Sunday, April 02, 2006

The Trip Report

The family visit actually exceeded all of my already over-inflated expectations. We had a blast. Of course, three days o’ Disney was exhausting, but everything worked out exactly as planned. The weather was magnificent, our room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge overlooking the savannah habitat was ideal, and not one of us was afflicted with vacation dysentery, cholera or lyme disease. After allowing the mouse to pillage our wallets for three days, we sojourned south to the M.I.A. It was wonderful and surreal to have my two lives fuse together in front of me. You see, I’ve lived in Miami for over 12 years now, and the possibility that my family from Pittsburgh might ever know my life here, outside of e-mailed photos, never even crossed my mind. They’re great people, but not exactly world travelers. The largest city my sister has ever seen is, well, Pittsburgh. She’s not afraid of going places or meeting new people. In fact, she’s open-minded, friendly and extroverted. But, for reasons that someone like myself will never understand, she’s just never had a longing to see the world outside. But see it she did. They stayed in South Beach, dined on Lincoln Road, swam in the turquoise ocean, trekked through the Everglades and met people from all over the world. And they had a great time.

It feels good and healthy to have been able to integrate my family into my life here. I feel more whole in a way that’s hard to articulate. My sister let me know how impressed she was with the genuine warmness of my friends and that she noticed how family-like we are in our closeness. I thanked her for giving me the ability to forge real relationships. But I don’t think I thanked her enough.

4 comments:

Ryon said...

I wish my family would take the chance yours did. My brother has never made it out to Vegas. My mom made it to my wedding out here, but since then she has not come back even when i've offered to pay.

Glad you had a good time.

A* said...

OK you are alive. And I haven't spoken to you in a BAJILLION years. Yes that's long time. Yes, I mean it. I fucking miss you!!!
Return a call, OK? (That part was all about me)

Glad you had a fantastic time with your sis. I know you have looked forward to this visit for quite some time. I'm sorry I missed her and missed you at what sounds like your happiest. MWA XOXO :)

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

Glad you had fun! It is healing to just be with people that care about you.

Anonymous said...

Very happy for you. The felling of 'integration' is priceless.