Some Beach, Somewhere...Memories

Being here at the beach this week, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite beach vacation memories. One of the firsts that comes to mind, is the time we were in Florida as kids. We were there because my dad had to take some classes for work and we all came along for a vacation. He had to get up early for the classes. Since he was out numbered 5 girls to well, just him, and we had just phoned in a late night pizza order, he figured his best chance at sleep would be the closet. Lucky for him it was somewhat of a walk-in closet. Come to think of it, that wasn't the

only time he's slept in the closet on vacation. A dad's gotta do, what a dad's gotta do.

I must mention the beach trip I took with some friends from church in my early 20's. One of those friends was Gregg Nicholson, who at the time was a friend of a friend. It was during that trip to Panama City where we kissed (on the beach, no less) for the first time. And the rest as they say is history. We have taken many beach trips over the years with lots of family and friends, but one that was special was when both of my grandmothers were able to go. I love looking back at photos of that trip, a once in a lifetime moment. During our trips to the beach, one sister has gotten engaged, another sister has gotten married, my mom has gotten tattooed, and my dad has surprisingly lived through it all!

We have stayed at the same condo complex in Orange Beach for the last several years. We can have anywhere from 22-37 family members on the trip. With that big of a group, it definitely stays interesting. Like the time my mom pulls out the "Redneck Slip n Slide". It's a huge sheet of that black plastic stuff you get on rolls at Lowe's. She proceeds to roll it out on the courtyard at the complex. Then someone has told her to squirt baby shampoo all over it and pour buckets of water on it. The fun starts out slowly with a few of the smaller kids giving it a try. Of course it doesn't take long before one of the adults decide, "what the heck" and give it a go. Within a matter of minutes, people we don't know in the complex are coming over wanting to give it a try. People are starting to come out on the balconies to see what all the commotion is over. Like they say, "all good things must come to an end", and this was no different. The security officer over the complex approached my parents and told them the party was over (See above photo). I'm not sure if security was afraid someone was gonna get hurt, the fact that it was making a huge mud hole in the grass where people were landing, or maybe they just felt like we could have set this up the backyard and stayed home. After all there was a big beautiful ocean out there and we were slipping and a sliding on some weed killer paper.

However, we do know how to have fun without security being called, we have late night card games, scavenger hunts, and karaoke night. Karaoke night brings a few memories to mind, like the time my sister Cecili, poor thing, attempted to sing Flashdance, What A Feeling. It left the audience "feeling" sorry for her. I guess we could give her an "E" for effort. She had the workout clothes on, the headband across the forehead, and she even did the "running man"! But when it came to the vocals, as Randy Jackson would say, "Dog, we just didn't feel it". The worst part was that she really thought she was good. Better luck this year, Cecili!

Something else that stands out was the time my parents friend, a 60 year old man, comes down to the pool area wearing big brief underwear that said in large letters "WORLD'S BIGGEST SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS". Yes, funny when you see them for sale in a catalog or as a gag gift given at a party, but not so funny at the pool when people realize he's with your group.

Well, the beach is calling. Only a couple more days left of this trip, but coming back in July for 10 nights with at least 20 family and friends so more memories to come I'm sure!