Need a Vacation? Check Out the Fourth Annual Doodle Trip!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Have you been on DoodleKisses long enough to start wondering what it would be like to meet some of the people you “talk” to about your dogs on a frequent basis?  That is what happened to some of us a few years back when Jane (Rooney and Stuart) decided to organize a cruise for her fellow Doodlers.  I signed up almost immediately and wavered between thinking this was one of the dumbest things I had ever done to waiting with anticipation for the upcoming event.  When I signed up, I really couldn’t even have told you where the cruise was going and my dad would have called it one of my “impulse buys”.  Back in the day when I still lived with my dad if I went shopping and came home with something dumb, my dad would take one look at it and say, “impulse buy?”  Sometimes I do something so quickly, I live to regret it, but other times, I am so glad I took a chance.  Luckily, this is what happened on our first Doodle cruise.  Not only did I sign up quickly, but I signed my husband up too, and I am sure when he heard the plans, he had thoughts of a bunch of dog crazy people walking around a boat chanting, “we love Doodles!” and flipping open a plastic accordion bunch of pictures when someone asked them about their dog. 

 

When I found out that smoking was allowed in some sections on the boat on our first cruise, I almost canceled. I spent the better part of the year leading up to our first Doodle vacation complaining to my husband that just once I wished I would think before I hit the buy button, and while he agreed about the thinking and spending part, he kept saying it was going to be great.  Thankfully, I listened to John for once and did not cancel, because that first Doodle trip truly was one of the best times of our lives. We loved all of our fellow Doodlers, still talk about the beautiful blue beaches at Half Moon Cay, and formed friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. The funny thing was on that first cruise and all subsequent vacations, we talked a lot, but not much about our dogs.  We found we had other things in common besides our dogs and by the time it was over, we were all thinking about when we could do it again.  My only complaint was when we gathered to take a group picture in the beautiful “Fudge and Vern” t-shirts I passed out and one couple appeared with their dog’s pictures taped over Fudge and Vern.  I thought that was rude, but what could I say besides, “get off the ship now or else.”

On our second Doodle cruise, we added some great new people who meshed as easily with the old gang as we had all meshed the previous year.  There were no strangers, just friends from the beginning, and another great trip was had by all.  Not everyone could come back for the second trip for one reason or another and they were all missed. None of them missed more than Tim (son of Jane, Guinness, and Murphy) who I think we would all agree made the first trip so special.  Tim puts the fun in trips and he had my husband fist bumping, dancing in the dining room, and me spending the better part of the week trying to explain to anyone who would listen that the John they were seeing was not the John I lived with in Pennsylvania. (see above photos for proof)

A couple of the newbies....Ronna and Flat Laurie!!

Don't ask! 

A few of the cruisers after a day in Key West!

Our third Doodle trip we decided to rock the boat a little and do something different and ended up going to Mexico and staying at an all-inclusive resort.  It was the only trip of the three where we encountered some bad weather (think tropical depression) and yet sitting in the lobby playing Mexican Train or venturing into Cancun for a little shopping in the rain was still wonderful because we were with friends. 

The only bad thing on the trip...a ride down this horrible Lazy River :) 

The truly great thing about these Doodle trips is that the destination is secondary to the company.  On the first Doodle trip, I didn’t even know where we were going when I signed up and each subsequent trip we are all more concerned with who is going than where we are going.  Each year we have added a few new people and I bet if they were asked would tell you that everyone is made to feel welcomed and included.  There are no rules as to how much or how little we do as a group. Everyone is free to “do their own thing”, yet at the same time everyone goes out of their way to tell you what is happening if you want to join in.  For all of you who keep saying that one of these days you want to experience a Doodle trip, I guess my question would be, “what are you waiting for?” The only one not getting any older is Flat Laurie and only on a Doodle trip would a cardboard cutout be included in all the fun.  Take a chance and join in the fun.  Don’t let one more year go by wishing you had just decided to go.  

P.S. Jane will post a link in the discussion for information on this year's trip!

[Stella]

It always looks like you guys have such a lot of fun!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Clearly a good time was had by all. I had no idea about the aftermath of Key West though :-)