This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Not So Happy in the Happiest Place on Earth

The IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth firewo...
The IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show at Epcot at Walt Disney World. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
   
     Okay, so maybe I wasn't staying in Disney World, but I was just a brief shuttle stop away as I spent three nights and a couple days in an unplanned visit to Orlando this week.  One might think I'd be having a grand time at the Radisson Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, but, alas, fun it was not.

     First of all our reason for diverting our journey was a sad one.  My wife's favorite aunt--one who had helped raise her--was on her deathbed and my wife wanted to see her one last time.  She spent most of her time at her relatives house meeting up with family members she hadn't seen in decades and sitting at her aunt's bedside.

      I would have been with my wife if not for a nasty bout of flu or cold or whatever it was.  Instead I spent two days mostly shut up in my motel room trying to get as much sleep as I could get in.  I had hoped to maybe attend to blogging activities, but no such luck.  I was slugged by the bug and enamored by sleep for most of two days.

       After the two days of rest I felt a little better for the drive to Beaumont, Texas on Thursday.  My illness still lingers, but I think I feel it going away.   I hope.  With over 1600 miles to drive over the next two days I need to maintain my stamina.  We need to be home by Saturday night.  And we had planned on Wednesday night past.   So go the plans of life.

        Oh, and as we drove across Northern Florida Thursday morning, my wife got the call that her aunt had passed.  At least my wife had a chance to see her one last time.

        Do you find that complications of life often come in clusters?   Have you been to Disney World?   Do you enjoy lengthy road trips?

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23 comments:

  1. Yes, I've been to Disney World. And Disney Land.
    Very sorry about your wife's aunt. It was an unplanned excursion, but good thing you did it.
    Sorry you've been sick. The A to Z Team has wondered where you were this week! I figured you were still just traveling. Well, now you are.
    Hope you feel better and arrive home safe Saturday night.

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  2. Sorry Lee about your Wife's aunt also your not being well.
    I have had some virus that seeme to go away then returns again so have been on and off of blogging.
    Hope you have safe travels.
    Yvonne.

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  3. LEE ~
    I had no idea you weren't at home. I knew you'd taken a trip over the holiday, but I thought you were back by now.

    I'm glad your wife got a chance to say goodbye to her favorite aunt. At least there was that. Although this certainly doesn't sound like a trip you'll look back on fondly.

    Get home safe and get back to the work of hoggin' bloggin'.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  4. Complications in life come in big huge yearlong clusters sometimes! All I can do is try to roll with it and regroup as best I can.

    I went to Disney World twice, in 76 and 78 when I was little, and Disneyland in 86 after college. Russell, on the other hand, is a Disney addict. He's been over 30 times and desperately wants to go with me but it's hard with our dogs.

    As for road trips, those are my fave things in the world. My 2 cross country trips, in 89 and 11 were so amazing. If it wasn't hard to find a place to leave the dogs while in Disney world, we would road trip down there but I can't leave them alone in the hotel room all day.

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  5. I'm sorry for your wife's loss. It was good that she got to say goodbye and see her other family members again.

    I'm glad you're getting over your flu. Sometimes it is best to focus on getting better than on blogging, though it is good to have you around.

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  6. Sorry to hear about your wife's aunt.
    I love driving but I also like being at home. So even when I go on fun trips, I'm always happy to get back to my own lovely abode.

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  7. Nope, never been to Disneyland or Disney World. I do like longish road trips, having been on many of them in my lifetime (12-14 hours max, though!).

    I'm sorry you're not feeling well, and I'm very sorry to hear about your wife's aunt's passing! I hope that she was a Christian and your wife can be comforted knowing that they'll be together again someday.

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  8. 1- Yes, been to Disney World. Did not enjoy- it was very hot and I was VERY sunburned. 2- we believe that deaths always come in threes... happens every time. I think catastrophes cluster because Satan knows just how to hit you at your weakest. He'd rather hear you saying, "God, why?" than, "God, please..." 3- too small a sample to really know whether I like them or not.

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  9. So sorry for the loss to your family, BUT how fortunate that you were close enough to make this detour, and that your wife could spend time with her family, and have a farewell with her aunt.

    It's funny (odd) how life happens to us, no matter how hard we try to organize our lives differently. Often, things are as they should be. Having this type of opportunity, for your wife was a blessing, I'm sure.

    Travel the rest of the way safely and feel better.

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  10. So sorry to hear about your wife's aunts passing. Pleased your wife got to visit, even though you were poorly. Feel better soon.

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  11. Sorry about the illness and dying family member. Your wife must have been devastated. But you still posted and shared your feelings with us. Thank you for dropping in and I'll pray for you guys.

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  12. You know that old saying, "When it rains, it pours,".... I do believe that is just what you are talking about here. Seems like when Life decides to hit you with crap, it can't do it just once and be done with it.

    Hope things get better soon!!!

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  13. Lee-

    The best laid plans...

    I am glad your wife got to see her aunt. It's always a little easier when there's nothing left unsaid.

    Note to EVERYONE-don't leave stuff unsaid.

    Larry

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  14. Sadly, they do happen in clusters. I have never understood why. But they never seem to last. Hopefully, next week is better for you both!

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  15. Sorry to hear about your illness and your wife's bereavement. I definitely think bad luck comes in clusters. I hope 2014 brightens up for you after such a poor start.

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  16. I'm sorry about your wife's aunt, but glad she got to see her once more. I did not get to see my grandpa before he passed and I'm still always sad about it to this day. I got to talk to him though. I was in Japan so would not have gotten there in time but it still bugs me. Glad you're feeling better!

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  17. Sorry about your wife's aunt and also sorry you have been so sick.

    I have been to all the Disney and movie places in Florida, loved them. So did my hubby who never wanted to go to any of them, he was converted at the first ride in Epcot. Never been to the latest Disney things though, can't recall the name of the one about Africa.

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  18. Very sorry for your wife's aunt and also for you being caught by that nasty flu. But glad that your wife could spend time with her aunt.

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  19. My sincerest condolences to your wife about her aunt.

    I've been to Disney World once back when I was in high school, and just to show you how old I really am, we flew Eastern.

    I don't do much in the way of road trips anymore, although up to 2008 they were my preferred method of traveling, due to having a particularly irritating form of MD. But when I did, it was the greatest way to simply decompress and recharge the batteries.

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  20. Oh Lee... what awful circumstances all around... I'm so very sorry... :/

    I do hope you're getting better every day.

    We went to Disney world for a Make-A-Wish trip for our little boy who had cancer. It was one of the most remarkable experiences ever. We loved it. <3

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  21. Sorry for your loss.

    And I hope you're feeling better. I know so many people that have been hit with a similar bug. It's a doozy.

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  22. I thank you all for the condolences, well-wishes, and comments.

    We arrived home last night and I've been in bed most of the time since then. Still feeling a bit rough, but I do feel the illness going away. I should be back in tip top shape in the next few days I think.

    Lee

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  23. I'm very sorry about your wife's aunt. Thank goodness you made it home safely. I hope you feel better soon.

    Julie

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