A Dolphin Story

Ok, I am finally getting around to sharing a vacation story...no speedos involved. Growing up my family started going to Ft. Myers Beach for spring break. Everytime we went we stayed in a tiny cottage up on stilts...right on the water. It was simple, it was cozy, but we didn't care, we loved it and it was perfect. I am NOT a morning person. I have never enjoyed opening my eyes and turning on the brain first thing in the morning. I am usually in a cloud for at least the first hour. With that said, it was different in Florida. I don't know if it was because we were all sleeping on top of each other, or if it was just the pure excitement of being there. Whatever it was, I was happy to get up and get going. I also have this love of dolphins, so it was a good thing I could get my tush out of bed because the dolphins came by early for breakfast. On to my story...

This trip to Florida was my first time back in 9 years, my first time bringing my Hubby and children. I was so excited to share all the memories with my family. It was bittersweet seeing the tables turn, it was no longer me riding in my parents car, it was me being the Mom with my own car full of anxious children. Yes my whole family was there, all my siblings and then those brave enough to join our family too. We rented a duplex, both sides of it. We had 2 kitchens, 2 baths, 2 washers/dryers, 2 living rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 decks...we had space.

Our first two mornings, I was up, I was ready, I was watching...it was Extremely windy...no dolphins. I was incredibly bummed. Here I have been telling stories about dolphins everywhere and now they are nowhere to be found. On the third morning I got up and walked out onto one deck thinking everyone on the other side of the house was still asleep. I had the baby and we sat outside watching the waves. I look over to the other deck and see my Dad- Ha someone else is up. He goes back inside and I go through the house to the deck on his side. My parents are both up and talking about how nice it is outside, I tell them I am going outside to sit because "I will not be sleeping when those darn dolphins finally come around for breakfast!" We go sit out on the deck and just take it all in. Eventually the rest of the gang wakes up and we start breakfast. As we are sitting outside eating breakfast, someone comments on how strange it is that we haven't seen a single dolphin. My children are sitting around with their mouths full of cereal and I decide to take this matter into my own hands. I turn to the water and call out "Dolphins, Dolphins...Where Are You?" Then I start making clicking noises. Yup I clicked my best dolphin impersonation...can you picture it? Call out again..."Dolphins!! Dolphins!!" Well, I kid you not, it wasn't even 2 minutes later we are back to eating breakfast and talking and I look over the rail towards the water...and there they were. They were right in front of us. They weren't down the beach, they weren't down by the pier...where did they come from? They popped up right in front of us. Hubby and I grabbed Molly, Lolo and Annie and ran to the water. The dolphins were in front of us for a short while, but were moving their way down the beach. I turn to Molly and tell her if she wants to see them more we are going to have to walk fast down the beach. To which she replies...

"Mom, why don't you just call them again?"