A Birthday Adventure

This year for my 28th birthday I took an adventure on my own to visit my parents in Florida.You may say well that's not an adventure. The transportation I took made the adventure. Now is this getting your minds wondering. Can you guess what transportation took me on my wild adventure?

It was a train. Not sure if that's what you were thinking but it was my first longest train ride alone. I boarded the Amtrak train early Thursday morning set to arrive early afternoon to my sunny destination of Bradenton Florida.

My mom was eager to pick me up with homemade goodies waiting for me at her house. I specifically asked for her cinnamon rolls, then she made bread with chicken and yellow rice just like Nana used to make. It was all very delicious.

Friday morning being my birthday my dad was the first to say Happy Birthday! As my mom went to the pool for her daily exercise my dad and I took China for a walk. After our exercise my dad made me his famous taco omelets with Mixon fruit farm orange juice and with my mom's homemade bread. It was the perfect birthday breakfast.

Then it was on to plan on our day. Our first stop was Mixon fruit farm for their famous ice cream cones, then my dad took me to the power plant near Tampa to see the wild manatees and other fish swimming. While we were there we stepped upon this machine that you step into and it feels like your in a hurricane and we couldn't pass that up. I think my dad thought it was funny. Later that night we had a wonderful seafood dinner at the local buffet.

Saturday was a day full of adventure. Our first stop was the Ringling Brothers Museum and their mansion. Their estate was beautiful right on the bay. We didn't tour the whole house but what we did you could tell their taste was over the top. The view overlooking the water was beautiful. But I couldn't imagine living in this home back in the day.

Our next stop was the aquarium. This was mine and my dad' first visit. It seemed smaller geared for smaller children than adults but we still had a good time. I got to see the 3 manatees they had which was pretty cool, and 1 lonely dolphin.

Then it was back home for good food on the grill and backyard fishing with my dad. And finished the night to beating my dad in wild rummy.

Sunday was my last full day with my parents. The morning we were on our way to church. Being at their church gave me many ideas for our contemporary worship service, it was very uplifting! Our afternoon was backyard fishing and dad out won me catching the most fish. We got to spend more quality time together watching movies and playing wild rummy. Then it was time to say our goodbyes.

Monday was my last day of quality time with my mom before she had to drop me off at the bus stop. We ventured out shopping in the rain then to the best buffet restaurant before my big trip home. We had a good time together. It was time to say my final goodbyes and to board my bus to the train station. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, for taking me to see sites and most of all for loving me. Love you both mostly!

Monday morning I came home to a surprise birthday present from Ray. I was shocked but at the same time excited to open a present and to eat brownies.

Till we meet again!
Love Bubba