Dream Trip 2009

Great Travel Moment

With the exception of two grandchildren who are in college, my entire family and I (two brothers, one sister and our respective spouses/kids) surprised our mom in Sanibel this year to celebrate her 75th birthday. As each arrived from New York, Chicago and North Carolina, she continued to be in a state of shock. Go figure! Given that we're rarely together -- especially for an extended period of time -- it was a week of heaven. Shelling on the beach as dawn began to break, swimming, playing tennis, renting bikes and riding for miles throughout the island. We grilled steaks and chicken on the barbecue. Enjoyed family meals in tourist-laden seafood joints. And relaxed over a bottle (or two or three) of wine each night. I savor the closeness of my family and how happy my mother was that we banded together to make her birthday so special.