Our Catalina Adventure

Back in June, Tom and I were driving home from Northern California when we passed a sign that said you can go to Catalina free on your birthday. Well it was June 17th which is my bday so a bit late for that but Tom's was coming up on the 23rd. I said, "You know they have parasailing in

Catalina and I told Austin I would do it someday". Tom said, "Let's go" and that is how it started. Next thing you know we decide that we should all go and so Matt drove down for the weekend and off we went........

We had the earliest boat out because that was all that was left when we decided to do this but that was ok, it just meant we had lots of time to play. Tom got his "Birthday boy" sticker which he wore proudly.

It was still a bit to dark and cold for water sports so we decided to go mini-golfing (bday boy was free). If you have ever gone mini-golfing with any member of our family you will know that we are a bit competitive. Well get all of us playing and what can I say - it made for an interesting morning. We all had our Austin shirts on so we know he was joining in as well. There was an older couple behind us so we offered to let them pass us since we had 5 but they said they were really enjoying watching us play. We are quite something.............

After that we were starving from our strenuous game so we found a good breakfast spot and chowed down. Next we headed over to the cove and decided to

go snorkeling for a bit. It was a little cold but most of us went for it anyway and had a good time. The bday boy watched our stuff and took pictures which meant he did not feel like getting wet and cold. I mean that is all part of the adventure right?

NOW it was time for the thing we all came for................. PARASAILING!!! It had sounded like such a good idea until it was really time to go. I kept thinking about the conversation with Austin where he told me to try skydiving and I said, "No way, maybe I could handle parasailing but never sky diving". He said, "Then do it mom, really just go and do it". So here we were all 5 of us getting ready to "just go and do it". First up was Nicole and Travis 

and it was fun watching them up high and getting dipped in the water. They were yelling and cheering so were we, it really looked so cool. Here are some of their pictures. 

 But when it came time for Tom, Matthew and I am was really starting to second guess the whole 

thing. You get strapped up, sit down and next thing you know the boat pulls away and up you go. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!! We were laughing and screaming and loving every minute of it. We got brought down and dipped in the water and up again. It was over way to fast. I would do it again sometime but Austin would say there are so many other things to do.
After the highlight of our day Nicole took some time to relax and lay out, Matt & Travis went out kayaking and Tom and I headed off on a 2 person bike (never again). Biking was fun but I think we each need our own bikes in the future. We finished the day at a great local Italian place and the food was delicious. We enjoyed each others company over a great meal and then just wandered back over to the boat. We had the last boat of the night for the same reason as the early one but it worked out great for us. The day was great and it was because we decided that we needed to be more adventurous, be more spontaneous, be more like Austin and really learn to 

 enjoy life. 

As Tom and I sat in the row behind the kids talking about our day we looked at their 3 heads and 4 seats and knew that one very important person was missing from all this and felt his loss so strong in that moment. Things are hard and sometimes scary but for Austin we will continue to "Do it for the story".