Vacation—it was the worst of times. It was the best of times. Sixteen family members stayed together in a large house on Seacrest beach in FL. I love the white sand and emerald waters of gulf! It’s my favorite place to visit the beach. Well, I take that back. A girlfriend and I went to Hawaii in our single days and it was BEAUTIFUL! I’d love to return there. Perhaps I will one day when my kids are raised and gone.
As serene as the beaches were, when you get 16 people in a house together something is bound to go wrong.
And it did.
Our first mishap occurred when my husband lost his car keys. We were smart enough to bring an extra set with us, but not smart enough to keep them some place other than the console of the car. Duh! We had to call a locksmith.
Next, our nephew broke his arm while trying to surf in the ocean. Bummer! It was early in the week, too. He spent most of his vacation watching reruns on TV.
The strangest thing that occurred while we were on vacation is our entire family went missing! …at least according to the Tennessee police that is.
As you know, we have a Japanese exchange student living with us. Because her father was American, Hitomi has relatives that live in the US. One of them is an old retired nun whom she calls Aunt Girdie.
Long story short, when Aunt Girdie couldn’t reach Hitomi while we were away on vacation, she filed a missing person’s report! Nine times the police knocked on our door and questioned our neighbors while we were away. One of our neighbors gave the police officer wrong information about where my husband worked. So when the officer inquired about my husband, no one at that place had heard of him. According to the officer, our entire family was missing!
We returned home just in time to keep the police from posting our pictures on the six-o’clock news! Hitomi called her aunt to tell her she was well—just away on vacation with her host family.
Sunday morning, the police returned to our home after receiving word from the nun that Hitomi and our family were home and safe. I jokingly confessed that we only keep Hitomi tied up during the week and let her out on the weekends. Then, I invited him to come inside to see for himself but he said that wasn’t necessary.
Ah! Can you imagine the scandal?
The American family of Micca Campbell kidnapped an Japanese exchanged student and took her on vacation! And wonder what our neighbors thought? “What did the Campbell’s do that drove them to leave town?” My goodness, isn’t this how rumors get started?
It wasn’t all bad. We did have good times as well. My 72 year old father rode a jet ski with his grandkids and swam with the dolphins. He said it was one of the highlights of his life!
Mostly, we visited with one another telling stories from the past until the wee hours of the morning. We laughed till our sides hurt! Then, did it all again the next day.
Doris says
We….my six kids, sons and daughter- in-laws, and grandchildren….go for a weeks vacation to a Delaware beach. We have a great time too. Gets a bit exciting at times with babies and little ones squabbling. But I feel we may be missing out on some excitement after reading your post ;o) We will spend our week in August….letting the waters warm up before we go for the plunge!
Thanks for sharing!
Barb Wall says
So glad you had a nice “get-away!!” There is also nothing like the beach!! I am taking a mini-vacation to San Antonio with my sister,grandaughter and niece over the 4th!! My sister asked me if we should take our 80 year old Mother (whom I live with!!) I have to pray about this–but when I read that about your Father I started to think –maybe take her!! Glad you are back safe and sound and that we do not have to e-mail you at the “jail!!” Blessings,Barb
Jennifer R. says
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us. July 4th weekend I will be on vacation with my family at my aunt’s house on the lake. There will be 16 of us and I know the fun that can be created with that many people.