It Wasn't Meant to Be

 Two years ago there was talk of a Family Cruise for the spring of 2021. It sounded good in theory, but in reality, it just wouldn't work.

Our family works around three different calendars.  Rossville Schools, Clinton Prairie Schools, and Tate & Lyle.  Gary and I are flexible.  Two things figured into our daughters and their families not going on the Family Cruise:  Spring Break time wasn't going to work well with everyone else in the family and cost.  Plus the appropriateness of a cruise for the five kids, being able to keep track of them during the week, and being able to enjoy activities as a large family seemed next to impossible.  The final decision NOT to participate was timing since the main consideration was Nick's spring break and working around it.  Rarely does a college spring break jive with those of school corporations.  The final straw, however, was COVID and the cancellation of cruises in general.

The alternative plan was to rent a house in Florida and all of us go there for a week.  Same issues though.....timing and cost.  The girls were out on both counts, even though the activities might have been more conducive to children. Cost was still an issue, including the travel costs and time.  For everyone else, though,  the house was booked. Flights to Ft. Lauderdale were reserved.  Plans were made.

Then everything fell apart --- for us anyway.

Soon after Christmas my feet and lower legs began to swell.  Issues with my feet swelling are not uncommon; however, when the swelling goes into my lower legs, that is a problem.  Plus this time my skin was hot to the touch, pains were shooting up my legs, and i was scared.  When I saw Dr. Hart, he suggested some changes in medication.  He also advised not traveling, especially by plane.  When I told him of the plans to fly to Florida, he nixed that idea and said that driving would be a better option, as long as there were frequent stops.  Next I mentioned Key West, and he nixed that idea as well.  Why?  Because he said Key West was a Hot Spot for COVID, that protocols were not being followed as well there. Since I would not have had both of my COVID vaccinations, he recommended that I not go.  When I said I wasn't sure how I would explain that to the rest of our group, he said I could 'throw him under the bus' if I needed to.  He just would not recommend that I go to Key West unless I had had both of the shots.  Gary would probably be ok since he would have had both by that time, but I would have had just one and he didn't want me to take that chance.  

So we decided to cancel.   

Cancelling the flights was not too hard.  We have a voucher of sorts that must be used before August 15.  The reason for that is that our tickets were paid for with a voucher for our cancelled trip to Florida in June 2019.  Cancelling our part of the house was relatively easy also.  Gary insisted that we pay our share, but Tom and Gina paid it instead and took our spot.

Finally Gary is having issues with his legs and other spots on his body.  Blisters have been forming, then popping, and bleeding.  He has been struggling with these since January.  Finally he was able to see the doctor that helped him before when he had the issues with his foot.  She has prescribed medicines, ointments, creams, and further appointments with the wound clinic.  At this point going to Key West would not be advised because he would need to keep the bleeding covered and it would be hot and sweaty---not conducive to healing blotches on his arms and legs.

I guess it wasn't meant to be.  I was apprehensive about going from the beginning.  Something just didn't seem right and comfortable to me.  I guess God had a plan for us NOT to go on this trip all along.  He just took some time to make it clear to us that we weren't supposed to go.

Am I missing this opportunity to go on a trip at the beginning of March to Key West where it will be sunny and warm?  Not really.  I know that we will have a good time with the kids this week, that I can work on several sewing projects, and that we won't spend as much money, which is a good thing!  And I also know that Karen will be sure to fill us in on all of the fun things that happened without us when they return.

It just wasn't meant to be.