Today's post is brought to you by the letters V and W

The letter "V" is for vacation. We've had several lately. We may have a chance of taking away our friend Kent's title of Dr. Vacation. It appears Google has taken away the ability to have a description for photos here so I'll do my best to let you know what you're looking at. It started in November when we went to Colorado to see my daughter Amy and her family for Thanksgiving. It was good to see them all, way too much food, lots of soccer in the backyard with the grandkids and a fun trip with them to the World of Wonders Science Museum near Denver.

We were back from Colorado for two whole days before leaving for Florida. My stepson and his wife recently purchased a vacation / retirement home on Siesta Key. They invited us to stay a week before the house went into the rental pool- an offer we just couldn't refuse! Our first stop was Destin to meet up with our friends from Atlanta, Mark and Tammy. We hadn't seen these two in a couple of years and we sure appreciated them driving down from Atlanta just to see us for one day and two nights. They are regulars in Destin so they were able to show us around but mostly we just ate and caught up.

We left Destin and had a one night "layover" in St Petersburg with our long lost friend Sharon. More on our time with her later. Shaun and Jennifer were just wrapping up a week at the house on Siesta Key when we got there. We hadn't expected to get to see them but it was a pleasant surprise to be able to spend all afternoon with them before they and their friends flew back to snowy Connecticut. We absolutely loved Siesta Key! The house is walking distance to town and the beach. We spent a fair bit of time at both places. We also drove back over to Sarasota now and then. If you are ever that way, you absolutely must eat at Owen's Fish Camp. Jennifer told us in order to get a table you need to be there around 4:30. Not truly believing that could be the case in the middle of the week, we went about 7:00 one evening. Jennifer was right. The trick is you go at 4:30 or 5:00 and put your name on the list and then go out back and have a drink and listen to live music. They'll call when your table is read. If you aren't ready to eat then, just tell them. Your spot on the list is still good. When you are ready to eat let them know and you'll get the next available table. Anyway, fantastic food and a great relaxed environment. This next part is a little bit out of chronological order but it'll be easier on us all this way. Mostly me. If you'll go way back in our blog, probably around September of 2015, you'll see that while we were in St Petersburg we got hooked on playing shuffleboard. It just didn't seem right to be that close and not go play again and we knew it might not be as much fun if we weren't playing with some of the same friends we made in St Pete. So here we are with our friends Nancy and Kelly back at the shuffleboard club, almost six years after last seeing them. A good time was had by all.

Back to Siesta Key. Something that became a mainstay for us while we were there was to walk down to the beach for the sunset. But not just for the sunset. The shortest path to the beach from the house took us to the beach at Patriot Pier at Sunset Point. Every evening at Sunset there is a flag ceremony there. There is a good man, Mike, that puts up an American flag every morning at 8:00. As the sun sets he will say a few words, giving thanks to all those men and women that have served in the United States Armed Forces. He asks all to remember the "United" part of the United States of America. After a moment of silence he plays on his portable stereo America the Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee and The National Anthem. Before he started he would find a couple of volunteers to help lower and fold the flag. Now it's time for taps, just as the sun is setting into the Gulf of Mexico. This is where I come back to Sharon. We met Sharon when we were on the boat in the Bahamas. We spent a lot of time on their boat and they spent a lot of time on ours when we were sailing. Just like Nancy and Kelly, if you go way back in the blog you'll find pictures of Sharon.

It was great to reconnect with her again. Our last night on Siesta Key just so happened to be the day of the Army v Navy football game. Sharon spent 20 years in the Air Force but her kids both graduated from the Naval Academy and are serving in the Marine Corp. You'll see her in the video supporting her kid's alma mater. The older gentleman directing traffic on the flag folding is Ray. Ray is retired Army. There was some good natured ribbing going on over the football game. Our last morning on Siesta Key we went back to Patriot Pier. Susan and I were honored to help with the flag raising to the sound of reveille. Susan is raising the flag while I'm behind the Christmas tree, holding the flag so it won't touch the ground. You can't see me but it isn't about me. It's about the flag.

That covers it for Florida. We also went to South Padre Island for two weeks after Christmas. This post has already gotten way long so I'll just recap our time there as a bunch of walks on the beach, a tour of the King Ranch, a fair bit of pickleball and lots of seafood. We had a good time but we were glad to get back home too. So "W" is for work. Not much time for that. Our main accomplishment was hired out to a contractor. We had part of our back (really side) porch screened in. Now when the weather cooperates will be able to sleep with the french doors in our bedroom open and not get eaten alive by mosquitos.

Last but not least. The new resident at our place, Otto the Otter.

Take care! Brian and Susan