To Valhalla and Back

Thom and I had planned to have this past week together; free from the constrains of work, not knowing what we would do with our unscheduled time. As the time grew closer, I asked him a most important question:

Do you want a vacation where we "do" something or have a relaxing, re-energizing retreat somewhere?

The stresses of work being what they are for both of us, the answer was unequivocal.

RETREAT.

Out was Disney (we're going in May anyway); out was the Kennedy Space Center; out was flying off somewhere to another busy city, doing the tourist thing.

Serendipity stepped in with Kizmet by her side. A client at work who grew up in the Keys told me of a quaint little resort down in Marathon. Thom called and by coincidence there was just a cancellation for exactly the week we wanted. Whether it be Odin, Freya, or Thor the gods of the Nordic pantheon were shining on us.

There is not much to tell about the resort itself, except that it is off the beaten path, has only five units, and is situated in a beautifully secluded area. Books (and iPhone with Kindle app) in hand, we spent hours relaxing and enjoying Keys life.

When we did venture out, it was mostly to eat. We eschewed dinners in favor of breakfast and a late lunch, deciding that we liked having the afternoon and night to chill and watch sunset. In atypical fashion we ate at only two places: Leigh Ann's Coffee House for breakfast and the Island Fish Co for lunches.

We hated to come home, but I'm sure will visit Valhalla again before the Valkyries come to bring us home.

Vacation I: The Games That Bind Us Together

Some might say that spending a week with one's family is an ordeal. They envision bickering, fighting, and old wounds surfacing in puss-like fashion. Not my family. We like being together. Yes, there are hiccups in the road but in the end everyone can be found sharing a mutual love...of games.





One thing you must know about my family is that we enjoy playing games: card games, board games, party games, outdoor games, pub games, or active sports. We revel in the participation, the comradery, the competition. Young or old, by birth or by marriage the rhythm & realm of participation reaches out even to the most wary.

One of the games brought out of mothballs this time was Strategic Command. This predesessor to Stratego & Battleship has been in the family for somewhere around 40 years. Tragedy almost struck when my brother forgot to take it out of the back of his pickup truck, remembering it the next morning after an evening of torrential rains. Underterred by the opportunity to share this treasure with new generations, valiant EMT-like rescue work (complete with telephone books & paper towels) was performed by my brothers.

Games also provide my family to laugh (at ourselves and each other). During an exceedingly high spirited game of Catchphrase there were many opportunities to roar.

Mom: Oh geez! I don't know what it is, but I know it's Jewish!

The word she was trying to give clues for was "yeti." Funny, I didn't realize the abominable snowman had made his bar mitzvah.

Oh yes...we can laugh! Sometimes to the point of wheezing, snorting, or peeing in our pants.

I love my family and I love the games that we play.