I've had the time of my life

I’ve had the time of my life…

I have just returned from my first trip to Florida and an incredible visit with my friends Naomi and Dr. Steve. I truly did have the time of my life and I really want to Thank Naomi and Dr. Steve from the bottom of my heart for the fabulous time.

I decide to make this blog entry a chronically of my trip.

Day #1- Thursday October 1st
My alarm went off at 3 AM although I was wide awake, too excited to sleep. I showered dressed and drove to my friend’s house for him to take me the BWI airport. I arrived at BWI right around 4:30 AM. Thru the ticket counter, and security the first leg of the flight was Baltimore to Atlanta- was only in Atlanta for less than an hour then off to Fort Myers Florida.
I had a window seat and was watching the beautiful landscape and sky as we landed. WOW
Once I had my bag and was outside waiting for Naomi to arrive to pick me up I was enjoying the warm sun and calm breeze. What a lovely place.
Naomi was as excited to see me as I was to see her. First stop was Dr. Steve’s office in Fort Myers- Dr. Steve has been a chiropractor for more than 30 years, he practice AK which means Applied Kinesiology, it’s really interesting and something I would like to learn more about. Dr. Steve gave me a great adjustment. While at the office I got to meet their daughter Marianne. We were off again this time to their home on Sanibel island- over something they call a causeway- it looks like a very very long bridge to me. It was beautiful. Naomi and Dr. Steve have a lovely home. We dropped my stuff as Naomi was anxious to show me as much of Florida as possible. She showed me Sanibel and then Captiva island- WOW what a beautiful place. We stopped for lunch at a place called the Bubble Room- WOW what a great place- this little restaurant has 3 floors, with all kinds of memorabilia around- the tables are all glass topped boxes with sand and toys in them. The meal was awesome and their “Award winning” cakes were even more amazing- I had something called Orange Crunch- OMG what a cake- I could only finish about 1/3 of it.
After lunch we went to the “Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge” where we toured the refuge and saw some beautiful birds and a live Crocodile. This was amazing to me.
Back at their house I got to meet their Son Chet and just hang out, helped a very little in cooking dinner. After dinner Naomi took me for a golf cart ride around the neighborhood, showed me the beach, and the golf course, Chet joined us on his bike and led the way. What an incredible place to live.
By 10 PM I was barely able to keep my eyes open and excused myself to bed.

Day #2- Friday October 2nd
It was off to Orlando for Naomi and I- a quick visit to Dr. Steve’s office and the off for the 3 hour drive to Orlando Florida. It was a lovely drive, the sky was so blue and the big white fluffy clouds. Once we had checked into the Embassy hotel. The pool was just too inviting so we spent the next couple of hours in the water and enjoying the warm sunshine.
After our swim and a quick shower Naomi wanted to show me International Drive this is one of the most well known roads in Orlando- it has so many many unusual buildings, hotels and the huge convention center. Then it was off to Downtown Disney- OH my goodness what a place… it was packed with people, music, lights and about a billion things to do. We had dinner at planet Hollywood- ( I had a turkey club) this restaurant is packed with really neat things like the Dorothy’s dress from the wizard of Oz and a Jeep from Mash, there is a constant stream of videos playing very loud and a DJ .
Since we knew Saturday would be a long day we were off to bed early.

