Alright, we are a bit behind on the updates! It's been a busy time, but we are catching up :)
Feb 7-10: Into Florida- From St. Augustine to Miami Lakes
Feb 7: We made our way down to St Augustine, Florida, which my dad and I had explored at different times in different decades. We wandered the streets of the old city, the ramparts of Castillo de San Marco, and the docks by the bay. We couldn't help but notice the majestic ship in the harbor. It drew us in like a magnet! When we neared the ship we were welcomed aboard. We soon learned that the vessel was a near replica of the Nao Trinidad, the flagship of the Magellan-Elcano expedition, leading the first circumnavigation around the world between 1519 and 1522. We told the crew about "Follow the Art," and they were thrilled to participate. We toured the boat and knew we'd be stopping by on our return trip.
Next, we were off to Miami Lakes, Florida. We stopped at numerous rest areas to stretch our legs and take photos. The further south we went, the warmer the temperature. We just about had that Michigan winter out of our system.
We arrived at our cousin Alina's place and greeted with big hugs and tears of joy. Dad hadn't seen her in decades, and I had never met her. I'd only heard beautiful stories of her sailing days and life of adventure. We unpacked our bags to stay with her for several days.
Feb 8 & 9:
Dad woke up at 5 am with some heart issues. This is familiar to us. We drove to Memorial West Hospital and got him checked in. After a couple of days, a lot of tests, and a bunch of new friends, they patched him up and kicked him out with some new medicine. For a hospital experience, it was among the best we've ever had.. and trust me… we've spent the better part of the last few years in hospitals. The beautiful, diverse mix of doctors and nurses made it so special.
Feb 10:
The family reunion! This was a special day for all of us. Dad got to reconnect with cousins that he hadn't seen in decades. I got to meet some family for the first time. Our cousin Cassie organized the gathering, brought lots of food, and we set up a drawing program with the whole crew at Mackey's! What a fantastic day of celebration, especially after the hospital stay.
More coming soon!
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