Dear Friends and Family,

Here we are in Miami, at the Hilton Hotel preparing for our short drive to the cruise terminal. We can see the cruise ship, Celebrity Eclipse, from our hotel room window. Miami is spectacular. Lots of high rise buildings overlooking the multiple waterscapes and the dynamic outlines of the performing arts center, opera and ballet concert hall, and museums which dot the downtown landscape.

Our journey here was relatively easy with a few mishaps along the way. We left our Phoenix home at 5 AM on Friday for a quick drive to the airport. Shirley and Bob Keaster squeezed into Lee Harris' SUV alongside us, our collective luggage, and lots of giggles. We were all in vacation mode. And being the Jewish mother I am, I packed freshly made egg salad, low-carb bread, grapefruit slices, and a lone red apple for our snacking pleasure en route. We all made it to the airport and through security and onto our Southwest flight headed for Denver (I know, not the most direct route to Fort Lauderdale airport, but that's the way it is). We planned for a brief layover in Denver before changing plans, but were delayed. Somewhere during the first flight the egg salad container opened and the contents spilled into the bag. We were able to salvage most of the salad but dumped the bag, plastic utensils, napkins and all.

The flight to Ft. Lauderdale was delayed 45 minutes but then took off and headed east, into a few thunderstorms, fasten seat belt signs blinking rapidly, and Shirley and Bob sleeping as soon as the wheels lifted off the ground. As soon as I've figured out how to download the photos, I'll send proof of their all-doze flight. We wondered if this was how our trip together would be--the Keasters sleeping, Stu reading from his newly acquired kindle, and me listening to my Ipod and knitting.

Ft. Lauderdale we rented a car for the 20 mile trip into Miami, checked into the hotel, and then we were off to Linda and Bill's for a much awaited dinner. The Werners rented an apartment on the 52nd floor in a luxury building. The entire apartment was done up in white, couches, furniture, walls, towels, bedspreads, everything. I felt like a spot of dirt walking through all of that cleanliness. The view from the patio was gorgeous--all of downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay, and the cruise ship port. The hum of the surrounding air conditioning units, which sit atop every nearby building was a bit deafening, but not so loud that the visual appeal was wiped out.

Linda and Bill, gracious hostesses that they are, prepared a fine repast, served on elegant matching white dishes, wine served from tumblers, and appetizers out of a plastic bowl and matching paper bag. Okay, the kitchen was not very well equipped, but the 8 of us, Steve and Carol included, had a fine repast, shared some stories, and toasted the trip.

And now it's off to the ship.

Adrienne and Stu