Security!!

This is how my Tuesday ended. But before I tell you the story, I need to introduce a couple new players.

Remember the blog post about Kaegan's 10th birthday? I told you he was a gift from my college roommate, Christi. She bought him for me because she was moving away...to Florida. And where in Florida might she live? Just not all that far from Venice! So as soon as I knew I was going for sure, I told her I'd be in the area and I'd LOVE to see her again.

Outside of one quick 10 minute surprise visit to my office about 5 years ago, I have not seen her since she gave me Kaegan. And I hate that.

She knew I'd be in Venice that Tuesday, and just as we were all preparing to leave the fabulous salt water pool and Mr. Speedo Mullet, Christi called. She and John (her husband) were actually IN town and they could meet up with me if I had time.

Well, we were about to be ushered to the next best-kept secret local joint:
A little tweat!!

Ronda's friends wanted to take us to this little walk-up ice cream spot. No sixty flavors here. Just a handful. But mercy, was it ever a handful of goodness.

Creamsicle in a cup:

It was my fruit intake for the day, you know.

You will notice that I am still rockin' the swimsuit, and I've added to it brillo pad hair. This is what happens to me when I exit water of any kind without entering the presence of much product and flat irons. A proud moment indeed. Running around the south of Florida in my swimsuit and brillo-ey hair.

And here begins the story. John and Christi actually came to this ice cream shop to meet me, and she and I had our reunion right there in the parking lot. Swimsuit and all. She asked if there was any way they could kidnap me for a bit so she could show me where they lived and I could maybe even see her mom, who lived just a few houses away.

Ronda said that would be fine...they all planned to head back to the gated (and gatored) community to spend the evening with their friends. Ronda's sweet friend (his name is Howard, by the way) gave John his business card and directions back to their house so John and Christi could drop me off later.

With my camera bag on my shoulder, my swimsuit, brillo-ey hair and I hopped in John and Christi's car, and away we went.

I would show you the picture of Christi and me, but she's blog-anonymous. But it was so wonderful to see her again and it was as though no time had passed at all. We chattered away and I got to tour her house and see her mom - and we all caught up on each others' lives. Oh it was truly, truly wonderful. Definitely one of the sweetest moments of the whole trip for me.

But I knew Megan and the boys were probably exhausted and needed to get home, so I told Christi I needed to go. Christi's mom drove her car so we could all four go together, and we headed back to Venice. John sat in the front seat with Christi's mom, and Christi and I huddled in the back seat, continuing our yap/cry fest for every moment we had together.

Christi's mom drove up to the gate and the gate KEEPER came out. Oh yes. This isn't one of those garage door opener gates. This joint has a uniformed officer.

John leaned over Christi's mom, handed the gate keeper Howard's business card, and told him we were there to see Howard. As soon as that gate keeper turned around and started comparing Howard's card to that festive little sheet of paper you see there behind him, I knew I was in some serious trouble.

Serious.

He turned back to Christi's mom. "Can I see some photo ID, ma'am?" She pulled out her license and handed it over. He looked puzzled, compared it to the list, and turned back to the car.

"Is there a Freelan in this car?"

Only later did I realize he was thrown off because Christi's mother's name is Rebecca - but the last name wasn't matching what he expected to see. And of course Howard had no way of knowing that Christi's mom would even be IN the vehicle.

I leaned up with my swimsuit and brillo hair and said, "I'm Rebekah Freelan."

He said, "I need to see some photo ID."

Of course you do. And I can't give that to you because even though it is ALWAYS with me, right now it is in the trunk of Ronda's car, which is INSIDE the gate. Dude, I'm out in my swimsuit and my hair is growing by the minute. Do you honestly think I have an ID anywhere on my person?

Of course I kept all those things in my head and responded aloud with "Let me have them bring that to me."

I called Ronda (because HELLO! I did have my phone) and said, "Funny story. I'm at the gate and they won't let me in without an ID. Any way you could bring that to me?"

As soon as I hung up (and I would like the record to show, he SAW me on the phone) I leaned up and said, "They're bringing my ID to me."

The gate keeper said, "You talked to them? I could have done that."

What's a girl to do?? He asked if there was a Dave in the car. We said no. (Turns out Howard thought John's name was Dave.) He asked for Chris. We assumed that was supposed to be Christi. We were really batting a thousand.

Ronda sped right out with my ID, and they let me in at long last. By that time I reeked of salt water AND sweat.

Who knew airport security would be the LEAST of my problems that week??

The end of a long day - and I'm still rockin' the swimsuit. :) I said goodbye to Ronda's friends and we got BACK in the car to head home...my ID securely in my hands, thankyouverymuch.