OK, so Grant had to go to Florida on a business trip….what’s a wife to do….well, tag along of course. We stayed in Orlando and he drove to Melborne about 1 1/2 hours away for the business part of the trip. Two things happened that will be stuck in my memory bank. The first was we saw the shuttle go into space. I actually gasped when I saw it. It was 2:28 pm on Monday. There were only a few scattered clouds in the air. We were standing in a parking lot in Orlanda when all of a sudden, you saw a white dot with a huge ball of flame under it shooting straight up. It was moving so fast. It was so amazing. It just shot straight up, not like a plane moving horizontally. It only took  seconds til it was out of sight. It happened so fast that the winds aloft had not even moved the white plume of smoke left behind until it was gone. I stood there for a while afterwards gazing up just not believing what I saw. Wish I had a phone that took pictures…I have nothing to show you. I won’t be getting my new phone till Feb.

The second thing that was so amazing on our trip was our airboat ride. I did not know what to expect from this except we go about 45 mph. We shot out into a lake. There was 9 of us on the boat. We started skimming over some green algea and then right into the weeds. It was scarey for a moment because it felt like you were riding into a wall. You couldn’t see any water, just weeds. We went back into the marsh and deep into alligator territory. We watched every minute for them. The boat went so fast and turned corners so quick that we skidded sideways for short distances before we were on the straight and narrow again. We saw so many birds, otters, and wild turkeys. Never an alligator…phew….

Did have one mishap. We got stuck in the shallow marsh. First we got caught in “weed islands” that we caught and were carrying with us, then as the open water started to get more narrow and the “weed islands” wouldn’t move we came to a full stop. Five large adults were asked to stand in the front of the boat to try to lift the back up. As the water level was lower than usual, we couldn’t skim across the top as well. The captain reved the motor and we all wiggled. We all wiggled a good 10 minutes. Finally inch by inch the craft started inching ahead ….and….we broke through. The captain had nothing to help get us unstuck. When we got back the captain told us we were stuck in a place where a 12 foot and a 14 foot alligator lives……need I say more?? Ignorance is indeed bliss.

The rest of the trip was uneventful….in comparison. We ate food at Emerils. It was like being on a cooking show. The food was outstanding. I ate duck for the first time. As we ordered the tasting meal, 8 courses, we had a little bit of different things. I passed the duck over to Grant. But gave myself kudo’s for trying it. Afterall, we had just seen all the ducks on the airboat ride…and now the little critter was on my plate. No thanks.

Happiness is being home safe and sound….