Day 9; Jul 5th – Sad, sad day. Woke up 4:20 a.m. and began packing. We were out the door at 4:50 and at the airport by 5:00 on the nose. I felt woozy and sick this morning. Maybe it was too much to drink yesterday. Maybe not enough sleep. Maybe too much sun the last 7 days. Could I be pregnant? Oh GOD no, that would require that ODH and I had had more than 10 seconds alone this trip! And even if we did, we now need to sue his urologist!

Anyhoo - - who am I kidding? I was sick due to the fact that we were LEAVING this beautiful place that has long been such a respite for me. I can’t believe this week has gone by in such a flash. We had accomplished everything on our itinerary and then some. We had bonded as a family. We hadn’t killed the children. We met some wonderful friends from the forum. And our kids had such a great experience! They had eaten more cheeseburgers in paradise than one can fathom. They experienced car burglary firsthand. They learned to snorkel, and liked it! They learned that rum makes mom and step-dad fun (or is it dumb?). They also made some great friends from Philadelphia, although they have no idea where that is! They saw the best beaches in the World, and they realized that this trip together is the benefit of Mommy traveling for work - - the AAdvantage points and Marriott reward points!

Most importantly, we are all now united in our love and addiction to the VI’s. I can just flash forward to see them as young adults having slightly different and wonderful experiences here with yet that same pang of familiarity. Perhaps eating something other than cheeseburgers. This is truly the only place for us and will be a permanent fixture for our family vacations. All precious moments, corny but true.

All these streams of consciousness are running through my mind during the hour we stood in line waiting on both the American and customs employees to arrive at work. At 6:00 am, we finally make it quickly through customs and to the gate. Darn it, but the 7 am flight is right on time. I step on the stairs to the plane hoping and praying for some issue that will cause it not to take off. Well, that issue never comes. We are on our way home to St. Louis with only our memories, a few trinkets and our temporarily brown skin serving as reminders of our glorious trip. And what a trip it was! Now, what next? I see that American has a sale for $289 round-trip in the Fall….or maybe the Griswold’s should stick to Wally World. Nah.