Day #3- Saturday October 3rd

Naomi’s birthday- and The MAGIC KINGDOM DAY!!!!
Up at 5:30 showered, dressed and sun screened. A quick breakfast which Dr. Steve, who was attending a nutrition seminar in Orlando, joined us for. We headed to the magic Kingdom- as we pulled up and saw the huge arching sign the says Magic Kingdom- it took all the restraint I had to not un do my seat belt and start jumping up and down like a 5 year old. We had to pick up our tickets at “will call” and then off to the Monorail that took us into the Magic Kingdom….
We waited impatiently at the Gate- then the MC came out and introduced himself- his first name was George, and he announced the train the carried Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip and Dale, etc into the Park. We then entered the Park….. Cinderella’s Castle loomed in front of me- this was a site I had longed to see, Naomi lead the way- first to the “It’s a small world “ ride- awesome, then to Peter Pan’s first flight, then to the Hunted Mansion…. OH My - I have issues with movements due to the Chiari One Malformation, which is a condition were my brain stem sits outside the spinal column. We then went to the hall of Presidents – this is amazing how each President from George Washington to Barack Obama, then we were off to the Country Bear’s Jamboree, then to Mickey’s Philharmonic, then I had wanted to see the new Move it, Shake it, Celebrate it street party, so we went back to the front of the Castle to watch that, well watching wasn’t all we did- Naomi has photos of me dancing in the street with Chip and Dale. A quick bite of lunch and it was off to meet the Princesses, well worth the nearly hour wait, I had my photo taken with all 3 Princesses, a ride on the Walt Disney Train, then more waiting to meet Mickey and Minnie. In to Tomorrowland for the new “Monsters Inc”. Laugh Floor, then Walt’s carousal of Progress. Believe it or not it was time for us to make our way back to Adventure land for our dinner reservations and the Liberty Tree tavern. What a dinner- OH WOW- salad, roast beef, turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, rolls and butter, apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream for dessert. YUMMY. After dinner we secured our places in front of the restaurant for the Parade. The Parade was amazing everything had lights on it. Then off to Main Street to what the fire workers and Tinkerbelle fly out of the castle and sprinkle Pixie dust on the crowd. We ended our Day with some shopping on Main Street. It’s hard to believe the day went by so fast. It was an Amazing and incredible day.
We got back to the hotel right around midnight- a quick shower and off to bed.

Day #4- Sunday October 4th
Neither of us could believe that we slept past 9:30; both Naomi and I are usually early raisers. We each showered, packed up our stuff, loaded the car and headed to International drive again. Naomi wanted me to try a restaurant called TU TU Tango- this is a Tapas restaurant – the food was very very good- we had bang bang shrimp, Grilled crispy pears, Stuffed lobster rolls, and Flaming cheese.
We were off then for the drive back to Fort Myers. The sky was once again so blue and the clouds so white and fluffy- just beautiful. Sunday night I got to meet Naomi’s Mom and spent some time just hanging out with their family.

Day #5- Monday October 5th
I slept in, visited Dr. Steve’s office and then Naomi took me to see the Sanibel Light house, the gulf of Mexico which I walked into to my mid calf, then to the shell museum, some shopping at She sells sea shells, dinner at the Lazy Flamingo, then to dairy queen. Back at their house we relaxed and chatted a bit more. Sadly it was time for me to pack and get ready for bed.

Day # 6 Tuesday October 6th
I woke up at 5:30 to the sound of Croc’s and the birds in the back yard. After I showered I got the rest of my stuff packed and relaxed a bit. Soon we were off, a quick stop at Dr. Steve’s office then off to breakfast with Naomi at a little place called the last watch- I had something called Floridian French toast which is a wheat germ break with strawberries, bananas, and kiwi on top of it.
Then off to the airport- I had a direct flight from Fort Myers to Baltimore it took about 2 hours and 20 minutes. My friend Dawn picked me up BWI airport for the 25 minute drive to home.


I really did have the time of my life. Florida was amazing the magic Kingdom is just that totally MAGIC-
A few weeks ago a friend of mine had told me that I was going to love the Magic Kingdom as entering there was like entering a different dimension. Rick you were so right- it truly is.
As for the diet well let’s just say it was on vacation too. I did eat wrong, but still managed to keep my blood sugar levels under 100.
I cannot put words to the feeling it felt standing on the beach Monday while the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico washed over my legs. It was just incredible.

Ariel my adorable kitty was so happy to see me when I got home- she did not leave my side all night.

The stuffy nose I woke up with yesterday morning turned into a fever and cough this morning- I am sure it is just my body’s reaction to the claimat change and in a few days I will be fine.

I cannot find the words to express my gratitude to Naomi and Dr. Steve for their incredible hospitality and for giving me this amazing chance to enjoy my new life. THANK YOU BOTH so much.

Months ago my Coach the amazing Dr. Joe Wood told me that life was going to get so good that I could not imagine it, I kind of shrugged that off but NOW I know what me means. OH WOW…

This journey is amazing and so much fun.