For 7 or 8 of the last 10 years, my family has vacationed with two other families, the Herrys and the Gladharts. They are dear friends from Metairie and we enjoy our annual time together, laughing, sharing food, drink , faith and opinions on all things sublime and profound.

(vacation group last Christmas)

For most of our years, we’ve gone to Gulf Shores AL. The gang really enjoys laying out (not me) and we gather in the evening for meal and card playing. Simple but it works for us.

In Sept. 2004 Hurricane Ivan ravaged the coast of Alabama so last summer (2005) we tried out annual ritual in Biloxi.

I started to get a complex…the last two places we’ve vacationed have been blown away by hurricanes! And then when the decision was made to do DISNEY WORLD, I thought “Oh no! I don’t want that place being destroyed because we chose it!”

We did choose it, mainly because of the children…Meg and her teen friend Gabby Herry like the rides but more so for the two little Gladhart children. And it was worth it.

Sure… I don’t like long lines, hot sun, amusement park lines (and the group was kind enough to let me sleep in and lounge around!) but watching these children when Disney characters were around was awesome. I remember Megan being there some 10 years ago.

I really appreciate this group of friends…they are dear to me and they are a part of my “community” where I find life. I look forward to being with them…and hopefully next year on a beach somewhere.