A few weeks ago I told a friend of mine I was taking my girls to Harbor Island. Just the four of us. Most I’d told had said “Wow! That’s amazing.” I expected the same reaction from my friend. He said, “Took my two kids and Jane to Switzerland skiing last Christmas. All the old family dynamics showed up. “Oh” … I replied, “Not us.”Well, welcome to our first three “daze” on Harbor Island.Flight? Perfect. Welcome from Jen and crew at Runaway Hill? Wonderful. Goombay Smashes. The best ever. But Lisa had called us from JFK before departure. Her hubby had been put on straight commission at his job. Stressed out, he wanted her to come home to him. No way… Stress Point #1.Ok. Dinner Saturday night at Runaway. Curried Mahi Mahi! How does chef Krishna do it. In bed early. We’re here! Lisa cannot believe it.

Sunday morning. OMG! It’s Darla (not her real name) Lisa’s old friend from Loomis was on the Island! Great !! Wow! “Come see us!” She did. Mistake. The conversation that ensued was, well, shall I just say “interesting” … actually more like a series of episodes from “The Young and the Restless.” New York style. Divorces. One of Darla’s buddies was on her fourth… Now 42 she’s married this week to a 30 year old. Husbands in and out of rehab. On and on. Get the picture? Darla related all this like she was brushing her teeth. “Just life in the City.” Yeah, but of course. ? Hmm… mild Stress Point #2.

The weather Saturday was very cloudy, a little rainy. So to celebrate the Sabbath… respectfully. We sat at the Runaway bar and had a “few” cocktails. PopPop sure did. Laughs, fun with staff. You know. All the stuff that makes the Runaway family and experience so special. So far so good.Dinner at the Rock House Saturday night. Premier place among many on this tiny Island. Amazing!

Then returning home, PopPop’s boot slips and he falls on the walk into Runaway. Cracks his forehead open. The old Howard Cosell quote describes the scene best. “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” All day cocktails? Had nothing to do with it… Right! Bleeds like a guy dragged off “Hacksaw Ridge”. “Dad… Dad.” Sam takes charge, Lisa too. If I ever believed my precious daughters might not step up some day and take care of me in my old age. Erase that thought. They were amazing! Jay a great young man on the staff held on to me like a vice, steadied me all the way.

Off to the emergency room down the street. Looked like a barracks at Fort Bening. But no, there’s Margie, a little Asian nurse! “Kum in, Kum in. I call Dr. Farrington.” The stern faced doc shows up minutes later… woke her up. Not in a good mood at all. “Ser, at yuur aje! Wun drink a day. That’s it!” (She didn’t buy my story about slipping with the boot). Maybe my breath and crossed eyes tipped her off? Stress Point #3… no this was worth two. Stress Points #3 and #4. ? PopPop got stitched up. Went home with his girls. No more stress… Phew! I hope and pray! But recalled what my friend who went to Switzerland had told me. Hmmm.

One thing we learned Saturday morning. Lisa’s friend Darla hung out with a bunch of crazy, partying 40 year old “1%ers”… still children. Wild… let’s just say they were all “misbehavers.” Lisa, Sam… “Come out with us after dinner! A party! They did. It was crazy, but was soon over. When leaving, all the fifty golf carts in the parking lot got mixed up in the darkness. Sam and Lisa took the wrong one by mistake and a concrete curbing “jumped in front of our cart!!” ? ? Fender bender with a stranger’s cart. Problem. But where’s our cart? Stress Point #5. … and it’s only, only… Sing it Brett. ? Day Twoo, Day Twoo… !!

The next morning? After a mild negotiation with the cart rental guy we covered the damages. Found our cart #47. All good, all good. All clear!Back to beach, Stress Points fading from memory as the splendor of this place washes over us.Amidst it all. Monday (Saturday and Sunday to) was the best time with my three girls. Ever. The sun opened for a glorious day. Had lunch at SipSip, the super place on the beach. Dinner at the Landings. Just great… second mortgage application in the mail. ?

Harbor Island is simply magical… unique. Even the stress points here are easier to absorb. Even the five above.Three “Daze” on BRI… what dya think?

What would you expect? Here? What do you care?