Wednesday, June 11, 2008

She's much more daring than I am


Being the oldest person on this trip to Destin has been trying at times.  I pride myself on acting and feeling younger than I am, but I'm usually not tested for days on end.  Here - one big test.  Fun, fun, fun - all day and night long.  It's hard to keep up.  Our days start slowly with computer time or the Wii, and then we meander down to the pool just as the sun is highest in the sky.  I'm trying out for "Most Responsible Mom" so of course I lather my Scandanavian, fair skinned, blond children before they step into the pool for hours on end, or play on the whitest, most reflective sand I've ever seen.  Some might say that the kids are a little, um, cooked.  I prefer to say they have some "healthy color".

After pool or beach time, we usually stroll up for a snack and a nap.  This is followed by happy hour and dinner preparation.  After the kids are asleep, we've even gone swimming down at the pool a few times.  This is when I start to peter out.  I can't keep up as about 10:00 PM, when the youngsters are just gearing up, I'm shuffling down the hall to my room to collapse from the long and tedious day.

Today, we decided to change things up a bit and this old chick out did herself.  We threw in a field trip to "Just Chute Me" - a parasailing company.  I figured the name was an omen and made my final decision at the dock.  No way.  No how.  Was ANYONE going to get me to go 800 feet in the sky.  How stupid do my friends think I am?  "It's easy," they commented and "It's peaceful."  Sure, that's how I define "peace" - strapping myself into a nylon strap diaper, attaching myself to a single rope and then getting propelled up into the sky behind a boat that is traveling over shark and sting ray infested waters.  Sure.  "Peace".

Then Ella got involved.  "C'mon, Mama - let's go in the sky," and I melted.  I figured it would be a good mother-daughter bonding activity.  Kind of like scrapbooking.


10 comments:

blackbird said...

You
are
very
brave.

Anonymous said...

Much cooler than scrapbooking. Just wait until she draws a picture of it for her "what I did this summer" school assignment.

Sarah said...

found you via Heather's site. I'm a montrealer, with a 17 yr old step-son that just graduated high-school and a 7 yr old son with my husband (and father of the 17yr old). Could relate to everything you wrote about him (have a feeling I'll be checking out your blog often..) wanting to live with you and you wanting the best for him. I'm thinking that when they are adults they are going to look back and realize they missed a great opportunity. What are we to do??
have a blast in Florida .. and tell Heather, she cracks me up about missing the s**t eater, man .. too funny!

Jamie said...

that picture is begging to be framed. so cute!

Anonymous said...

our kids always push us to exit our comfort zone. i am a mom of a 15 and 19 year old and believe me, they get me to do (and think) think things i would not imagine. of course they are always telling me that i am inappropriate (i tend to not censor my language). be careful of the buzzwords you use, they will come back to haunt you! enjoy the vaca.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the things we do for our kids. I just wrote about my adventure with my 8-year-old on my blog - www.walkinginmysleep.com. I'm just dealing with bugs right now. Can't wait for flying in the sky!

Bianka said...

Looks like you had a good time! Congrats on conquering your fears! :)

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful time! Did Harry get to go too?

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh you both are radiant! What a blast. I'm inspired! You've got to frame that picture!

Glad you're having fun!

Let's bike when you get back.

xo

Mimi said...

Hi Carol!

I'm another that found you through Heather (dooce.com), but will be back to poke around more. I'm a step-parent too and just starting to blog, I think?!

Did you see the same shark that Heather saw?! That looks like fun, but I'm thinking that you're braver than I am too!