Let me introduce myself. My name is Monika Turner. It is hard to believe it has been 23 years since the first time I came to Florida in 1994. A friend of my husband, Manfred, had moved to St. Petersburg and opened an antique business. He asked Manfred, who was a master carpenter, to come here and do some work for him. My husband always dreamed about retiring in the United States, and this seemed like the chance to see if it was all he dreamed.
It was six months before we actually boarded the plane for Ft. Myers. As we planned and made arrangements, his dream became my dream as well. I have to admit I was excited, but afraid at the same time and nervous about leaving our home and friends in Bavaria. It took a lot of planning and paperwork, but the day finally came to leave, and with our teenage son, Torsten, we boarded our airplane.
Before my husband started to work, we bought a motorhome and spent the first four months touring the U.S. As we toured the country we made stops at places where they had never seen or heard anyone from Germany. I did not yet speak English very well, but I have to say most everyone was very friendly and accepting.
I remember one time we stopped for gas in a little town in Idaho where the price was 90 cents per gallon. As we pulled up to the pump we spotted a man sitting in front of the station cleaning his rifle. We were ready to leave and try to find fuel somewhere else, but the man put down his gun and walked up to the motorhome to help us. His friendliness was really surprising considering our first impression, and he actually wound up inviting us into his home.
Time flew by, and when we came back to Florida we rented a home in Pinellas Park and stayed until my husband was finished with the work, five years later.
Our neighbors and friends were wonderful. When it was time to go back to Germany we were amazed to find they had all come to the airport to throw an impromptu farewell party. We said goodbye to everyone, including our son Torsten, who by this time had married and started a family. Soon we were in the air going back to Bavaria.
In 2007, Manfred retired and we followed our hearts back to Florida. This time there was much less fear and worry, as we knew more what to expect and had Torsten there to help us get settled.
Torsten picked us up in Ft. Myers and took us to St. Petersburg, where we rented a house in Magnolia Heights. Once again we found our neighbors were just as open to us as the last time we visited. As time went on, we grew to really love this neighborhood. When we left our first home, we never considered living anywhere else, and found an apartment within Magnolia Heights.
My husband became ill in 2011 and eventually passed away. With his death I considered going back to Germany for a while, but I no longer had much family there and hated the thought of leaving Magnolia Heights and my sons.
Three years ago I met Bill Turner and we married after a short courtship. When we married once again I never considered living anywhere else but in Magnolia Heights. We started Monika’s Cleaning Service last year, beginning with just six clients. Since then, well-satisfied clients have recommended us to friends and family, so we now have over 80 clients. As our business continues to grow, we are able to hire more people, who we personally train to clean in the German methods and traditions.
Who knows for certain what the future will bring? But one thing is certain: St. Petersburg is our home and here is where we plan to stay.
