A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

As the day began, I tried to think of something to do that Mom and Dad hadn't done.  Possibly, we could get it in today before they had to return.  If they make it back to Miami as often as they had before this visit, they will be 104 and not able to walk down the beach, so I made sure to get EVERYTHING in.  We had to be to my school for a Creole lunch at noon, so I decided to take them back to South Beach, since when we went it was cold and no one was there.  People watching is a favorite past time of our family, so we needed more people to have fun.  And today, with the sun out, it was exactly how we needed it.

We once again parked inland and walked towards the beach, as this parking is much cheaper.  We made it out to the hill that divides the beach from the city, and continued to cross over.  The very first person I see on the beach is laying on their side, watching the waves.  From a distance, I thought it was a European man, wearing his speedo, however, the closer we got, I noticed the bottom piece tied on the sides.  This was most definitely a woman....without a top.  Now I have never seen a topless girl at the beach, but always hear that they are older women who are way past their prime.  Not the typical "beach babe" that someone would actually want to see in the nude.  Not that I am saying I would ever want to see any girl in the nude, but, to be fair to those that do, the topless ones usually wouldn't be asked to pose for any magazines.  This girl, however, most likely could have posed in PLAYBOY.  Now you must remember who is walking with me.  My mother and father.  What an awkward way to start the day.  That is, until I look up and notice they were both gawking too and laughing about what they were seeing as Dad and I were continually making jokes.  They say going on missions really gives you a cultural experience and let me tell you, this is something that I have never seen at the Anthony Lake!

As we left South Beach with common images running, or laying, around in our heads, we took out north toward YLC for the last time.  When we got there, we were welcomed by my staff with white table clothes and piles of food creating mountains on the china they keep at the school.  It was a much nicer meal that we could have purchased anywhere else in the area.  Rice, beans, conch, grouper, onions and peppers, broccoli and fruit champagne.  An amazing spread.  While this is the menu almost every day at school, it was fun for mom and dad to finally get to experience the food that I enjoy everyday.  Eating this makes me really excited for my trip this coming week after this one as I travel south the Haiti where I will be eating fresh conch everyday!  I absolutely can not wait for that part of the trip, and the trip as a whole!

After lunch, we left the school in search of something to do for the four hours that separated us from the time that I had to drop of the parents at the airport.  Since they were flying out of Ft. Lauderdale, we decided to go explore up around that area.  Being the ADHD patient that I am, I always have to have something to play with, even when I am driving.  Today just happened to be a pen that I had in the van.  Of course, since one hand is always on the wheel, I have to use my mouth as a second hand for playing.  I was putting the end of the pen in my mouth, pulling out the end piece, then push it back in.  Well, while driving through an intersection, this all happened at once, and very quickly.  I bit the end off, hit a bump and scared me, gasped for air, and sucked the stupid end of the pen straight down.  Where?  I am not sure.  It either went down my trachea into my lungs, or down the esophagus straight into my stomach.  Still, about 4 hours after the event, it feels like it is still lodged in my throat, but can't seem to cough it up.  I have puked once to see if it would come up, yet, there was no sign of anything "lime green" in there.  So, who knows where that little thing got to.  I am not about to start digging through other things each day looking for it.  Don't care that much.

I dropped my parents off about 4 o'clock at the airport and said goodbye.  I hate how hard this is to do!  It was awesome having them hear for the weekend, and know that I will miss them this coming week, but life goes on.  It will be exciting to see them again come Christmas.  When one person comes, the next exciting event is when someone else comes.  I just received word today that I may have another person coming in a few weeks to visit.  This is always exciting and I can not wait to entertain again.  Maybe this is my calling in life!