Just had a 2nd annual girls' only trip.

Headed out a week ago today....without sharing gory details, almost didn't head out as my colon was attacking me....decided to give it a try....made it to Detroit through snow and ice and mess.

Got to Tampa....car rental probs....Shell driving with us navigating right onto trolley tracks that police pulled us off of so that we wouldn't get killed...had to sit still long enough to let the horses from the circus pass by so as  not to "spook them" and also, so we wouldn't run over the UNICORN....yep, there was a unicorn.

Got to hotel....first room had brown brown water coming from faucets with grit landing in tub....changed to better room with just beige water.

Shell feeling poorly so had to get meds...asked for car from valet....one hour later, it is evident that they HAVE LOST OUR CAR!

Weather not swell ....might as well see if we can find that unicorn that is still alive so off to the circus.

Went to get the tickets and NO Discover Card in wallet....yikes!

Tampa is cold and cloudy.

When heading home, watching flights cuz' flying back to coldest temps in decades...I make it to Myrtle Beach with delays in packed and cold Atlanta.....with the same positive resilience that has resonated through them all week, Meg and Shell make it to Detroit in utter freezing chaos and arrive home by midnight with Shell staying put for day cuz' of unsafe roads.

So, THAT all REALLY did happen BUT it is only HALF the story.

My colon calmed down within 36 hours.

The hotel water pipes had been cleaned so soon the water ran clear in our upgraded room with a view.

Shell got her meds and got better each day.

Rey found our car within 2 hours and the hotel paid for one nights room, all valet services and our car was ready and wating for us in front of the hotel the rest of our stay...our Volkswagon right there with the VIP Lexus!

The circus was AWESOME...we saw elephants and horses and lions and llamas and goats and a pig and that unicorn we didn't kill.

Had yummy yogurt with homemade granola at 'daily eats' where we might not have returned if I hadn't left my card.

I made it to my hubby and Meg sent pics on the extra day they were together of the boys and Aunt Shell skating for a whole 15 minutes on their homemade ice rink.

 Shell is finally home safe and sound.

We had one day of sun that we soaked up with enormous gratitude and we had 5 days together that at first glance seemed to be 'glass half empty' but, in fact, were 'glass half full'.

We held hands and prayed together before we left our room.

Through it all, I was ever reminded that most people are kind, that there is humor that bubbles up in most all things, that dressing up and going down to the lobby bar for a glass of wine is soothing, that I am beyond blessed that my spirited and spunky 'girls' are willing to let this old lady be a 'girl' with them and that, however it plays out, we are blessed to even be able to do this!

So, any complaints about how full my glass is or isn't would just be WRONG simply because whatever temp or color of water, at least, I HAVE water and I HAVE a glass...

...so this ol' heart best be full.