O Day

It’s here. The day that seemed like such a good idea eight months ago … before Sarah was even born. 🙂

“Hey honey. The Water Quality Association’s invited us to give the keynote in March next year in Orlando. Let’s take the whole family!” said Tim, with all the Clark Griswoldian enthusiasm he could muster.

Wait, it’s still a good idea. It is a great idea. It is a great idea. It is a great idea.

And we are thankful to be in a position to make it happen. We are thankful. We are thankful. We are thankful.

It is. We are.

On Tuesday, I’ll be conducting a marketing workshop in Orlando, Florida, for 60-100 folks, and on Wednesday, I’ll be giving the keynote address at Aquatech 2010 (Coolest Convention Name Ever Maybe) in front of about 1000.

I am far less anxious about speaking in front of a thousand people than I am traveling to Orlando today with a five-year and a five-month old.

Luckily, my wife started packing two months ago. She started planning four months ago. She’s ready. If mama’s ready, everybody’s ready.

Luckier still, my in-laws are coming. They’ve been wonderful to us over the years, and it’ll be nice to have them as company in the rental house. Yep, I said rental house. Dee went through VRBO.com and found a whopper of a vacation rental with its own indoor pool for a fraction of what hotel rooms would cost us.

Even luckier, my sis is coming down to visit and help and play. It’s a real family affair.

My friend Julie said yesterday:

“Enjoy it, no matter what. Our most stressful moments have become our best memories.”

Well said, J. My friend Alex then suggested that he wasn’t sure about ‘best’ but certainly ‘most enduring.’

But Alex is, you know, English.

We shall see. The Miles Family Truckster pulls out at noon for the airport. Southwest wheels up at 3:40.

“I am going to Florida on my airplane,” says Will.

Well, that settles it. Gotta get ready to catch Will’s airplane.

What’s up, Mouse? Nice to meet ya.