It’s quiet this morning as I’m enjoying a cup of Joe while listening to the sound of the ocean crashing behind me. Today marks the beginning of the end to this trip. It has been a good, no, great one…
We began a week ago Saturday with our arrival at Casa Ybel. Jordan drove over from the other side of Florida and met us for dinner last Saturday night. He was clean shaven on top and sporting a nice beard. He wasn’t 100% but came anyway. Everybody, but me, slept in on Sunday. The sun was warm everyday with the temperature always somewhere in the high 70’s or low 80’s. Taylor and I ventured into the ocean, with a football of course, and were amazed at how warm the water. We hung out in and around the water that day and just thoroughly enjoyed feeling warm again. It has been a bad winter, at least to Miss, Tay, and me.
Monday came and went in a blur as I try to recall. The three of us teed it up at the local goat ranch for a round of golf with Miss driving the cart and calling out the highlights along the way regardless where you were in your swing. Gotta love this kinda golf. Jordan wasn’t feeling well and Tay was having trouble keeping his ball between the houses. We had fun, anyway. After nine holes, however, we thought better of waiting on every shot and went in for a refund and headed for the pool. We enjoyed “the best grouper on the island,” at the Lazy Flamingo that afternoon. All the restaurants make that claim, but the Lazy Flamingo is the one with the mesquite grilled goodnes, right Miss?
Monday also marked the day that I learned how to play poker. Jordan taught me. I’ve got a new keepsake in my wallet. Blessed beyond belief…
Tuesday, it was off to Ding Darling nature preserve and a trip down memory lane. We had done this kayaking adventure nearly twenty years ago when the kids were little and Tay was but a thought in the mind of Miss. Amazingly, the place looked like I remembered it. We spent hours hearing about “white ibis” and every other kinda water/air species in the area from our helpful guide Heather. Miss and I rammed Jordan and Tay’s canoe and knocked ’em into the weeds on the way out so they had none of that when we finally made the turn for home and Heather let us out on our own. Jordan told Tay to paddle like a banshee and no matter how hard I tried, Miss and I were not gonna catch ’em. Jordan smiled broadly from the shore as we rowed in a few minutes behind. He and Tay acted like they’de been there for hours 🙂
Jordan would depart after lunch on Tuesday but not before we all ventured down to Captiva Island, past Krit’s rock, and had some lunch with memories at The Mucky Duck. Twenty years ago, really…
Wednesday was all about the bike. The three of us saddled up early and made our way down Tarpon road and within minutes stopped for lunch at some Cow place with a wait. We’re foodies and this place was pure tourist. Not bad, but not worth the wait. However, this place marks the kairos moment of our Sanibel 2015 trip. Over lunch Miss began to make some shreds from tearing at her paper towel napkin. Yup, paper towel it was. We had waited what felt like forever, had mediocre food, and they had dropped my po boy sandwich on the floor. It hadn’t been the best of times. I’m not sure why I did it or what made it so funny, but I imitated Miss with my napkin and kinda ripped at it, made some comment, and it struck my brides funny bone. Miss shook. Really shook. She laughed so hard the other patrons asked if they could have what she was having 🙂 Her laughter was contagious so, of course, I caught it. We both laughed and once I get her going, I’ve learned a few tricks after 35 years to keep her going. We laughed and laughed and laughed. At one point I looked across the table at Tay and he was laughing hysterically too. We were no longer loathing our lunchtime; we were loving it.
Loate to love, via the laugh. Kairos moment in the making.
As we left the restaurant I thought to myself this is the highlight of the trip, period. This is FM, baby. The family that learns to turn loathing into laughter is gonna be good in the heat, the deep freeze, or the mundane middle. Good.
Of course, yesterday was a topper too. We three got up early so Tay could go down to YOLO and get his boaters license. He passed with a little help from the professor and we headed down the Captiva shoreline on a pair of jet ski’s. Super, super fun. We went for miles along the coastline and landed at the very end of some deserted island you can only camp on. We made our way into camp, took some pics, and headed back to our awaiting vessels and the return home. Magic. A little more mesquite grouper for lunch and then we headed back to Casa for a little relaxing pool time. Tay stayed back and chilled in the room while Miss and I lounged. Another late dinner, this time at the Thistle, marked the end to another beauty being together. Tay had some steak. Miss some shortness of rib and I enjoyed Octupus and rare Ostrich. We waddled home all smiles.
Today, it’s early. The coffee is good. The sky is cloudy for the first time this trip. The beach is quiet and calling my name. I’m headed out for a stroll down memory lane, i.e. the beach. Tomorrow, we fly back to the tundra. I can’t wait to greet the cold Ohio weather with my newfound perspective. I’m planning to laugh; loathe, not so much.
Good…
BUILT TO LEAD 