We got up really early, because my parents were going to synagogue this morning for Rosh Hashanah. Don’t they look beautiful?
After a stop at the local STARBUCKS, we drove a little over three hours to Orlando and had some lunch at a great Latina restaurant – CABANA RESTAURANT in Ocoee. I have NO idea how you pronounce Ocoee, so can someone who knows please email me and let me know!
We were going to visit our friends, the Sicolis, but we had a few hours to kill before Gloria got home with their boys, so we decided to do a load of laundry (our favorite pastime). We finished just in time to head over to Windermere to our friends’ house. We got there, but they weren’t home yet, so we waited in front of their house. They live in a beautiful community and we were admiring all the beautiful houses on their cul-de-sac.
Gloria called, to see what we were up to, and we told her we were waiting outside her house. They hurried home from school and we had a happy reunion. I have known Gloria and Frank for about 25 years. They are a sweet, beautiful couple who have two wonderful boys – Frankie (12) and JJ (5).
Frankie and JJ loved the RV. They thought it was the coolest thing ever. They couldn’t believe that we slept in here, ate in here, cooked in here, went to the bathroom in here – everything! We were so happy to show them around. Then we went inside and got to see their gorgeous home. Every room is decorated so beautifully. Gloria and Frank have great taste and it is a pleasure to be in their home. It's elegant, yet cozy and comfortable. They have a gorgeous backyard with a big pool, which is completely screened in, so you can hang out outside and in the pool without one bug bothering you!
After Frank got home from work, we decided to go out to eat. They generously invited us to sleep over (and Frankie so sweetly offered his room to us), but because they have a new dog (an adorable Yorkshire Terrier named Chippy), I was nervous about staying too long, because of my asthma. So, we planned to spend the night at a local campground, but hadn’t yet made a reservation.
Here's Frank, Eric and Frankie; and Gloria and JJ!
We went out to eat first at a great seafood place called JOE’S CRAB SHACK in Lake Buena Vista. The food was SO good and, as you can see, Eric had a delicious meal of Snow, Dungeness and Alaskan King Crab legs – Joe’s Special Crab Combo. I had the crab cakes (after all, it IS Joe’s CRAB Shack). Frank had the Mahi Mahi, Gloria had the crispy shrimp, and the boys had popcorn shrimp. Everything was delicious! We finished off the meal with big pieces of chocolate cake and a slice of Key Lime pie. WOW! We were stuffed!
We sat in the RV for a while, because we were on the computer, trying to figure out which campground to go to. Frank and Gloria are SO great, because they didn’t want to leave until we had definite plans. It’s harder to get into a campground after the office closes, but there’s usually no problem. You just go to a site and pay in the morning. There’s a lot of trust in campgrounds. They trust that you’ll do the right thing by paying the next morning – and I think people usually do. Anyway, we decided to go to ORLANDO WINTER GARDEN CAMPGROUND and we said our goodbyes to Frank, Gloria, Frankie and JJ. We felt so bad, because it was after 10:00pm – very late for the boys to be out on a school night – and we knew they would all pay in the morning.
At dinner, we talked about friendship. Eric and I don’t see Frank and Gloria that often, because we’ve never been to visit them in Florida, and they always visit in NYC, but don’t come up that often. But it doesn’t matter. We have the kind of friendship that transcends time. We can let months go by without talking, maybe even a year, but when we DO see them, it’s as if no time has passed. We love them and we know they love us and that’s the kind of friendship that is a real blessing.
Eric and I feel lucky, because we have lots of friends like that. Friends that we may not see or talk to, but you know they don’t get mad, and we don’t either. You just want your friends to be happy and healthy and when you talk to them or see them – it’s a gift.
Anyway, we’re traveling to Tampa tomorrow and will have yet ANOTHER happy reunion with our nephew, Brandon. This has been a GREAT week, because we are getting to see SO many people we love!