Brad and Paul at South Beach in Miami
In 2007 & 2008 Paul and I established an annual tradition for the two of us - the NBA Road Trip. While Paul was on his mission the last two years we missed this unique bonding experience that combines wonderful travel and sight seeing along with an indulgence of our love for NBA basketball games.
This year we chose to, in those immortal words of Lebron James, "take our talents to South Beach" and return to Paul's mission area. This allowed us to see the Miami Heat & Orlando Magic each play a game, and more importantly to meet the people Paul worked with on his mission. The best addition to the 2010 addition was Rosie. She helped make this the best NBA Road Trip so far.
After this trip Rosie and I have a full appreciation for why Paul loves the Spanish speaking people with all his heart. (Paul worked with people from 75 different countries during his mission and his mastery of the language is very impressive.) Many of these loving, warm, kind and outgoing people invited us into their homes for meals (I ate more red meat in the last three days than I have in the prior three decades) and to thank us for sending Paul on his mission. Below are a few photos of some of the marvelous people we got to know on this trip.
One of the highlights was our visit to the beautiful and majestic Orlando Temple.
An NBA road trip has to include negotiating with the scalpers for tickets. Paul and I cut a deal with Malcolm in Orlando for some great tickets at 40% of their face value for the Magic vs. Toronto Raptors game in the sold out new arena.
Paul and Rosie pose before the game begins in this incredible arena that opened last month. It cost $480 million to build and the big screen has the "highest resolution of any screen on the planet".
Paul's favorite team is the Miami Heat and he loves Lebron James and Dewyane Wade. So he liked the game in Miami as much as any we have attended over the years. Above he poses for a quick photo in American Airlines arena.
A trip to southern Florida would not be complete without a visit to the Everglades. We took two of Paul's former companions on an airboat ride through the swamps and saw numerous alligators and beautiful birds.
Brad, Rosie and Paul by a small lake in the Everglades
Check out the alligator in the left hand side of this picture by the edge of the water. Paul was not intimidated by this guy.The beaches were wonderful with never ending sand, warm water and beautiful palm trees.
Rosie tries the water at Pompano Beach
Paul and Rosie take a stroll on Pompano Beach.
The three of us on the beach at John Pennykamp State Park in Key Largo before we wet for a little snorkeling.
Rosie models her very attractive sunglasses and subtle Florida tourist hat.The NBA games, the beaches, the temple, the Everglades and the warm sunshine were fabulous. But our best memory will be the remarkable outpouring of love those people had for Paul. Seeing his impact on so many lives was priceless for us. (It brought back many similar memories of our trip to South Africa with Julie after her mission.) We could not be more proud of him and will be forever grateful we were able to share this experience with him.
