Before I regale you with yet another day of our vacation adventures….. a little personal history.
In case you hadn’t guessed? The husband and I don’t have any children. It was a lifestyle choice we made many years ago and haven’t had cause to regret it. But back in the early 90’s we took a neighbor’s child under our wing when her single mother was having a hard time.
She was the child we never had….
We helped raise her…..
And since she had no contact with her real father, my husband took over the role.
Attitude adjustments et al.
She wasn’t ours biologically…..
But she will always be the child of our hearts.
We’ve watched her grow into a beautiful young woman…
And now she’s happily married…..
With a child of her own….
And we feel like we have a grandchild as well. They still live in North Carolina so whenever we’re near…. we get together. She loves that we have a timeshare and enjoys staying with us at the various resorts. On Day 8 of this trip? She and her daughter joined us for the weekend before Christmas.
When they arrived? A goose traffic jam…
I love me some goosers… so pardon the ridiculous tone of voice I use in the video.
As well as me cursing out the idiot who was honking their horn at those sweet little waddlers.
After their 4 1/2 hour trip, Destiny and Gracie were hungry so we took them to that great seafood place we’d found… Fat Tuna.
We stuffed ourselves silly with hushpuppies, cornbread and shrimp and grits….
While the husband opted for a seafood pasta.
This was in anticipation of where we would be spending the afternoon and evening… because when you have a 7 year old? Sitting around chatting with a cocktail isn’t going to cut it.
So the husband and I did what we never… ever!… do.
We went to a theme park.
And it was just as awful as I knew it would be.
We stood in a long line to board the shuttle.
We crammed onto the shuttle like sardines.
We waited on long lines to buy overpriced tickets…. and not even a funny spare tire cover could make up for what we were about to experience.
(I hope he was talking about the jeep and not his wife.
I really do.)
But yes…. the husband and I shelled out $240 frickin’ dollars to visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens.
No senior discount, no military discount, no under 12 discount.
Suck it Santa!
Did I mention it was also $20 to leave our car in the north 40, somewhere south of bumblef*ck Egypt parking lot?
$260 just to walk in.
Kill me now.
But we were there with people we loved…
And my husband… who never wants to pose for photographs?
Was posing all over the place…. and smiling.
Now that’s a true Christmas miracle!
I liked riding the Big Bad Wolf…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what Little Red Riding Hood said…
😈
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did well, mama. You did very well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It would have been alright if the little peanut was enjoying herself… but even she was disappointed.
LikeLike
Looks like lots of fun at a time of year when fun is what’s called for. You did good going to the theme park. It wasn’t all bad there, was it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was 90% bad.
I’ll give a 10% good rating to the lights…. it’s just not our thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a daughter like that too. Our foreign exchange student from years ago. Ain’t nothing sweeter.
Theme parks are the worst. We took our grandkids to Disney Florida last year. NEVER AGAIN!! (Hint: if you charge $10 for a hot dog, spend the extra 40 cents to make it a good hot dog)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I despise them…. always have. Never been to Disney, and hopefully I’ll never have to.
LikeLike
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever (I do mean EVER) seen your hubs facing the camera, let alone smiling….a truly awesome experience for all of you. I’m talking about the time with each other, not the theme park itself. Because I’m not too fond of any theme park so I get how you felt, especially after spending what looked like a small mortgage payment just to get in…ouch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Those parks are just so… fake. I understand the kids enjoying the rides and carnival stuff, but we have adult friends who take their yearly vacations at these places. Each to their own, but I just don’t get it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well worth the $259.96!!
So nice to see Fred smiling!!
And the girls too.
You did something wonderful there….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Time spent with them is priceless… I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am looking forward to a post on February 29TH of just foods you both have eaten on your trips–NOW THAT WOULD BE A POST TO REMEMBER!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t promise any food on a particular day. I blog sequentially… even on your birthday!
LikeLike
Well, I can understand not enjoying a theme park, because blech! But you got to spend it with people you love and Fred was smiling! That will be a special memory to treasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel all weepy now…
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need.
It’s all good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will….
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your husband could have gone to the ITT ticket office on the air base or any of the Navy bases and gotten a much reduced price. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens isn’t that great. Now Hallowscream is what you want to go for.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a spur of the moment decision to go… but yes, a reduced price might have made it less painful.
And though I do love Halloween, the chances of ever seeing me there again are slim to f*ck no.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am still hyperventilating over the $260 bucks for a theme park admission … and it wasn’t even from my own pockets!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admit I almost choked when that rang up…..
LikeLike
Aawwww that just made me all gooey and sappy on the inside. It sounds like a really special relationship you have there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is.
💕
LikeLike
I can relate completely with your love for the neighbor girl you helped raise. My wife and I did the same (but after we retired).and ever since, we have loved her like the granddaughter we’ve never had (our own daughters are childless). Lucky for us, she still lives next door and has turned out to be a beautiful young lady (in every way).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leaving her was the hardest part of moving back north. That… and the utter lack of hushpuppies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like louder clam chowder doesn’t make up for it. ;-).
LikeLike
Depends on the clam…
😉
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Proof that family is who you choose. Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When the husband was still active duty…. we filled our holiday table with friends, neighbors and Marines who were far from home. It was a wonderful substitute family.
LikeLike
Clearly worth every penny.
I think that last goose was saying, “you call that a horn?”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Geese are cheeky little bastards. Probably why I like them….
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
❤ the family you choose ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just as important as those related by blood.
❣️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that’s just charming — family of heart, a goose traffic jam…
But then, no discount on the tickets AT ALL? That’s insane. Glad you made it out alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No discount, no rides. Total rip off.
LikeLiked by 1 person