Family Fêtes

I'm feeling like I better crank this post out before I lose all momentum!

So, here it is-- my trip to Florida:

It was nice.

I couldn't get a cab on my way to the airport though, and so I ended up sharing one with some random lady with teenage kids in Tampa. It was the cheapest trip to the airport ever! Pixie and I had a 4:30 PM appointment to pray together on the phone, but I was in a moment of chaos with last minute packing and then couldn't call her from the cab, given the fact that I wasn't alone. I had to put off the prayers until I actually made it to the airport. It was a little awkward, but I did my thing right near the flight check-in counter. Then I made my way to the gate. I was supposed to meet LilSis and JBC, but I got there first and so Narc and I texted back and forth for a little while. I'm telling you-- he is so fucking available lately. The normalcy is unsettling for me. Is this the same relationship I've been writing about for all these years?

At the airport in Ft Lauderdale we met my Aunt N and Uncle B and cousins Jail and Jol. We all piled into a rental van and headed over to the hotel where LilSis, JBC and I were sharing a "suite" with BigSis and Bro-in-Law. The two of them had arrived the night before and were already half asleep when we came bursting into the hotel room.

On Friday we all assembled for breakfast at the bagel place where my grandparents always used to take us when we vacationed down there during winter break. Then it was over to my grandpa's house where my cousins and sisters and brothers-in-law all tried to soak up the sun, while I hid out in the house. I like to protect my pallid complexion! Besides, I got to keep my stepbrother company while he ate his Cheerios. Later on in the afternoon, everyone went out to the pool down the road while my mom and my grandpa took me to a Kinkos to print out some sheet music. My mom had organized an entire "show" for the birthday party that night. When we got back, I took the script my mom wrote over to the pool and tried to get everyone to practice it with me.

That night we drove up to Boca where the party was being held. It was a great party, in that the feelings around the whole event were wonderful. However, we were supposed to have a private room in the restaurant, but we didn't. It was especially embarrassing to have to put on our show about my grandpa's life "through music" in front of random diners. I had to fumble through numerous piano arrangements and poor BigSis had to carry the vocals. The only part about it I liked was when I dedicated a song to him at the end and actually got to sing something that I felt prepared for and comfortable with-- something that I know I sounded good on!

On Saturday we attempted a beach day, but the weather was gray and the sun only peeked out occasionally through the flashes of rain. Eventually, giving up on the beach we all lunched at Ruby Tuesday's (except for the boys who were off playing golf) and then after resting up at the hotel, we went to the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Center. I bought a pair of Prada sunglasses (for more money than I have!) and some J-crew flip flops. I have to say, though-- the sunglasses make me feel like a rock star, so I think they're worth it.

After shopping, my extended family headed back to the hotel while my sisters, the boys and I grabbed a bite at Outback. Of course, being the insomniac that I am, I was up much later than everyone else, accompanied only by CNN and SNL re-runs. Then Narc started texting me. He texted me every day that I was away! He lived in Boca for a few years.

Is it still pink? he asked.

He said to call him when I got back in on Sunday night. I was in love with it-- all of it, really.

Sunday was my day to catch up with VJ! She met us at my grandpa's house at around 11:00. It was a real shock when I answered the door. She's about seven months pregnant and I haven't seen her in at least a year and a half! Her hair was shorter too. She has a beautiful glow-- I don't know if it's from the pregnancy or just from the fact that she seems to be genuinely happy in her life. It was soooo good to talk to her and catch up. It's strange when you see a friend who you've known for so long but haven't seen for a while-- right away, it's just natural and easy and I felt like myself. (We used to live together as roommates in college, and I have to say-- we were quite a pair!) We relocated over to the pool for a while and then back to my grandpa's place for pizza. I was sad when I had to leave for the airport at around 5:00 PM.

We had flight delays trying to get back to NY. Apparently it was snowing back home. Normally I wouldn't have minded, but the plane was originally meant to land at 10:00 PM. With the delays, we wouldn't touch ground until midnight, and I really wanted to see Narc.

Anyway, I guess I'll leave you all with a "to be continued." I have more to say about Narc (what else is new?) and it just doesn't seem like it should go into the same post as my family vacation...

So... that's it for now!

love,
h

PS: Happy Valentine's Day!!