Shots from the sea

A few photos from the girls' getaway, which I have to say was one of the most fun excursions I've experienced and also the most emotional, since I couldn't see or speak to my husband for three days. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Hannah rocked the boat Thursday night, which sent us to our bunks a little seasick. But the remaining days were sun-soaked and spectacular. You don't realize how small you are until you're out in the middle of the ocean. We docked in Freeport on Saturday, unable to visit our scheduled stop — Nassau — because of the coming storms. Still, we got in a swim in the salty Atlantic, sunbathed a little more and stopped in at a few shops. Some on the island were already boarded up, waiting for Ike to blow through. I counted my blessings in the taxi, realizing that most of Freeport's residents make their living selling jewelry or homemade goods, feeding tourists or driving them around. Our driver shouted to another, "You're a lucky man," as he loaded five people into his van. At just $5 a person, I wondered what they do when the season slows or storms come through. Then I felt guilty about regretting the purchase of an $80 Guess watch.

We ate too much, slept late, caught a few shows — one a tribute to '80s music – and shared a lot of laughs. But still, my favorite part of the trip was my husband's welcome home. There's really nothing better.