From the time that he was conceived, I saved for years. A Disney World vacation is not cheap, and I was determined to take him while he was young enough to enjoy it. My dad took me when I was 7, so I made that my goal.
As his 6th came and went, I had gathered a moderate stash of cash, but nowhere near what I needed to make it more than comfortable. As serendipity would have it, a 4-day professional conference in Cocoa Beach, Florida was scheduled for October of the following year. I jumped all over it. There were no schedule considerations because I had a gazillion vacation days saved up, and he was home-schooled by mommy. My airfare, rental car, per diem, and lodging would all be provided. All I had to do was cover their (and my) excesses.
Things were as perfect as a Nervous Nelly, such as I, could desire. Two weeks in Florida, visits to some Uncles and to the Keys, Cape Fucking Canaveral, South Beach, Bush Gardens, and the Hooooooly Disney World. It was like working a second job as I dotted every damned 'I' and crossed everyone around me.
By August, everything was stone. Packing, unpacking, repacking, checklists, emails, last minute reports, confirmations and pets - there was no turning back. And then the unthinkable happened in September. The world lost its mind. To this day, I am astonished that I did not.
Obviously, after the initial shock, a began to consider whether I could complete the mission. I am not a Marine, but I have always lived by "Improvise - Adapt - Overcome". After my head stopped ringing, and after doing some recon, I committed.
And then the unthinkable happened - again! Anthrax?!
"DEAR GOD? Are you fucking kidding me?"
In south Florida now?? This cannot be real.
Now it wasn't a matter of obligation and fulfillment. Real or perceived, I became obsessed that this was a Divine test.
On the day we left, I became a warrior. Any and all hejjies received overt detest and irreverence. I greeted every approach from a badge with a dare, and I did not hesitate to express, with gaseous expulsion, my sentiments to the pervert that fondled my balls as I boarded the plane.
When we landed, the universe changed. It reminded me of when my friend and I fell though the ice. Grasping for something or someone. Even the camos at every checkpoint had something in their eyes that I had never experienced.
And then it got surreal. Hotels, food, entrance fees - everything was half-price or better. The 'polite' was almost over-the-top. There were no lines at the amusement parks- ZERO! We ran and played and swam and familied and explored and met - and conquered - together. And we were home.
Frank, please ask Cathy O'Brien - was this real?