Naples Daily News
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Living their dreams in SWFL
