I’m not sure where to start.

Perhaps with the deliriousness all three of us felt after waking up at four a.m. to catch our 6:30 flight to begin our trip.

Or maybe the shout-out on this flight from the captain to the three sisters of another Southwest Airlines captain–our brother David. Of course, we milked it with our hands raised high and whoop-whooping to be sure to be recognized. Pretty sure no one else cared. This was the only flight of the four when we got to sit together.

Maybe it is Gail’s unique way of making new friends on such a trip: when two gentlemen walked by our shared patio in our condo en route to theirs, casually asking, “hey, what’s going on?” while we sat visiting with a delightful group of ladies from Indiana in another condo, Gail replied: “None of your f****** business!” Of course, this immediately made them want to join the group. She laughed, said she was only joking, and they sat to visit as well.

Maybe it is Gail’s way of taking the reins, no matter what the situation.

Captain Ron played right along, in control the entire time. He is the son of her daughter Abby’s boyfriend, so we had that connection. He left northern Michigan where Abby and his dad live for warmer weather. He lives in Fort Myers and captains his boat in the bay and the Gulf there, a short jaunt south of St. Pete, where we stayed. He took us on an unforgettable sunset cruise.

He knew just how to coax the playful dolphins out of the water in the wake behind his boat, and we were treated to this magnificent sight:

Or maybe it’s Suzanne’s dramatic/comedic streak:

The drive was beautiful as well.

Maybe it was Suzanne and Gail’s success with talking me into parasailing for my first time, their second–they did it seven years ago, but I was too chicken.

Maybe all the good food and drink,

Or maybe it is simply the time together at this paradise.

I mentioned in our last post that some locals we met there seven years ago just might remember us. There was at least one who did. This shouldn’t surprise you. The rest probably weren’t working when we happened to be in their restaurants or places of business where we met them last time. Next time we go back, chances are the people we met this time will remember us–especially Gail.

We have vowed not to wait seven years again, not that that much time would dull their memories of us.

Now, being Kansas girls, we know about hot weather. Any kind of weather, really, except hurricanes. Gail and Suzanne still long to have the opportunity to have a hurricane party, but it was not meant to be. We did, however, see some remnants of Hurricane Ian from last year in Fort Myers.

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I hadn’t flown in six years, and my fear of flying didn’t come roaring back this time. Aside from squeezing Gail and Suzanne’s hands as I sat between them on our first take-off, I felt pretty brave.

Between flying in the airplane and parasailing, I’m feeling brave enough to accept the challenge I have been offered this week: a free ride in a stunt plane. I’ll fill you in on that later if I actually have the guts to see that one through.

After all the fun we had, I actually have a fear of not flying now. I am ready to go back, and Gail and Suzanne are too. I am ready for more gallivanting by land or by air, just take me there–especially with my sisters.