I feel the ship as it
comes to a stop. Running to the window I look out to see the greenness and
lusciousness of Florida. We have made it to the first stop on our cruise, Fort
Canaveral. I am still tired from spending yesterday cooped up in an airplane on
the way to Maryland, but am so glad I have one last week to be able to spend
with my family before my youngest brother leaves to live in Mexico for two
years. Deciding that I need to make this week worth everything, I pick my
nephew up off the floor to twirl him around. I watch his face as excitement
takes over his entire body. His wide eyes stare into mine making me laugh. The
rest of my family sits around watching us, and makes faces to get my nephew to
laugh. I laugh with them and realize how much my family means to me. No matter
where I am or what I am doing my brothers always manage to get a smile out of
me. They are able to brighten up the gloomiest of days. I sit down on the bed
and think again how excited I am to spend the day with them riding airboats
through the jungle, feeding alligators, enjoying the cruise ship, and spending
time with my brothers.
Rushing
off to breakfast so as not to miss the days events, I quickly eat and make my
way back to my room to get ready for the day. My family is finally ready to
leave the ship, and we make our way to the elevators. Seeing that the lobby is
packed with people we decide to take the stairs, going slowly so my brother can
maneuver his crutches and broken foot safely down each stair. I enjoy mocking
him as he tries to keep up, and he in turn enjoys poking me with his crutches.
We are all high spirited and laughing as the morning sun glares at us while we
step off the ship. Making our way to our designated bus, rain begins to fall
out of nowhere. It comes harder and harder making us think twice about our day
ahead. Just as soon as it had started, the rain comes to an abrupt halt. The
bus lurches forward as we pass by the beach surrounded by palm trees. I can
taste the salt and smile because the beach is one of my favorite places. We are
soon engulfed by the busy Florida roads with cars continually passing by. My
interest in the outside world now lost, I turn back to talk with my brother.
Soon we are off the busy roads and find ourselves parked in front of a small
building covered with all sorts of stuff about alligators. Exiting the bus we
walk into the building. I go around the corner of the door too quickly, and
find myself face to face with a large pig. Little did I know the staff kept a
pet pig around to entertain the guests! Looking up at me, he grunts and then
proceeds to lay down.
What
I had been looking forward to all day was finally here! A tour guide led a
group of about fifteen of us down a boat ramp and into a big blue airboat. He
proceeded to tell us what to expect and the expectations for us in order to be
kept safe. As the motors of the giant fans in the back came to life, nothing
could be heard over the noise. I placed my headset over my ears as we set out
on our journey. My hair whipped wildly around my face. My hand was no longer
able to run smoothly through it, but instead left it in a tangled heap I would
have to deal with later. Our boat skidded over the water and the grassy
surroundings. Through the headset I could hear the guide announce each new
alligator that was spotted. I searched to find them each time being surprised
to see two beady black eyes staring back at me. The boat would stop so we could
creep closer to the alligator before it would dive under the murky water, only
leaving a small ripple as any evidence that an alligator was ever there. We
would sit back up as the boat would hum back to life again. The gentle breeze
that came along with it felt good against the humid Florida air.
We
were once again back at the dock ready for the next adventure. My brother
helped me off the boat and we went along with the rest of our group to a cage
holding many baby alligators. Our tour guide grabbed one as a line to hold it
began to form. I waited my turn until I was handed one of the strangest feeling
creatures! My brothers gathered around me as we handed it off to each other
making sure we got our picture taken each time.
After
the alligator holding was done we again loaded the bus. Not sure what to expect
next, you could say we were pretty excited about stopping in front of a
building that looked exactly like a giant alligator. Walking through the giant
alligator we came to a bridge that overlooked a swamp buzzing with alligators.
My brothers thought they were funny as they pretended to push me off the
bridge. We walked off into the jungle which was set up as a zoo. We looked at
all the animals, and lots more alligators. The tour guides came and got us as
we were led to a small building. Inside we sat down on wooden benches as more
alligators, skunks, snakes, and tarantulas were passed around for us to hold.
Each one squirmed in my hands, and I quickly passed them off before I dropped one.
With that adventure over, we were taken on another boat ride. We watched in awe
as alligators swarmed around the boat just as curious about us as we were about
them.
As
the sky had done earlier, rain came pouring down soaking everybody in the boat.
The alligators disappeared deep into the murky water. Our boat was quickly
turned around and taken back to the dock where we ran to take cover under the
bridge. Once again, as quickly as it had started, the sun reappeared to dry us
and stop our shivering.
The
day was coming too quickly to an end. Loading the bus, I laughed with my
brother all the way back about everything that had happened. The tiredness
caught up with us as walking to the ship was done with droopy eyes. I helped my
brother as we went through security, and screws in his foot went off yet again.
I waited knowing it was going to take a while to be sure he was not a terrorist.
Dazing
off, I watched many unfamiliar faces pass me by. I am sure many of them had
this vacation planned out for many months. The excitement leading up to this
trip was probably similar to many of them as it was to me. I realized that all
of them would keep and cherish the memories from this trip for many, many
years. Lots of the memories would revolve around the people they loved, same
with mine. I knew we had chosen this vacation because it was the last week
before my brother was gone for two years. We knew that by the time he got home
we would have more additions to our family. Trying to get everybody on the same
vacation together was going to be difficult then.
A
lot of that day was spent retelling old memories and creating new ones. It was
not where I was, but the people I was there with that made that vacation so
much fun. I grew closer to every one of my siblings and I realized how much
they truly meant to me. Their spirits always brighten my day, and make me want
to become better. I knew in that moment how much my family meant, and the
special part they play in my life.
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