Reunions and summer vacation with Anthony

We attended two family reunions in July. The Hatch family reunion (my husband's side) on in Mt. Olive, N. C., and the Smith Family reunion (my side) in Jacksonville, Fla.

This year I was able to spend an extra week with our grandson, Anthony, and it was his first trip flying as an unaccompanied minor. He's quite a seasoned traveler for being almost 7 years old, having flown several times a year since he was a baby. As I completed the paperwork at the counter, he promptly answered the ticket agent with, "Check my bag, please."

Between the reunions, we went to Disney World, the Jacksonville Zoo, the Museum of Science and History and the Adventure Land arcade and water park. By the end of the week, I was exhausted but he was still ready to keep on going. Hasn't anyone figured out how to bottle that youthful energy and share it with us mature citizens? 

A new exhibit at the zoo lets you feed the stingrays. They glide over your hand as you hold the fish or shrimp between your fingers and take the bait much like a vacuum cleaner. Some are so tame they let you pet them as they swim past. Often they got so excited they would jump out of the water, wrestling with each other over who was going to get the bait, and soaking all of us on the edge of the pool.

We learned about the history of dinosaurs and how the human body works at the science museum, which is set up for interactive learning with various stations and even an audience participation science experiment with electricity. 

Anthony and I spent an afternoon riding all the water slides, playing in the wave pool, and learning to swim at Adventure Land. Before we left, Anthony was able to hold his breath and go under water. He was so pleased with himself once he came down the slide all by himself, going underwater, and not getting scared. It was a major victory since he's had a fear of putting his face in the water and going under. I know exactly how he feels since I didn't learn to swim until I was an adult.

Watching characters from the movies and books come to life before your eyes is true magic in Disney World. Tinker Bell sails high above your heads to start the fireworks show and after a day of squeals, screams and shouts.What used to be called the Electric Light Parade is now the SpectroMagic Parade - a glittering display with characters from our favorite stories dancing through the streets of the Magic Kingdom. A perfect ending to a magical day.

Reach Gail Davis at RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or 265-1947.