Fun with Family - This Time in Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida - a tale of two cities. One is a hustling, bustling, and depressing city, part of a 6-million strong megalopolis. Another is a seaside resort filled with vacationers and boaters, rich and poor, (and sometimes very poor,) a wonderful beach scene and picturesque waterways. The dividing line is somewhere between US 1/I95 and the coast. Guess which we avoid like the plague, and which draws us back every time.

Our lives here and in the Keys in the 90's and early 2000's is chucked full of great memories - life on the boat, lifelong friends met and rejoined, fun times working (if you can believe that,) and children and grandkids all around. Since we said goodbye to the city in May '04, we came back few times to see friends and family at holidays, but when we set off on our new "land" adventure, Ft Lahdeedah has only dragged us back twice - present case included.

We can squeeze alot into a week though - a wonderful time with our son, Trace, (who we have missed for the past two years,) and his love, Davi, and a few jampacked days with our two Florida grandchildren, Austin and Emily, whom we haven't seen since last Thanksgiving.

We impressed Trace and Davi with the new coach - they're such soft touches - and they serenaded us and the kids with new compositions on guitar and vocal - fantastic talents, if they can only catch that one elusive break - but then we're such soft touches, too. But really, they are sooo good! Davi (short for Davinee) and Trace have been together for two years and are a perfect match - temperament, talent, and togetherness.

And the kids - wow - it's only been ten months, and suddenly that deep voice (that would be Austin) and that girlish figure (that would be Emily.) They took us around with a friend to see their new schools, and we took them to a little park to visit with Trace and Davi and get the musical treatment too! Then it was on to a traditional, favorite stop - Jaxson's Ice Cream  in Dania Beach for some tasty treats. The next day we went to the beach for sun and sand and boogie boards - well beyond our limits on the boards. This is part of what makes south Florida bearable for the residents - it really is a spectacular scene - bridges across the ICW, prominade along A1A, and tourists galore.

Finish the visit off with a get-together with old workmates, and you have the makings of a great week. It was great getting to spend so much quality time together. Hope it can hold us for awhile. We miss them already.