Day 94 of Florida: I decided to drive to the lake property. I followed my folks the entire time. It was a long hour drive, full of anxiety from energy drinks with added traffic. I would freak out mostly when I couldn't see my parents' car. I wouldn't know if they took an exit or if they switched lanes. I really shouldn't have drank so much caffeine... That enhances my chances of an anxiety attack since I'm not taking out my energy on anything.
Like I said, the trip was a long hour. When we were getting closer and closer, my adrenaline kicked in higher and higher. Of course, that helped the anxiety get worse... Soon, we came to a vacant road out in the middle of the wilderness where not even radio waves are picked up. Suddenly, we got to a straight away. Oh man... I hesitated for a moment. A straight away is my weakness. I must give IN to its BEAUTY! It called to me, "Drive on me as fast as you can!"
Well, I came to.
Swerving into the opposite lane, I punched on the gas, getting up to about 85 mph. I pressed the horn wildly as I zoomed passed my parents' car. When the adrenaline died and I realized what the Hell I was doing, I slowed down. My parents' faces were priceless - especially my dad's. I was waiting for them to yell at me. Instead, I rolled down my window at the same time they rolled down theirs and I exclaimed, "YOU LIKE THAT?" They gave a faint smirk and told me to get back in the other lane.
I laughed for another 15 minutes.
30 minutes came and gone within seconds. We were finally on the camp grounds. My aunt Dotti and her son Brendan were already there with Grandma and Grandpa J, aunt Jill and uncle Jay, their daughter Jaylee and some companions - Snowy (my grandparents' dog) and Riley (My aunt Dotti's dog) We brought our dogs, too. I brought Indigo.
The parents weren't angry over my stunt. Mom kept bragging about it with the family. Everybody thought it was funny.
Prior to settling in, Grandma J had to show us pictures of an eagle that landed on the dock before we arrived. The eagle was MASSIVE! One of its feet were as wide as one of the boards on the dock!! He looked like a giant turkey! Like a human torso!! Majestic birds, they are.
Day 95 of Florida: Everyone woke up early. It seems, during camping, you have a right to wake up early. It's like a routine that just happens. Another thing... is it me or does breakfast taste better while camping? I swear breakfast is taster when amidst trees and wildlife.
About 9:30 AM, Jay, Jill, Jaylee, Brendan, Grandpa J, my old folks and I went to our usual spot for clams and oyster digging. We were the only ones at the beach! Perfect! We were able to find large amounts of clams and oysters in no time flat.
I dug for clams for about 20 minutes until becoming bored. I decided to shuck oysters with dad, Jill and Jay. I've never done it before. I thought it would be a nice change. I asked if I could join them, they said yes, and I put on gloves, grabbed a screwdriver and took a hold of an oyster to shuck. At first, it was hard to even open up a small oyster! After a couple minutes of trying, Jay stood up to give me the bucket he was sitting on. He told me that if I sat, I would have better control at shucking. He was right.
Now, the limit per person on oysters is 18. Jay thought it was 15. Jay asked Grandpa J if the limit were that but Grandpa J assured him that it was 18 each. So, making every oyster count, I grabbed this big one. He looked ancient. His shell was deteriorating and as I shucked him, his shell seemed to crumble off. When I was able to see what the oyster looked like inside, he looked like a trap jelly fish. He was HUGE, yet not a keeper. Jill told me to throw him out. I understood, but I wanted to examine this specimen more. Once the whole top shell was off, Jay took a look at the oyster. "You might find a pearl in that guy." he said. I was skeptical. How in the Heavens would I be able to find a pearl within my first day of shucking??? Finding pearls is like meeting a famous person down your neighborhood alleyway (California and New York don't count!) However, I searched anyway.
Unexpectedly, Jay comes up with a small knife and points to a tiny white bulge in the oyster. "What is that?" he questioned in a sense that he already knew the answer. I gasped. Right there was a pearl! A little, developing pearl! I cut it out, held the darling gem in the palm of my hand, and basked with pride! Jay announced I found a pearl. Jaylee came running up next to him, inquiring, "Can I have it?!" Jill told her that it was mine for keeps. I was amazed. A pearl. I found a pearl within the first day of shucking an oyster. Just my freakin' luck.
