Category: Leaving a trail for our son

All my personal posts 2008-2016.

Captiva Day 3, home

Honeymoon couple at restaurant
Dinner and a sunset.
Honeymoon couple at the beach
The sunset happened before our salads arrived. It’s a tiny sun in this picture but it’s a big moment to not miss it.
Sunset
Same sun as in the previous picture.
16-second video: Always a blessing to watch the sun disappear from our view as it begins to appear in someone else’s.

Knowing we drive home tomorrow is a cool feeling.

Why?

Because our goal for this trip was simple.

Reconnaissance.

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Captiva Day 2, home

Honeymoon couple at beach
Honeymooners.
Favorite travel partner.
Beach sand castle
Sandcastles, Magic and Love.
12-second video: Some children built this in an hour.
15-second video: Reverse sunset. Kinda.

Perfect weather.

Perfect timing.

Perfect company.

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Captiva Day 1, home

pelican closeup
Pretty cool.
pelican closeup
The pelican flew within feet of us. We enjoyed the closeness without guilt for our closeness.
Christmas lights at an island resort
Some location context.
14-second video: After dinner. Additional context.

Overall, day one on Captiva Island was excellent.

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Disney teamwork, home

bags of Christmas goodies by Christmas tree
Couldn’t fit 40 goodie bags in the round box. Nice challenge to have.

Today, December 20, 2025 the Christmas goodie bags we assembled yesterday get delivered to Walt Disney World (WDW) Cast Members.

Chapin got to do the backstage (home backstage) work, feel the intent and anticipation, and now, enjoy the gift received when you make others happy.

Every Cast Member’s role contributes to the paying Guests’ experience and memories that last a lifetime. That’s a given. It’s the reason we (Disney) exist.

However, each individual Cast Member gets to choose to also do it backstage at work (WDW).

It’s bringing the ‘Disney Way’ full-circle.

It’s the essence of “If Disney Ran Your Life”.

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.

Always dialed in

Great Horned Owl on a home's roof
An hour past sunset. Adjusted the camera setting to allow in more light.
Great Horned Owl on a home's roof
Walking up our driveway from the road, the silhouette froze me. With limited light, captured what i could.
7-second video: A true capture of the hour past sunset darkness.
12-second video: i made a sound and watch the Owl’s instant reaction.

Less than one mile from Walt Disney World.

A seemingly nonstop traffic hum from what i’ve nicknamed “The Disney Cast Member Parkway”.

A long list of nightly animals including bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, bats, and an occasional owl.

The owls and bats are the only ones i see without the help of security cameras.

Note: Honestly, no idea how sightings like the Great Horned Owl above come into view. Who makes a habit of looking up, especially at night?

•  •  •  •  •

This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.