The '07 Smith Reunion
Where's Waldo
MESSAGE FROM STEVE SMITH TO HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
A TOP OF THE AFTERNOON TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU LADDY AND LASSIE BUCKS.
But first, a song:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR RUTHIE;
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU
(Don’t tell me that while you were reading this you weren’t actually singing it to yourself)
After 2½ long months it is now time to let you all know the destination for the first ever (and probably last mind you) Smith Family Wandering Birthday Carnival and Octoberfest
Before we get there just to let you know how we got to the choice that was made.
Wendy and I first discussed San Francisco. After more than a little bit of discussion it was decided that that was not the place we wanted to go. Distance of travel (and in deference to the more aged and infirmed among us the amount of walking that would have been required) became major factors considered in deciding that we did not want to go there.
We then talked about going to New England for the trees. That had a certain charm, but let’s face it after a while every pretty tree becomes just another pretty tree.
We then talked about Disney World, but really, at our age, who wants to hang out in line to ride some ride that may or may not be that much fun.
Then we got to talking about Las Vegas. That one could have been fun, but then again, it is really not that conducive of a setting for just hanging out, shooting the breeze, drinking beer.
That is when we both got to thinking that really what the trip is supposed to be all about is simple: A little entertainment here and there, but on the whole, a chance for everybody to sit down someplace, quaff a good Anheuser Busch or Miller product (NO FOREIGN BEER HERE---THIS IS AMERICA!!!!), and lie and b.s. the rest of the family. The best places for doing that are beaches.
SO, to that end, for the trip we have chosen Sanibel Island Florida. It is off of Ft. Myers, in the Gulf of Mexico. We have obtained condo’s at Casa Ybel Resort, which sits on the beach area. We do not know if we are on the beach itself, but we are right there. The condo’s are two stories so there is plenty of sitting around room in the inside of each one. The daytime highs are supposed to be 90, and the lows at night around 75. Merida this means you can dress like a pirate. AAAHHRRRRGGG.
The Sanibel Island’s are famous as being the best place in the USA to collect seashells. It is also home to one of Florida’s best wildlife preserves, mostly for birds, and well, snakes, and well, alligators, and well, crocodiles, and well, you get the picture. The kind of place where we only dreamed about growing up as the closest we ever got to water was good old Lake Eureka. (WHO CARES ABOUT THE KID’S. DON’T FORGET TO BRING HOME ALL THE TOWELS!!!).
To help our efforts at collecting seashells we have chartered two boats for Saturday. These will take us on a SIX (not Three) hour tour. During this trip they will take us wherever we want to go to collect shells, to Captiva Island for lunch, and on a wildlife tour to see dolphins and a good chance of Manatee’s. So yes V.J. there will be some hiking, but along a sandy beach, on the Gulf of Mexico, with no hills anywhere except the occasional sand dune. The only “flushing” you will see this weekend will be me, over the biffy, calling out dinosaurs and praying God to take me now.
