Surprise trip home

I was all signed up to work the West palm Beach Boat Show Then a call home to my mom, and she says they are camping for my dads birthday this weekend.

I immediately cancel the boat show, and book my flight to …well…where my journey began 1 year ago. San Diego. My brothers girlfriend, who housed me for 3 months when Covid happened, picked me up at the airport. On Thursday we drove up to Avila Beach, where my parents snd brother had already set up camp.

Our original surprise was going to be me, appearing to paddle board all the way from miami to Avila. They were camped right on shore, so I’d paddle towards them acting exhausted, then say happy birthday, I gotta go, that took about 7 days longer than expected! Ha ha. But it was too windy so paddle boarding was out.

They were all standing in a circle, I jumped out from behind their trailer and yelled surprise! My brother laughed (cause he knew) but my parents just stared for about 5 seconds. It’s like it could not register in their brains I was actually standing in front of them.

We gave big hugs, had a few tears, and camped like we always do, as if I’d never left. A few family members and friends came down, we reminisced about the hilarious things we’ve done over the years. Tried to come up with a crazy adventure to make a new memory…but that’s not how that works. Crazy stories, come from spontaneous situations that present themselves to me. And the next day, we either say, OMG that was funny…or…what the heck were we thinking?

I’m back in San Diego. I fly back to Ft. Lauderdale Tuesday then head north up the gulf coast, in search of my little beach bar…or I end up on another yacht…we’ll see where opportunity takes me!