My family (Wife, Mom, Dad, Sister and Nephew) took a vacation to Orlando in January. My wife and mom are both architects so we went down for the international home builders show. We had a really great trip. My wife and I drove in one car and the rest of the family in another. We stopped on the way down and stayed at a hotel on the beach. It was really great to wake up to the sound of the surf. I really miss living on the coast. We finally got to our condo in Orlando and this place was great. They had several heated pools, live music and bars, a championship miniature golf course and many other fantastic amenities. Our stay there was nothing short of great. I love going to these resorts because we always meet interesting people.
You can't go to Orlando without going to see the big eared guy, well I can't. I'm just a 30 year old kid. We did a couple of days at the Disney parks. I have been several times so I was bored and had done all I wanted to there. On Wednesday we went to see the launch of the Deep Impact Rocket at Cape Canaveral. This was my first launch to see live and close and it was nothing short of breathtaking. After the launch, we went over to the space center to take the tours. We got there so late we missed the last bus tour. The center was a huge flop. You can see just about as much standing outside the gate as you can if you pay to get in. I guess if we had taken the bus tour I would be happier. I just remember going as a child and it was so much more amazing than it was.
Now to the fun part...
On Thursday, My wife and I went to the Home show for the morning and were going to skip out and go to the beach in the afternoon. The home show is kind of scary. These people go to such great lengths to show their products. All the freebies are cool. I have a new collection of koozies at my house. We left around noon and grabbed some lunch and headed for the beach. When we got there the weather was great and the water was warm. We couldn't resist getting in. We jumped over to one of the souvenir shops and got a couple of swim suits and towels. (we were totally unprepared) I saw a skim board and said that looks fun. I wasn't! They should put a warning label on those things. It should read: "You could get hurt really bad. And, if you get hurt it's going to SUCK!" So we get all changed and get on the beach. The wife is setting up the towel and such and I can't wait to get wet. I drop the board in the water, run after it and jump on. Well, almost. My left foot made it on the board, but somehow my right foot buried in the sand. My left foot went with the board one way; my body went the other causing gravity to take over. However, my right leg stayed firmly planted in the sand. I didn't hear the snap, (probably because I hit the beach pretty fast) but now my right ankle didn't move with my leg anymore. It just sort of flopped around. My wife called 911. I took my first ambulance ride to the hospital to get x-rays of my first broken bone. It was broken in four places within an inch of my ankle. They splinted me up, gave me some happy pills and sent me on my way. Two days later we were home and the next I was saw the orthopedist. I was in surgery the next morning. I won't be able to go through the airport without setting off the metal detectors now. I have a pin in one bone and a screw in the other. I am finally walking without crutches, but I'm still in a boot. I don't think I've had a good nights sleep since I left the hospital. If I had it to do over again I would have bought the boogie board instead. I guess this is the price I pay for being a big kid.
I cut my vacation short by one day. I got to go to Disney and see a rocket launch from three miles away. I saw some amazing products at the home show and I broke my ankle. What a vacation. But still, I had an amazing time and met some really great people. When I remember this vacation, it will be with a smile. It might have had a rough ending but I had a great time.