Florida

What can I say about a perfect week in Naples? Here are the highlights:

• Seeing my grandparents: We got to see my grandparents most days that we were there, which was great since they're the real reason we went to Florida. We ate dinner, played bridge, and took lots of walks around their home. Ellie was on her best, most charming behavior with them, which was really important to me. I had forgotten how good my grandma is with little kids.
  
• Swimming in the Gulf: Every morning we went swimming. The waves were negligible most days, so we really got to swim. Mostly it was Ellie, my dad, and me in the water. However, my mom even swam every day and I got to raft in the waves with her for a long time one day while Ellie and my dad played in the beachside pool.
  
• Sand dollars: About waist to shoulder deep, the bottom of the Gulf was literally carpeted with sand dollars. You couldn't take a single step without stepping on several. My dad and I put on goggles and looked under the water and saw 6-12 per square foot as far as we could see.
  
• Running on the beach: Three times my dad and I ran on the beach at sunset. I went at a slower pace than usual and surprised myself by being able to run 12-14 minutes straight with no break. (Isaac kept telling me to run slower, and no surprise - he was right!) Afterward, we would take off our shoes and plunge into the water. What a way to cool down! One night the waves were big and we played in the surf until long after dark. This time with my dad was really special to me.


• Shelling: I love to find neat shells. I didn't take any home, but I had a great time looking. Ellie had absolutely no interest in the shells. Whenever we'd show her a shell or a sand dollar, she'd throw it back in the water with only a glance.
  
• Tin City: It was funny to go back to the tourist shops I remember from being a little kid. I saw all my "unique treasures" that I had saved for year and found out exactly how common and cheap they really were.

There's a lot more to say about the trip. I haven't even mentioned the wine and Scrabble games I shared with my dad! Or how cute Ellie looked in her water wings. Or the nice pilot that took us up to the cockpit and let me sit in his seat (I didn't know they could do that any more). Or my jellyfish sting and the way we actually saw the jellyfish the next day and watched it in the water for a long time. Oh well. This is really long and I need to make myself stop!

As great as the week was, I have to admit that it's really nice to be back home with Isaac. I missed that handsome dude!