Well, we “golden girls” ages 47 to 72 made it all the way to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in my “new to me” purple colored Kia Sorento named Theodosia. We stuffed that car with enough stuff to move into the condo we are staying in. Laughed all the way down through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, 385 miles, 7 hours and 1 minute. We stopped at a few rest stops to walk around and get our legs working and our blood circulating. We luncheoned at Chic-fil-A.

Oldest sister-in-law saw an ice cream machine at one of the rest stops and she says, “I love ice cream,” and she bought an ice cream sandwich from the ice cream vending machine. All four of us stood around marveling, watching a freezer open and a long arm with a suction cup snatch the ice cream sandwich from a freezer. I know people were thinking those girls don’t get out much. Youngest golden girl then lined us up, gave the “no talking in line teacher signal” and marched us back to the car. We were people watching all the way back to Theodosia bursting with laughter at what we saw — a man doing the reindeer dance, paired up with Frankenstein’s wife. We tried to contain ourselves and not look at them. Then we get to Buc-ees, and the same couple were in there! It is a small world! And I apologize for all of our laughter, but you just had to be there to appreciate the couple.

When we got to the condo we had the nicest surprise seeing one of our young cousins and his family staying here. He graciously helped unload our car with his darling little boys’ help. My niece who chauffeured us was so kindhearted to us on the drive down. I know she’s tired from walking up and down the steps helping carry in all our stuff. She’s a jewel!

Tomorrow we’ll hobble down to the beach and enjoy the sunshine and the sand and the music of the ocean waves making love to the white sand beach. I’m so grateful to have this time to make memories with these women that I love. Even if it rains, we’ll be happy to be together sharing happy times. And the laughter…non stop!

“Best friends are the people in your life who make you laugh louder, smile brighter and live better.” — Unknown