Columbus > Fort Myers

4:15am came REALLY fast!
And I may have had one too many beers last night!
But it was worth it – I had such a great time!!

The only redeeming factor to my 6am flight was the fact that I had first class seats.

Whenever I fly into Fort Myers, I always sit on the right side of the plane in a window seat so I can see my islands on the approach. It’s my last few moments of serenity before the family dysfunction begins.


Seeing Upper Captiva Island, also known as North Captiva, is my favorite. To me, it is my utopia. There is just something special about that island. I have not vacationed there since 1996, but I hope to again some day.

It was created in 1921 by a hurricane that severed it from Captiva. They are now separated by Red Fish Pass.

In the early 1900s, the island was a fish processing center for the Punta Gorda Fishing Company. Today, the Ice House, built in 1924, still stands as you enter Safety Harbor - it is listed on the National Record of Historic Places.

Upper Captiva was again struck by another hurricane in 2004. The storm surge of Hurricane Charley split it into 2 islands. Over the past 5 years, sand has gradually filled in and usually in high tide, it is once again one island.

My flights went fine – managed to sneak in a little nap on the way.

My mom and my precious puppy, Madison, picked me up from the airport.

We didn’t do much for the rest of the day/evening. Just unpacked and made our plans for the upcoming week. And spent some quality time with Madison & Rizon.

My parents dog is Rizon. We got him on Easter 1995.


My dog is Madison.


I got him in February 1998. However, in April of 2001, he moved to Florida to live with his grandparents & uncle Rizon. Mommy was about to start traveling full-time and could no longer properly care for a rambunctious doggie.

They are both Shetland Sheepdogs – or Shelties. They are not related at all. However, we have always laughed because Madison is purebred, however, is about twice the size a Sheltie is supposed to be. Where Rizon, whose brother is also is father, has most of the size & features of a purebred Sheltie.

Oh well – none of this matters because we love them just the same!

I miss them both so much. I am a huge pet lover and it is very hard for me to be pet less. However, it is just not practical for me to have a pet when I travel so much. So whenever I am in Florida, I do my best to spend as much quality time as possible with them.