One would think that Natalia's extended Latin family is the only one there is with the sheer numbers and enthusiasm (especially during Colombian national team games at the World Cup), but no! In fact there was more to this US foray.
The gang got into their fancy rental car and drove up to a place called Merritt Island. It sits about 10 miles from Cape Cañaveral of Space Shuttle fame. There we stayed with a long time friend of Natalia's (more on that on the next post), her husband, their daughter, dog and cat. It was a delightful evening, but the very next day we had to drive off to Orlando, park the car in long term parking and board a plane (Silver Airways) to Pensacola.
The flight was less than exciting, with the feeling of being stuck, literally, a tin box, but only took an hour and a half and brought us into Pensacola airport in the mid afternoon. The sky was clear with a few scattered clouds and we called Mary, Laurence's grand aunt (is that a formal relationship?). The car would be there shortly. And it was. After meeting Bill (a friend of the family) and reuniting with Robin (Laurence's youngest cousin) we were off, roaming the rather calm streets.
We finally arrived and there was Mary, with a broad smile, waiting for us! Ray and Mary moved into a retirement community a while back and are loving it, but for our girls this was something new altogether. They were quite popular with the residents and, when dinner came around, we reunited with Scott (Laurence's cousin) and Aloma (Scott's wife) as well as Dean (Bill's wife) and, of course, Ray, who was turning 87 a couple days later. Dinner was in his honor and we sang happy birthday on the only evening that all of us would be there.
This was to be a wonderful visit, with lots of chatter and discussions, a good deal of food (often brought to the table by university student waiters). Aloma (and, after Aloma & Scott left, Robin) played cards with our girls ("Go Fish" and Crazy 8's were the big success). The girls got to go swimming too and we had a visit to the Naval Aviation Museum as well as a run to the beachfront to have lunch before our departure. In there, of course, was the requisite bringing everyone "up to speed" on whereabouts and what we dos from all sides. Robin shared pictures of their new house and shared stories of her three daughters. We shared pictures too. Ray shared old family pictures and cutouts of newspaper articles, piecing together the family history going back to the early 1800's. Aloma and Scott shared plans to move to Richmond to be with the "grandchildren". We even had the chance to talk to my Dad and Monica who were in Sweden. Connections from all over the world!
All in all the two days spent there - after 16 years - were filled with as much chatter as one could expect. Our departure brought sad hugs and the feeling that it wasn't quite enough time, but also the talk of possible trips to Greece one day. You think? It would be so wonderful to have the ever expanding clan come visit us there one day! As we were about to head into the airport, we asked Robin if there were any news yet. There were none, but a few days later she became a grandmother for one more time!
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