CRANKY IN COSTA RICA –part one

CRANKY IN COSTA RICA –part one

The Invitation

I do not in general consider myself a lucky man; at least not in the traditional sense that people think of luck.  I am not particularly lucky at cards.  I never win lottery draws or door prizes.  Except for recently, I certainly have not been lucky at love.

On the other hand I have been blessed with two great big brothers; brothers that I have always looked up to, brothers who I have always been proud of their successes and brothers that have always had my back. 

Jim, my oldest brother who I miss so very much, was a Captain in the Navy.  When he retired he spent years cruising in a beautiful sailboat with my SIL Judy.  I was lucky enough to enjoy several short cruises with them both.

Chris, next in line of the brothers three, is a Harvard Law graduate, a successful lawyer, and spent ten years as a Federal Judge before recently retiring. Chris has allowed me to watch several professional golf tournaments and play several rounds at one of the finest golf clubs in Atlanta, Ga. Just this last week he allowed me to cross off an item off my bucket list.

I may not be lucky in the traditional sense, but I definitely won the big brother lottery!

Several years ago I posted my bucket list. 

http://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/2014/12/bucket-list.html  

Some items were doable, some were in jest, and some were not within my means.  Catching a bill fish was first on the list and is pretty much beyond my means.  Oh, I guess I could scrimp and afford a cut rate trip, but it is not something Mrs. Cranky would be interested in, I am not one to make such plans, and I would not want to exclude Mrs. C from an expensive vacation…basically I am too lazy and too cheap to take such a trip on my own.

In comes my brother.  Several months ago he called me up.

“Hello Joe.”

“Yo Chris, what’s up?”

“How would you like to scratch off one of your bucket list items?”

“Huh.”

“I’m taking Chris (His first born son known from here on as Young Chris or YC) to Costa Rica to catch sailfish.  I want to take you and one of your sons with us.”

I accepted the offer after quickly getting permission from Mrs. C.  I knew she wouldn’t say no, but of course I had to clear it.  Then I asked my first born son, Mike from Las Angeles, if could join us.  He could and the trip was on.  (Second son Matt sometimes gets sea sick and I see him often, third born son Spencer would have never been given permission from second ex-wife and Mike had previously expressed interest in this Bucket List item so choosing him to go along was a no brainer.)

The trip was last week and it was fabulous. I will post on the trip in the next several days.

Characters are:

Cranky – Me

OC – My brother or Older Chris

YC – Son of OC, Younger Chris

FBS – Mike or First born son

Tomorrow part two – “Getting To Costa Rica”