The Conclusion
The month of October greeted us with a harsh reality.
I woke up, went to the verandah and looked out onto
.a parking lot.
We were back in Port Canaveral.
As excited as I was to see Port Canaveral when we had first arrived only 3 days earlier, I was even more depressed to be back.
There isnt a lot to report from this morning.
We all just got up and dressed in the clothes wed saved from last nights packing frenzy.
Double and tripled checked the room.
We walked without talking up to the Beach Blanket Bingo Bonanza Buffet. (Of course, we skipped our 6:30 breakfast seating at Parrot Cay. I hope our serving team was not too upset.)
We had a light breakfast, and then we got in line to leave.
The debarking was a bit frenetic, but the Captain and Christian our Cruise Director were there to say See You Real Soon.
I was so very sad.
(Im even sad now writing about it over a month later)
The scene on the first floor of the terminal where you pick up your luggage was like the burning of Atlanta scene from Gone with the Wind. Suitcases scattered everywhere, while disoriented folks wandered aimlessly searching for their bags.
I was lucky enough to catch a porter, and folks, I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH: use the porters working the room.
He got our luggage quickly (even the bag I had put the WRONG room # on) and worked us quickly through the line and customs.
He then took us right to the car (by the white awning), and helped me load it up.
He talked a lot, but honestly, I didnt listen real well. I was just so grateful for someone to take care of everything.
I tipped him real well, and just like that, we were pulling out of Port Canaveral.
On the way to the airport, we talked little. Sam napped.
We were just exhausted, and spent.
I was amazed that I still had cash in my pocket too.
We had a nifty 5 hour wait in the Orlando Airport which meant we spent a lot of time in the
Disney store. I got a commemorative Apollo 13 shirt in the Space Center shop.
As we waited by the gate I watched some football and read about the Foley scandal which was now erupting. I had been completely cut off from my news fix for 7 days, and now I resumed my addiction. I had a beer (and for those worried it was the last alcoholic beverage Ive had since. I dont normally drink like I do on vacation. Ok, I had some hard cider on Halloween. Sue Me).
By 7 that night I was driving down Indiana 37 toward home.
It was over.
No fanfare.
No celebration.
Over.
I have edited the hours of video, cleaned up the pictures, and wrote these remarkably long TRs.
In many ways, I do not want to finish this report.
Reliving that amazing week has been a panacea for the ills of the work and the world.
Forging camaraderie with SleepyDog after the fact has been nice too.
We have since discussed his family and mine cruising together in 08.
Youre invited too.
Imagine a cruise with everyone who has been reading his and my Rs.
(Shudder)
To all of you have followed and supported this incredibly overwrought tale, I say thanks. I even say thanks to those who wrote me to tell me they didnt like my politics or parenting style.
Thanks to Nanci from Magical Journeys for wading through my familys eccentricities and putting this awesome vacation together for us.
Thanks to those of you who have written TRs before me, especially Royal Vizier, GrumpyDude, LexMelinda, LilyGator, and of course Zweihund.
Thanks to my Cruise Mates including MomSully, Fallon, and of course, SleepyDog and Doc. Sleepys talent and humor forced me to attempt to step up my game. And as an aside, my TR may not have been as good as his, but I did finish before him!
Also due thanks (why is this like and Academy Award speech? I keep expecting to hear the orchestra trying to play me off) is the fantastic CMs of WDW and the Wilderness Lodge and the overwhelming awesome crew of the Disney Wonder.
Of course, the real thanks go to my Mom and family especially my lovely and understanding wife, Cheryll, and the best thing to ever happen to me: my daughter Samantha.
Until the next time, See You Real Soon.
) Let us know when you go, that could be interesting. or perhaps scary...or perhaps DCL wouldn't be up for that....
Sounds like you and your girls enjoyed a really terrific WDW/
already. There was no traffic this morning, my Starbucks was free (my grocery store offers a frequent buyer card), I was on time, all the lights were green...and I could go on. You also made my day by mentioning there's a 
with ya too!!!
