Picking up the Pieces and finding a new Normal Life

It has been 12 days since Mom died.  Life for us continues as we try to find a new "normal" what ever that may be.  For Scott and I, it was to continue with our plans for our 25th wedding anniversary trip that we have been planning since and saving for since January.

We loaded the Mustang with our luggage and some things to take to Ariel and started our trip at 1pm Saturday Oct. 18.  We decided to go earlier just to get away.  Our plans were to drive straight through but we gave it up at 2am in Wildwood Florida to stop at a Sleep Inn and catch some zzzz's.

As we entered Alabama, we both were grinning at the thought that after 14 years we were finally getting to take a vacation and after a while thought about it had been 25 years since we could go on a trip without bringing small children or stubborn adolescent children along.  WE were finally the parents of grown childen and we could do all those things we could not do before: like saunter through the parks and eat what we wanted and have adult type beverages......and sleep late if we want to.

We arrived on the Disney property at about 9 AM Sunday Morning and our room was ready.  We spent one night at Jambo House at Animal Kingdom Resort.  We had a view of the Savannah and it was a treat to see Giraffe eating outside our balcony and an assortment of horned cattle and large birds.  

 Waking in the Lobby of Jambo House was an amazing experience.  I have always wanted to stay there.  even if just for one night.  it did not disappoint me.  It was an immersion into a different culture.  the Sights and sounds and smells were breath taking and very enjoyable.

 Our room was facing the east and we watched the sunrise on Monday morning.  It was 9 AM when we arrived Sunday morning.  And we were able to check right in.  We had a welcome basket of fruit and snacks waiting on us.the room was the same size as any standard room at Disney but the amenities were better.  lots and lots of fluffy pillows, the bath towels and face cloths were a thicker softer terry cloth.  But the view from the room,  that was the icing on the cake for me.  Even if only for one day and night, it was perfection.

 we saw primarily giraffe...at least 3 of them and many horned cattle of some sort.  It was fascinating to watch them eating and just going about their way

Since we were not scheduled to begin our Disney Vacation until Monday, we decided to go to Universal Studios and go to the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter.  Both of us are big Potter fans.  The parts of the parks that had to do with Harry was good.  I really wasn't that gungho about the rest of Universal.  More about that later.

Finally we have arrived!