Friend of Julie: Leaving Florida

I'm at Orlando International airport, waiting for my plane, which boards in a half hour. The Internet connection was problematic at the house, the Comcast experience was the same as I've had in the past, horrific, but they are the only option available, so they torture their customers at every given opportunity. I spent two hours on the phone one night and the next morning another two hours. I quickly discover the guy on the phone the night before lied about everything he said, so I had to start all over. We left without resolving this and one less TV with cable than when we arrived. Conversing with them is not a good way to start or end a day.

My friend Lucy and her husband Rick invited us to dinner last night. I met Rick in the late 70's before he and Lucy were married. We were all quite young and they were in their early 40's, and we did a lot of sailing in Kaneohe Bay, off the windward side of Oahu. In fact, a few years later, they left Hawaii and Carl and Arlene bought their 40 foot sailboat, LaBumba, from them. It's still at the Honolulu Yacht Club and it's for sale, of any of you are in the market.

Rick and Lucy offered lots of protein and veggies and they had soda water for my vodka. Lucy gave us Christmas gifts. Inside my card, Lucy scribed "for a time in the future" and the gift was a beautiful turquoise pair of capris, size XL. She said she hoped I wasn't offended, but she had gained and lost some weight last year and the capris were too big for her and they looked like they would fit me soon.

I tried them on before I went to bed last night and they fit me now, though ten less pounds will be a better fit. This is great - now I have a new summer item for my April trip to Southern California. Most of what I wore this trip will be too big by April, so it's good to have something new to wear then.

I need to get things in order here, as I'll be boarding soon. I hope to post photos this weekend and perhaps another blog entry on vacation reflection.