I'm baaaaaaaaack!

That's right, I've returned. Hope you all found something useful to do with all your spare time! I had a wonderful time with my family. The marathoners and half-marathoners were absolutely impressive. Everyone in my gang finished in fine form (whether they think so or not). They even convinced me to do the half marathon with them next January. Yes, I was sober at the time.... although I had to drink rather heavily later that day once I'd realized what I said. As it is, I nearly repeated my 3-day walk traipsing all over Disney World. Oy, it's nice to be back so I can relax!

My great niece and nephew are just the most adorable children in the world. It's true. Kids just don't get any more precious than those two. They were so well behaved and so much fun to be with. I also had fun hanging with my nephew Homer and his wife Athena (parents to the adorable urchins), my nephew Jason, my sis Nancy and her husband Mikael, and my Mom and Aunt Irene. We had as much fun as Disney World can allow. I think they'll even let us come back again - though we may be banned from poolside bars. Ahem.

Yep. We had all spent the day wandering around Hollywood Studios and EPCOT and eating good food and riding rides and walking walking walking. All of us were double-dog tired. The older folks called it quits and went to bed. Athena went back to their room to put the kids to bed. The rest of us decided that, tired as we were, we still weren't quite ready to call it a night.... that maybe "a drink" would be nice. So, Homer, Jason, Nancy, Mikael and I sat at the bar by the pool for a while. All three men kept buying me these very pretty drinks called Lava Lamps. I think they had about 4 kinds of liquor in them. I recall that my feet and legs still hurt, but I just didn't care any more... and we told silly family stories and laughed... and laughed... and laughed.

It's my fault really. I kind of started it. I got in deep shit with my mother. If you recall from prior posts, Mom is the antithesis of me - she's very proper and ladylike and, well, uptight (I say that with all the love in the world). Anyway, at lunch that day, the runners were all talking about how intensely annoying it is to be two miles from the finish and have spectators yell, "You're almost there!" Totally understandable. Athena said she wanted to get a banner made with some statement on it like, "Do NOT tell me I'm ALMOST THERE!" I said, "Heck, why bother carrying something like that on your run... that's why God gave us middle fingers!" Well, everyone but Mom laughed. Mom gave me The Look and said sternly, "Barbara Ann!" Ohgodohgodohgod... I got The Full Name Treatment - a sure sign that I was in big bad trouble. Then I got a speech about vulgarity and obscenity and... *sigh* Everyone else at the table kind of went quiet (in a thank-the-gods-it's-not-me-this-time way). Even though I apologized to Mom for offending her sensibilities (which took a lot out of my stubborn ass), I still got the red-headed step-child treatment much of the rest of the day. Oh well. I stand by what I said, I still think it's funny and so does everyone else. Almost everyone else. *shrug*

Needless to say, we were all ready for a drink... or six... or ten... by the end of the day, and that evening by the pool was the highlight of the trip for me. No, not (as you probably think) because I tied one on (but good!), but because we were relaxing and talking and having fun and just enjoying each other's company (always the best of times in my book). I sat there drinking and laughing and feeling my lips slowly go numb, listening to Homer and Jason tell their stories, thinking what fine men my nephews have grown into and how cool it was to be sitting poolside having drinks with them. Every now and again we get those moments... the ones that always make me think, "this is better'n perfect." That was one of 'em. For me, it made the trip.