Day 10. ACK

Boy howdy. Last April, I wouldn't have given you two shakes for "girls' trips." Or "ladies' weekends." I journeyed along to "mommy camp" because it was near home, inexpensive and, with the right mix of company, downright lively and meaningful. But, REAL trips. Where significant expense and travel were involved? I wasn't leaving the region w/o The Tall One. If I was going to experience new food, new people, new scenery, he was coming along. Or I was going along. Whatever. Until May. In May, 2010, that changed. ACK changed me.

I was graciously invited along to Nantucket ... as a surprise ... shhh ... to celebrate the milestone birthday of one of my oldest and dearest. Certainly my dearest. I was invited along by HER oldest and dearest. And now SHE is one of my dearest and one of the "cushiest" and experienced travelers you could ever meet. She doesn't book anything "motel-style." She does it "Oprah-style." First class. Instead of an ice bucket, we'd prefer our own kitchen. And we'd like a staff to fetch us working corkscrews, pretty please, and drive us to the wine store and teach us to use the sound system in our luxury residence, and if the staff speaks a foreign language ... delightful.

There are such different experiences to be had with your oldest and dearest. There is such meaningful conversation. And there is the laughing.

We'd like picnics on the beach on sand that is seemingly perfection, please. No stink, no stick, no tar, no seaweed. Sugary stuff that doesn't even blow into our sandwiches.

We'd like meals in 5-star restaurants, empty of tourists but full of locals. Tourist season can hold off another week.

We'd like harbor cruises w/ tycoons.
Jeep rides on seasonally private beaches.
Drinks at sunset on ocean-front property belonging to famous people.
By the end of the week, we'd like the locals to shout out to us in town ... from across the street ... "Hey, it's the ladies from Texas! How're you finding our Island? Had your lobster roll yet?"

We can heft our own luggage into the overhead bin, thank you.
Outfit our own Jeep.
Bust up wedding parties for pictures.
Co-pilot a prop-plane.
Sail a sloop.

We just can't get that fancy corkscrew to work without a little help.

And I couldn't do it w/o the means of my family. The Tall One, who said "GO!" And my parents who camped here at home w/ The Ones and said, "Go," even louder!

ACK changed my life.