for
several minutes making accommodations for the group and they were seated at the
back of the restaurant, watching the sun set out of the windows.
Peter ordered the wine bottles and the food starting
arriving and the conversation was lively. The three younger men had lots to
share about their first scuba diving trip and Matt and Mark sat back looking
like the proud fathers that they were.
Rory was thrilled to announce that Peter had only trounced
him in their round of golf by thirty-seven points. The whole family laughed and
cheered, both for the winner and the loser.
The four brothers had an excellent day zipping around the
island on the ATV’s and Tim even had gotten a date out of it for later that
evening.
The two matriarchs sat back and watched their families with
such pride and love. How could they be any more blessed?
7.
DAY 5 – GRAND CAYMAN,
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Dolphins and turtles were the theme of the day. Matt and
Janie were taking Ella to play with the dolphins and swim with the turtles.
After all, if you’re going to the Cayman Islands you have to swim with the
dolphins, right? And because it was a tight-knit family, the rest of them were
coming along too. Well, at least for the morning.
All aboard the tour bus, they headed off for Ella’s
adventure. She loved dolphins and water. Bath-time was her favorite part of the
day and The Little Mermaid her favorite movie. Matt had bought her a large
stuffed dolphin several weeks before the cruise and told her she could play
with a real one. Janie didn’t think she understood but Matt told her stories at
bedtime about playing in the water with the lovable creatures. And today she
would finally get to do it. She sat with Paul on the bus playing peek-a-boo and
singing ‘Incy-Wincy Spider’.
When they arrived at the aquatic center, Janie headed in to
feed the baby with Patty alongside her and the rest of the Lathem’s went to the
locker area to free themselves of their extra clothes and belongings before
entering the water.
“I think Matt is more excited than Ella,” Patty laughed.
“Ella has no idea what’s going on,” Janie grinned. “But yes,
I think you’re right.”
There were trainers with the dolphins and they all had to
sit through a short instructional session before being allowed into the water.
The dolphins were released into the huge pool and began playing.
All the men slipped into the pool after donning a life vest
and Ella went in with Matt. Peter stood next to him, wanting to share the
experience with his granddaughter. Janie and Patty returned with a sleeping
baby and sat by Maureen and Katy and they all watched as Ella’s sweet little
face lit up as a dolphin came close to say hello.
The morning was magical and Katy had captured it all on
camera so Ella could relive her swimming adventure back home.
*****
Paul was quiet on the bus back to the pier. Memories of the
day were being catalogued into his mind to bring him joy in the future, in case
he found himself back in a position where he needed to retrieve a memory to
keep him alive. Over the years, he had used this trick to keep the fear away;
to keep his body moving toward safety, rather than giving up in defeat. It had
served him well on many a mission.
He smiled to himself as he recalled the few hours in the
water with his niece, the sound of her laughing as she was pulled through the
water by a dolphin; the sound of her gasps as a turtle swam underneath her and
tickled her feet. That sweet little face as he uncovered his face and yelled
‘boo’.
Yes, this would serve him well, if he needed it again.
*****
Peter and a couple of his sons headed back to the ship. The
rest of the men and Katy headed off to parasail after lunch. Janie was
horrified at the idea so she, Patty and Maureen wandered around the slew of
little shops hawking their wares. Each of the grandmothers pushed a stroller so
Janie was able to peruse the myriad of souvenirs.
As she was selecting a couple of
several minutes making accommodations for the group and they were seated at the
back of the restaurant, watching the sun set out of the windows.
Peter ordered the wine bottles and the food starting
arriving and the conversation was lively. The three younger men had lots to
share about their first scuba diving trip and Matt and Mark sat back looking
like the proud fathers that they were.
Rory was thrilled to announce that Peter had only trounced
him in their round of golf by thirty-seven points. The whole family laughed and
cheered, both for the winner and the loser.
The four brothers had an excellent day zipping around the
island on the ATV’s and Tim even had gotten a date out of it for later that
evening.
The two matriarchs sat back and watched their families with
such pride and love. How could they be any more blessed?
7.
DAY 5 – GRAND CAYMAN,
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Dolphins and turtles were the theme of the day. Matt and
Janie were taking Ella to play with the dolphins and swim with the turtles.
After all, if you’re going to the Cayman Islands you have to swim with the
dolphins, right? And because it was a tight-knit family, the rest of them were
coming along too. Well, at least for the morning.
All aboard the tour bus, they headed off for Ella’s
adventure. She loved dolphins and water. Bath-time was her favorite part of the
day and The Little Mermaid her favorite movie. Matt had bought her a large
stuffed dolphin several weeks before the cruise and told her she could play
with a real one. Janie didn’t think she understood but Matt told her stories at
bedtime about playing in the water with the lovable creatures. And today she
would finally get to do it. She sat with Paul on the bus playing peek-a-boo and
singing ‘Incy-Wincy Spider’.
When they arrived at the aquatic center, Janie headed in to
feed the baby with Patty alongside her and the rest of the Lathem’s went to the
locker area to free themselves of their extra clothes and belongings before
entering the water.
“I think Matt is more excited than Ella,” Patty laughed.
“Ella has no idea what’s going on,” Janie grinned. “But yes,
I think you’re right.”
There were trainers with the dolphins and they all had to
sit through a short instructional session before being allowed into the water.
The dolphins were released into the huge pool and began playing.
All the men slipped into the pool after donning a life vest
and Ella went in with Matt. Peter stood next to him, wanting to share the
experience with his granddaughter. Janie and Patty returned with a sleeping
baby and sat by Maureen and Katy and they all watched as Ella’s sweet little
face lit up as a dolphin came close to say hello.
The morning was magical and Katy had captured it all on
camera so Ella could relive her swimming adventure back home.
*****
Paul was quiet on the bus back to the pier. Memories of the
day were being catalogued into his mind to bring him joy in the future, in case
he found himself back in a position where he needed to retrieve a memory to
keep him alive. Over the years, he had used this trick to keep the fear away;
to keep his body moving toward safety, rather than giving up in defeat. It had
served him well on many a mission.
He smiled to himself as he recalled the few hours in the
water with his niece, the sound of her laughing as she was pulled through the
water by a dolphin; the sound of her gasps as a turtle swam underneath her and
tickled her feet. That sweet little face as he uncovered his face and yelled
‘boo’.
Yes, this would serve him well, if he needed it again.
*****
Peter and a couple of his sons headed back to the ship. The
rest of the men and Katy headed off to parasail after lunch. Janie was
horrified at the idea so she, Patty and Maureen wandered around the slew of
little shops hawking their wares. Each of the grandmothers pushed a stroller so
Janie was able to peruse the myriad of souvenirs.
As she was selecting a couple of
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