They say timing is everything.  So in terms of timing, so far we’ve done pretty well.  We’re beating the heat in Nebraska (95-100 degrees each day) and flying to an island that I have yet to figure out if it’s in the Gulf or in the Atlantic Ocean.  Or maybe it’s a Caribbean Island?  Is that a body of water?  I really need to brush up on my geography.  I’m not usually this blond, no offense intended to my blond friends. Anyway, the steady temps of 87 for a high and 82 for a low for the duration of our stay sounds perfect to me.  Right now we’re flying around tropical storm Barry which I’m grateful decided to head west rather than east, although I’m saying prayers for the people being affected by this storm.  From this vantage point however, the cloud formations and light show are spectacular. 

We talked about what we’re looking forward to; the pool in the backyard, the palm trees, ocean breezes, great food, sightseeing.  Something different from the craziness that is our lives.  The craziness that continues to follow us although we’ve made a pact that there will be no work this week.  We’ll see how that goes.  And yes, I brought the laptop with me so that we can look things up and buy tickets online and find great restaurants and write my blog as I feel led. 

Last night after I had finished packing, out of the blue, I heard from a long lost cousin, someone who, when we were growing up, was very special to me, but whom I have not spoken with in almost 44 years.  Only two years apart, when we visited each other’s families (our dads were brothers), we immediately found fun things to do, things we always had in common.  But he went to college and I finished high school and we were separated by many miles and life experiences and so here it is 44 years later and he has contacted me through Linkedin of all things, to let me know his mother had passed and he would like to talk to me.  

To say I’m a bit nervous is a bit of an understatement.  And a bit sad.  His mom, my aunt, was one of the sweetest, most kind people I’ve ever known.  I always had this little fantasy that maybe one day I could go live with them and she could be my mom.  The last visit I had with her was when I was in college marching band and we traveled to Maryland for a game where they met us.  During our free time, I visited them and Aunt Carol took me shopping, but the thing I remember the most was that before we crossed a street she held my hand.  I was 19.  Nobody had held my hand to walk across the street in a long time.  

She was a lovely lady, the epitome of class, dressed to the nines, usually in a skirt and heels to make breakfast for everyone.  I WANTED  to make my bed for her when I visited because she made me feel special.  Silver and china were set on the table and we would have to clean up together afterwards before we could go out and do something.  Always with a smile on her face and with a great sense of humor.  Now, I’m sure there were times when this wasn’t true – she was a mom to two boys – great boys – but I’m sure she had to be MOM sometimes.  But to me she was that perfect TV mom, almost too good to be true.

So in a little while we’ll be landing in Ft. Lauderdale where we’ll get the rental car, drive to the hotel, grab a bite and wait for a phone call.  A phone call that I hope may reignite a wonderful long lost relationship and begin creating some new memories.