Good ways to grow up

Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boygirl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Days 6 and 7 in Florida

Wednesday we had the chance to all hang out together before Traci and David had to go home to GA. Joe had a little bit of work to do, so we split up earlier in the day. We all met up at McGuire's for lunch. I enjoyed some excellent homemade root beer and a spectacular burger. We didn't add to the $1 bill collection lining the ceiling, walls and just about everything else - but we did learn that for insurance purposes, the $1 bills stapled to the walls and ceiling need to be counted annually. This location in Pensacola has about $700,000.00 worth of dollar bills donated from customers and tourists. After lunch, Traci and David had to catch a flight and head home.

Thursday was Joe's birthday. Unfortunately it was rainy and cold out most of the day. We hung out and had a few drinks but had to stay in and off the beach with all of the wind and rain. The storms really picked up Thursday night. It was hard to get any sleep listening to the wind whipping under the house.

Friday morning we headed home. We left at 9am and arrived back at our house around midnight. It was a LOOOOOOOOONG drive home.

We had such a wonderful time on our trip. It was so great to get to spend some time with our awesome friends that we don't get to see all that often. It was a well spent two weeks complete with some relaxation, excitement, laughter, and a little bit of magic! Until next time.......

The girls: Teresa, Julie and Traci standing on the balcony at the beach house

Joe, Traci, David and Teresa outside of McGuire's

Bye Bye Pensacola Beach

The odomoter before we left: 45,991 miles

2,368 miles later....back home!