Yesterday we returned from a long weekend in Florida with JLD & HFD, a trip during which I GOT TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS! I have been bursting to talk about this, but given my history with the universe, I knew better than to blog about it in advance this time. In fact, I have been afraid to talk about it at all in more than a whisper, so worried the universe would make note of my excitement and ruin everything. One night last week, JLD was later getting home than he thought he'd be, and HFD told me that she woke up around midnight, realized he wasn't home yet, and her first sleepy thought was that he'd been in an accident because of the dolphins, because that was the way the universe had decided to keep me from them this time. Totally within the realm of possibility, people. But fortunately there was no accident. Nor was there a hurricane or canceled flight or sudden dolphin plague or any of the other 1000 potential disasters I had imagined might possibly prevent me from swimming with the dolphins.

Rob and JLD spent Friday at an aviation convention while HFD and I went to Discovery Cove where we got to play with sting rays and snorkel with tropical fish and, you know, SWIM WITH DOLPHINS! HFD's dream job is to be a dolphin trainer and I have always wanted to be a mermaid so, as you can imagine, for the two of us this was one of the Best Days EVER.

HFD and me, so freaking excited!

Swimming! With CJ the dolphin!

Smooching with dolphins

It seems I can check this off my life list now, although I'm not sure there's any point because I'd just turn around and add the very same item back to the list. These creatures are so exquisite, and the experience so enchanting, that I only hope I have the opportunity to do this many more times in my life.