A Year and A Half Later

Today Doug was finally able to visit his Dad.  He had thought going to DeKalb several times over the summer and early last fall before Carl and Marina left for Florida, but the spread of COVID was just too great to risk it.  With Ocala's close proximity to Lake Placid and the cases of COVID on the decline, Doug was able to spend the majority of the day catching up with his Dad at their home in Florida.  It was the end of September 2019 when Cam, Doug and I last saw Carl and Marina.  We had had dinner with them and Dan at Giordano's in the suburbs of Chicago after a day at Science & Industry.  Although Doug had talked to his Dad weekly since that time period, it was a lot more special to be together in person.  Carl drove him around his complex showing him where my parents stayed along with other sites including the friendly family of sand cranes.  They visited with Aunt Marg and Uncle Jim as well and enjoyed lunch at a local Mexican restaurant that Carl had eaten at several times with my parents while they were staying in Lake Placid.  It was fun to hear Doug talk about all of the same places that my Mom and Dad told me about not too long ago.  Carl, Marina, Marg and Jim told Doug that they enjoyed having my parents living so close and hoped that they would return next year.  Doug even got to look at the infamous spreadsheets before he left assuring Cal and Meg that they were still being put to good use.  

As an added bonus to his day trip Doug was also able to stop by Disney Springs on his way back to Ocala.  It was a lot different than he remembered with more parking garages, stores and restaurants.  He took a few pictures to send back to all of us.  Meg and I were definitely a little jealous.  He checked out a few of the beers before he left impressed with the transition from Downtown Disney to Disney Springs.  Overall, it was the perfect day for Doug and I was incredibly happy for him.