The Flu and Fla.

It was time for a get-away, so last week we packed our twin silver suitcases and headed down to Florida for a visit with L & L Heydt at the Foxwood. It was Mfw’s first flight, and she did, for the most part, wonderfully. I don’t think I took my first flight until I was in high school. Now little Maeva already has a few grand on her frequent flyer card.

I’m not gonna lie, it was 80 degrees and sunny the whole darn time we were there. It would be impossible for humans to imagine better weather. We ate fresh ocean fish every night. We drank beverages by the pool. I read books. Meg read magazines. Linda and Lowell showed off their new baby granddaughter to all their friends. We all took walks together in the morning or in the evening. It was 5 days of all out relaxing. It was a bonafide vacation.

Except for one detail: Maeva caught the flu. It was her first bout with a real illness, and we were a little taken aback. She barfed. She had blow-outs. But in the end she put on her party face and hardly missed a beat. Hardly missed a beat that is, compared to Lowell, who promptly caught it from Maeva on the day we departed. Lowell was holed up in the condo for the following four days whimpering like a puppy. Then Meg caught it middle week. She was down for about 25 hours, and fared better than most, but it still was a long cry from pretty. So far, papa is holding steady. No word yet from Linda. This flu has a mind of it’s own. Watch out.

One highlight while there was seeing new-to-the-world Elisabeth Sarah, the fine looking daughter of Nick and Kortney. Maeva looked like a wrestler compared to Elisabeth. Strange to think they are both still called infants.

Special thanks to L & L for being such fine and gracious hosts. You guys are the best. In fact, keep it under your hat, but we’re going to get Lowell a host gift. Also thanks to all the folks at Foxwood. You are a good living bunch. See you next year.

Fifty Five and Over at the Foxwood

As far as I’m concerned, it’s always 85 and sunny at the Foxwood. You have a variety of buddies to hang out with, a pool to lounge beside, horseshoes to pitch, bright colored skydiver parachutes to watch rustle to the ground, cheap golf to play across the street, drinks to drink, seafood to grill, yellow striped fish to catch on a bridge to nowhere, a smalltown newspaper to read in the morning on your balcony and to discuss later in the day with your neighbor over a beer, WWII re-enactment nut jobs showing off their old jeeps and firing machine guns, 1840s black powder musket shooters dressed up as Seminole Indians and whoopin’ it up in the hot afternoon sun, self-righteous glider plane pilots talking big on the runway, orange trees ripe with fruit beside big wheeled trucks on the front yard.

Everyday holds something unexpected. Everyday is shorts weather. There is sand in every pair of shoes you own.

Of course not every day is perfect. You have people from Michigan, for example, who try to muck up your day. And some days it rains. But that’s ok too.

In 19 years I’ll be 55. At that point, if all goes according to plan, I’ll have an 19 year old child who has recently flown the coop. (Perhaps Meg and I will have more children as well, who have not yet left the house, but will shortly.)

About the best we can hope for at that point is to have a place to relax and hang with buddies. Work when and if we want to work. Sunshine. Warm weather. Fruit and fish. And an endless list of leisurely things to do. Projects.

Because buddies, warm sunshine, and doing things you want to do keeps you young, and healthy. Seeing and doing new things, in particular. Exploring. I hope we have a place like the Foxwood.

Ice Cream and Hot Dogs for sale in Florida

I liked this little ice cream shop. Perhaps it’s for sale?