I placed the preciousness in a small baggy for safe-keeping. When we got back to home base, I showed off my prize. Everyone was as appalled as I was!
We washed up and changed our muddy clothing for clean ones. Grandpa J and Jay cooked up a few oysters as appetizers. Before that, I was bored and decided to go fishing. Well, just my luck AGAIN, I caught a good sized Trout! Jay got as excited as I did! We wanted to cook him up as quickly as possible. So, we did. We buttered the crap out of the fish and added lemon juice with Norm's Seasoning (my uncle's homemade seasoning) When the catch was cooked, Jay and I nibbled it away until there was nothing left but bone and skin. Delicious camping food right out our front door!
Day 96 of Florida: This day I hardly remember. I know that not a bunch happened, but I do remember the two eagles that visited us this day. They were GORGEOUS! I took video of them flying above our heads and soaring towards tree tops. Sometimes, they were being chased by Ravens and you could hear them squeal and squawk at one another. Jay and aunt Dotti brought binoculars which helped us find where the birds landed. Everybody was in awe.
A couple times, one of the eagle's would swoop down and try to grab a fish! I don't think any of them actually caught one. But at one of the times, one of the eagle's was so close to the dock (where aunt Dotti, Brendan and I sat), trying to get a fish, we were able to hear the swoosh of the eagle's wings as he came down to take a hold of his catch. The second time, I was able to capture the try-and-miss swoop from one of the eagle's on video. I'll see if I can upload it sometime later.
Around the end of the show, Jaylee and I were fishing. She caught her first fish this day. Jay was very proud of her. He took pictures of us and her, holding her fish in accomplishment. When it was my turn to fish, I casted, waited for about a minute, until suddenly, my pole tugged as if I caught a fish already! Well, I did!!! Jaylee's fish took 30 minutes to get caught on the line. Mine only took a minute and it was a head bigger than Jaylee's! Gosh, I was FULL of luck this Memorial weekend.
Except for when everyone was going to bed. I had to sleep in a trailer that held three snoring people... My grandma was one of them and I slept beside her. Oh God was Day 95's night awful. I literally got no sleep until everybody was awake.
Anyway, after the eagles went home, the family gathered to eat clams and oysters. The rain began to pour, so we huddle near the fire or hid under this double wide gazebo that my mom purchased. It was a perfect spot to cook without getting wet from the rain.
Nighttime turned out to be clear for several minutes. I was able to show a couple willing family members some constellations. I didn't notice how huge the constellations are!! The planetarium almost hits them right on the head, considering size I mean.
This night, even Saturn was out. I used my Star Walk app to locate other constellations that I couldn't remember. Aunt Dotti was stunned. I was excited to share my knowledge of astronomy to those who listened.
Day 97 of Florida: Yesterday was the day I came home. The family didn't do much. The weather was horrendous. I decided to stay in my grandparents' trailer, napping. Around 3 o'clock, the folks and I left for home. We took the Ferry. Grandpa J warned us about the holiday traffic. At least he was sober enough to tell us something that made sense. Haha!
I will admit, I was kind of ready to come home. Besides the weather being irritating, my family can get irritating, too. They are oh-so sarcastic, but sometimes, the sarcasm can break a boundary where some people can get offended deep down inside. I got offended. I can easily get offended when around my family. I don't know whether to take them seriously or laugh with them - or at them.
I do love my family, but holy crud, I need to get away from all of them sometimes.
And that's where I'll end it!
P.S: I took Mason's sweatshirt with me to have him there metaphorically. I snuggled the sweatshirt every night; burrowing my face and smelling his calming scent, bringing back wonderful memories.
P.S.S: Riley is the cutest dog. When he wants to play with someone, he will "dolphin nose" poke you. He nudges you to gesture that he wants your attention or wants you to do something with/for him. I have never seen a dog do such a thing!
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