So, Jayde and I arrived at mom and dad's after dark. I cut the lights and pulled into the driveway and parked. Observing that the back porch light and the television were on, we got out of the van, closed the doors very quietly and, in "007 style", slid in the back door for the big surprise.
I thought Bruce was going to have a heart attack, litterally! The look on his face was priceless. Of course, if someone just snuck up on me like that and started waiving at me, I would be in shock too.. So, the next surprise was for mom. Bruce went in first and I don't know what he said to her, but when she stood up and turned around, she was almost kinda peeved that someone was here. However, when it hit her that it was her daughter, she was overwhelmed with glee.....:)) Hugs then proceeded to be given and then the ritual of carrying in of the luggage. Dad confessed to knowing about the plan the whole time.
We talked, ate, laughed and ate some more. Jayde had to make hobo hash for everyone. (her favorite) Jayde and I went swimming with the manatees. Then Beth came over for a visit and she and I went swimming with the manatees. I could have stayed in that water for the whole day if permitted. But that was not the case. I took lots of pictures.
Oh, I have to tell you about the night that I stayed up worrying about the mass murderer in my head.....Beth and I stayed in the RV, so as not to keep people up while we stayed up talking. Anyway, I got to the RV before Beth and the subject got on how my sister-in-law died. So, that was probably what got my whole brain rattled. Beth fell asleep and I was left with my own thoughts rolling around in my head. I started thinking that if something happened to us, we were not connected with the house, nobody would hear it. Then I kept hearing noises. (being in a camper, you hear noises). Anyway, I convinced myself that it was nothing, and got up to show myself that I was right. Crazy, huh.? Well, when I did, I found that the door to the RV was hanging wide open. OMG!!!!! So I close the door and LOCK it. then I turn on the light and check the camper from front to back. Turn off the light and got back into bed. Still hearing things outside, waiting for the camper to shift it's weight and staring into the darkness for any shadow that moved. I finally heard a group of kids walking down the street laughing and talking. Somehow, that calmed me down and I was able to get some sleep. That was my mostly sleepless night in the RV.
Jayde and I got to spend our last day in Florida together on the beach, making our sand turtle, chasing dolphins and taking lots of pictures, mostly of Jayde. We were going to go canoeing, but the weather didn't cooperate with us. So we just had a most relaxing day on the beach before the big drive home.
Mom, Dad and Bruce were sad to see us go, but we had to return to our "real" life back in Ohio. I was kinda excited to be going home, because Richard told me he had a big surprise for me when we got home.
Soo , the ride home was great until I fueled up just outside of Chattanooga. Apparently, I put some bad gas in the van, because it started acting strange and I started stressing......Badly. So much so, that I started making plans in my head as to who to call if I got stranded on I-75 on the Jellico mountain pass. I called mom and dad and started crying, (Jayde was asleep) I called Richard and was crying. They called each other worried about what was going on. And it was all for naught. I made it over the pass just fine, and stopped and got gas again in KY. I felt like such a fool. BUT, just to let you know, I was praying the whole way over that awful mountain pass. I had God's protection over our travels. Anyway, we stopped at Jonathan's and dropped off his 13 fresh herb plants that I got for him. It was an aromatic drive home to say the least. Basil, thyme, mint, aloe, etc. We got home around 930pm.
Oh, and my big surprise from Richard???? A new wood floor in the kitchen. He spent a week tearing out the nastiest carpet and rubber kickboard you have ever seen in your life, and putting down a beautiful new wood floor. I have to say that he can be pretty thoughtful when he wants to be.
So there you have it....a synopsis of my trip to Florida, summer 2011. Hope you enjoyed the journey.
1 comment:
Yes i think we all had a great time and enjoyed all the good company of each other, and since i was the only one that knew you were comming i acted a little shocked also.
Post a Comment