My Thoughts Exactly by Annette Kniola

As I sit here writing this blog, there are three young souls out there lost in this world. I will use fictional names due to their age. Though I can’t say by the time I am done writing this, it’s going to be very private. Seems not to matter much to loser mommy. What does she care? This story in itself is nothing but sadness and consistent drama in the lives of these three kids. Allison, the oldest, age 17, just moved back in with her mom after living with my sister for a year. Within the first week, mommy dearest had her man friends over, and by retaliation on how her mother was being treated, Allison ends up being sprayed by alcohol. In the same night, loser mommy is tested to take off her shirt in order to go for a ride in a mustang. She adheres to his request in front of her daughter. They go for a ride. Second of the three is Trevor. One of the sweetest to be 15 year olds you could ever meet. This is a boy that will be someone when he grows up. I guarantee it.

June 9, 2016 It’s been 10 years ago today since my niece Ivy Rose died from an accidental drowning at the age of 3. And sadly, four years later, in 2010, her brother Willie dies on the exact same day. Below are their pictures and the story I had written about Ivy called Tragedy Never Forgotten. Four years later, I wrote about Willie’s death called Death Surrounds Me. You can find that link at the end of my blog. (I have not edited either story in any way). And to be honest with you, I can’t bring myself to read either one today. Not ready for a day of having to cry all day. It’s too hard. Rest in peace my sweet niece and nephew. Someday I will hug you once again. ~Aunt Nette TRAGEDY NEVER FORGOTTEN (2006) In the newspaper these past few weeks, the attention was brought up about swimming safety and how drownings have become a leading factor here in Collier County for children under five. I want to bring my family’s tragedy to light to emphasize how sa

I say, “Whoa now!” We need to regroup here! To be honest with you, even being the Secretary on the Civic Association here at the Golden Gate Estates Civic Association, I feel like I am constantly blindsided by all of this new “pop up” future growth that is headed our way. Yes,I know it’s the inevitable and will take years if not more to complete, but where’s the heads up? Everyone knows how I work.  I am thoroughly involved and I want to spread the news!  I’m transparency at its greatest. But unfortunately out here in the boonies, we don’t have it. Which sucks! Just this past Friday in the Naples Daily News is the farming and mining land recently sold to some company by the name of Metro Exchange Inc. It was sold for almost $38.5 million and covers about 4 square miles. If any one keeps up to areas out here, it is called the S.R.846 that sits in the Rural Fringe. Which is north of the fairgrounds by a couple miles. I know it had been on the market for quite some time

May 6, 2016 Casey needs you! Casey is a little girl here in Golden Gate Estates who tries to go to school at Sabal Palm Elementary when she can, but most times she is unable because she continues to struggle each day. She needs you! Her family are friends of mine and thankfully Casey’s Mom is a donor match. We ask for support because Casey and her whole family have to spend over three month in California coming up soon. I have watched this little girl go to hell and back since the day she was born. I just hope this kidney transplant will give her a chance at a better life. As her Mom Sofia wrote; Casey was born on June 8th, 2007 with several congenital anomalies, the most serious one being renal dysplasia. She was born with only one kidney which was small, malformed, and had 30% function. Casey also had a large hole in her heart and bladder dysfunction. She has had 10 surgeries and many hospitalizations for infection since birth. She took up to 8 medicines a