The Long Ride Back

If today's post seems late and a little lifeless, then let me quote my old friend Alexander:  "It's been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  I think I'll move to Australia!"  I promise tomorrow's post will have some zing!

We got up on the last morning of the 1987 Orlando trip feeling a bit grumpy.  We had not gotten back to the motel until around 3 AM, and we were up early for devotions, breakfast and packing.  Soon we were off to Sea World, where we planned to stay until mid-afternoon.  Then we would start back to High Point.  We had a plan.

We were also much more tired than anyone would admit.  Jennifer still didn't feel well.  The younger kids, especially Justin, had been throwing fits all morning.  Sea World was just too much for us.  We saw some shows, and loved Shamu, but soon we were on the road.  We drove all the way to Deltona, about an hour north of Orlando, before sickness, grumpiness, heat and hunger stopped us for the night.  We got a hotel for the night, and most of us found our way to the pool and a great night together.  There was only one fly in the ointment.  Traci, thinking we would be back to NC by early afternoon the next day, had a date.  An important date, I assume.  I assume that because for the rest of the night and all the next day all we heard about was how we HAD to get her home in time.  As I recall, we made it- sort of.  The next morning there was another delay when Justin refused to get dressed and we had to drag him the vehicles.  Eventually we made it home.

That first Disney trip set us up for all of the great summer events that were to come at Springfield.  By our next one in 1990, the size of our group would triple.  But that is getting ahead of things.  Triennial Sessions were coming next.  A simple trip to play Putt-Putt would lead to a very strange night...and the Great Hickey Search!