I stared with the same look that the deer in my headlights display when I am driving home from work at night. Whirling it’s way through the Caribbean, intent on wreaking havoc with a course no one could predict, bearing down for a direct hit on the homestead we would be inhabiting in just a few weeks was Irma.
Italian-Americans prefer the spaghetti models.
(courtesy of some west coast news agency)
What better metaphor for our 40th wedding anniversary?
Back in June I decided that I wanted to engage in another epic American road trip to celebrate our ” Ruby” anniversary which was coming in October. (In case you were thinking of sending us a gift: the Ruby anniversary celebrates an inner flame that symbolizes a vibrant, living love. 😍) A relaxing journey to the southernmost point in the U.S. coupled with the well-known festive atmosphere of Key West made it a logical choice.
Table for 2 please.
Flights were booked, hotel reservations were made and a car was rented. Only now we didn’t know if there was even a road, let alone gas, water, food and lodging that was still in place post-Irma. Interestingly, we originally had attempted to book a houseboat to stay in but divine intervention ensued and we were unable to make the AirB&B reservation go through. 🙏
Not sure but I think this was the boat.
Contacts with my hotel, airline, the Key West Chamber of Commerce, sea captains, pirates, rum runners & the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida assured me that the roads were passable, gas was available, my hotel was standing and most importantly the dive bars were open!
Sounds like we are good to go!
Only one small problem remains.
As a middle-school student, Damian’s schedule has become a bit more complicated. He plays on the Marshall Middle School baseball team (Go 🐺!) as well as a recreational league football team (Go Wildhawks! There is no emoji for that.) He practices 4 days a week with 2 weekly games for baseball and practices twice a week with a weekend game for football. The logistics involved in getting him to and from these activities daily requires 2-3 people’s participation when both chauffeurs work. Fortunately, he is like a sponge when it comes to educational material. It is exactly one week before our flight leaves when we finally decide we will indeed proceed with this trip: what to do? What to do? I decide to channel my inner Auntie Mame.
“Auntie Mame says olives take up too much room in such a little glass.”
I consult with Mr. Russo. We buy Damian a plane ticket. Dear Mike (my accountant): Can I write this trip off as an educational expense?
Follow