Searching for Earthworms: St. Augustine!

Over the Dreamer's spring break, Mimi kindly treated us to a beach adventure. Mister dropped us off at the airport bright and early; Mimi and Auntie A were already waiting, and together we checked our bags and car seats, had a miniature Caveman meltdown caused by anxiety about security, ate an airport breakfast, and boarded our nonstop flight. The Caveman was thrilled to be on a real plane. He enjoyed his window seat, and chattered on and on about flying.

Halfway through our flight, a medical emergency forced us to make an emergency landing in Birmingham so that an elderly man could be evacuated to a hospital. Luckily, my spawn were completely unaware of what was occurring, and the Caveman shared, "We have to get a new plane because the wing fell off"...

Two flights and one rental car later, we made it to our destination and headed out for a bite to eat and to walk on the beach. The Caveman was amazed by the ocean and the Dreamer entranced. They frolicked in the surf and chased seagulls on the sand.

We spent the following day at the beach. After walking to a nearby farmer's market where Mimi purchased a bag of fresh grapefruits, the Caveman slipped on the boardwalk and acquired a splinter in the heel of his hand. It took a bit of coaxing and tears before I was able to convince the angry creature to allow me to get the little piece of wood out of his skin. The splinter set the mood for his day, I suppose.

The Caveman was disgusted by the wind blowing stinging grains of sand into his skin, and by his "near death experience in the surf". After mustering the courage to wade waistdeep into the water, the Caveman was rudely flattened by a minuscule wave that caused him to lose his footing. Anchoring himself with one extended arm on the sand, he thrashed pitifully with his free arm as his sister attempted to assist him in getting upright. Certain this was the scene of his ultimate demise, the Caveman howled more loudly, his head positioned firmly above the water by his hand in the sand, until I finally (20 seconds later) lifted him from the water amidst a chorus of "Caveman, just stand up!" from the nearby Dreamer. Needless to say, this trauma drove the Caveman out of the water and to the refuge of the wind blown pellets of sand stinging his arms and face and forcing him to walk around with a shirt covering his face and an incessant slew of whining verbal complaints.

For the remainder of the day, the Caveman grouch was only susceptible to brief moments of contentment sparked by the ever positive and kind Auntie A who pointed out pelicans and carried the caveman to the sand bar where he and the Dreamer ran around happily; well, until his cap fell into the ocean, sparking yet further disdain and contempt for life on the beach. The Dreamer, on the other hand, was thrilled with every aspect of the beach, ocean, hotel... She loved it all!

Day three, and our last day of the trip, we paid a visit to St. Augustine's Alligator Park! It was a wonderful experience. A little zoo primarily devoted to gators and their kin, it enthralled even the cantankerous Caveman in our group. He was amazed by the gorgeous alligator specimens, and intrigued by the terrific crocodile Maximo! We attended an animal show whose actors included a box turtle named Caroline, a hog-nosed snake named Harley, and a sweet brown old man rabbit named Jesse. The kids were allowed to love on old Jesse, and the Caveman is still remarking on his memory of "the Easter bunny on our trip". Auntie A paid a large fee and signed a release to be photographed inside of the alligator enclosure with her hand resting on the spine of a specimen named Skipper! We couldn't leave the park without a stop in the gift shop where my offspring each chose a stuffed alligator of their own to take home.