“Cool waves wash over And drift away with dreams of youth So time is stolen I cannot hold you long enough...
Soft blue horizons Reach far into my childhood days As you are rising To bring me my forgotten ways...'
-from “On Your Shore” by Roma Ryan/Enya I came back, but I’m not sure I wanted to.
I’ve just returned from a restful and much needed vacation. My whole family went to spend a few days at Crescent Beach, St. Augustine, St. Johns County, FL. We had a great time —and had a few surprises.
I have not been on vacation in over three years. It has been a longer time still — too long in fact — since I have been to the beach. It drew me back this year to stand on the shore.
It's been 37 years to be exact. I think. But, I have never been good at math.
And, let me clarify that. I have been to the beach on several occasions in the past 37 years. I’ve been to both St. Simons and Jekyll Island-one for a Patriot’s Day ceremony and one for a wedding ceremony. Once, if not both times, I was wearing a suit, but not for swimming.
Somewhere in there, I also took Benjamin and Breanna to their first trip to see the Atlantic Ocean, that they could remember, at least. Back then, they were living in Rocky Mountain High Colorado.
The fact is, however, last week was the first time I’d been to the beach to actually spend a few days there since June of 1988.
In that old long ago, Ronald Reagan was president.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was in the theaters. I know, because we went to the theater on Hilton Head Island, SC and watched it during its premiere week.
Going to the beach is not my favorite vacation. First, I don’t have the physique for it. Second, it is a hot, humid, sunny enough to fry your brain sort of place with sand that is uncomfortable when it chafes in certain places. Grandma use to always warn me to wear a hat outside in the summer or I would “fry my brains”. Third, give me a historic site or the mountains and let me relax.
But, we decided to take off a few days for some rest and relaxation in St. Augustine, FL.
Most importantly, it was good just to be together as a family for a few days. My whole family and a few guests were able to take in the vacation together. It was our first since Daddy died and this week was the second anniversary of his “graduation to Glory”. He may not have been there with us physically, but he is never far away from our collective hearts and minds.
I am accused of not knowing how to rest or relax and unwind, but I actually did this time.
We learned a few things while at the beach.
• It’s still hot and humid and the sun will fry your brains if you are not careful, but it is good to get a little “vitamin sea”. I waded out waist deep into the breakers of the Atlantic and got a little salt air in my lungs. Note to self. Bring a hat next time. I forgot to bring a hat and the crown of my head got sunburned. Maybe I didn’t fry my brains — or, maybe that’s what’s been wrong with me all these years. Saturday was overcast and not quite as hot. We got to watch a lightning storm over the Atlantic Saturday night. It was an awesome light show.
•We talked about music. The Cars Drive was on the sound track the last time I went to the beach and my teenage crush Debbie Gibson had the number one song. We talked about the smooth, cutting edge sounds of the Miami Vice soundtrack from back in those days. We also talked about the current state of country music and the fact Jon Pardi is pure country.
• I had forgotten how much fun a round of mini putt-putt-golf could be. It was hot and humid, but we played in the overcast and outflow from a thunderstorm moving off St. Augustine. Kristie got the only hole-in-one. I forgot to hit the ball lightly and ended up in the hedges off the course once. Mama said she won because she had the highest score. The objective of golf, mini and otherwise, is to have the lowest score. But, Mama said she won, so she did.
• We tried some local eateries including a great little pizza place called Tony’s and an ice cream place and an eatery, Sunset Grille. We also had beach foods, including ice cream and Crunch and Munch, which was once called Fiddle Faddle.
• We gained a new family member. My niece’s boyfriend, Will, proposed to her on the beach at sunset during our vacation.
The old memories now join the new memories... on the shore.
