Ah, summer in Alabama….the temperature is hot, the kids are out of school, vacation time is available, and you are ready to break out of that daily work routine. If you listen oh so carefully, you will hear it….the rolling of the waves, the gentle screech of the seagull, the burp of the guy swilling beer on the next blanket. Yes my friend…the beach is calling you.
Since the birth of our kids over 30 years ago, my wife Sharon and I have attempted to make an annual summer pilgrimage to the Alabama gulf coast. We’ve only missed a few years when life events prevented us from getting around to it. We have so many wonderful memories of our times there and the photos to prove it.
But, having grown up in the Midwest, it took us awhile to catch on to the fundamentals of a good beach vacation. We made a lot of rookie mistakes. For example, making sure your glasses are fastened around your neck with a strap. There was the time my young son and I were playing in the shallow water, both wearing our glasses. My boy spotted a shell on the bottom and, facing the beach, stooped over to pick it up. At that moment, a huge wave gushed over his back, sweeping his glasses right off his head and into the rapidly moving waters. Suddenly unable to see anything clearly, he burst out crying and begged me to find his glasses.
So I did what any intelligent, quick thinking, mature adult father would do. I also bent over and peered into the surf, my back to the on-rushing current. Of course, the next huge wave tore my glasses off as well and sent them flying into the sea. There we stood. Both of us blind as a bat. No way we were going to find those glasses, which were well on their way to Mexico. Somewhere in Cancun there is a near sighted guy wearing my lenses.
There was the time I woke up early and decided to take a relaxing dip in the pool, before all the kids poured into it. I was the only one there. It was so peaceful and relaxing. I walked into water about shoulder high and just leaned on the sidewall, closing my eyes and rejoicing in the feel of the morning sun on my face and the pool around my body. When my arms got a bit tired from straddling the top of the pool wall, I let them slowly slide down my side. But when my hand got as far down as my swimsuit pocket, I felt something inside. It was my phone. Talk about a mood killer.
I also remember climbing into my inner tube and having a restful float, gently bouncing around in the waves about 30 feet off the shore. Eventually I opened my eyes and noticed myself surrounded by what looked like a bunch of ladies nylon stockings. I thought nothing of it until I climbed out of the water and discovered I was covered with small, red blotches. I would later learn this was my first encounter with jellyfish. That was a rough night.
One year we were driving down to Gulf Shores with our toddler daughter strapped in the back car seat when suddenly we sniffed that unmistakable odor that young parents know so well. Our little girl decided to have a diaper explosion that continued all over her seat, the rest of the car seat, and much of the beach gear we had piled up back there. It was so bad we had to pull over to the side of the freeway and make repairs. One nice family pulled over and asked if they could help. But how exactly do you respond in that situation?
We always rent the beach chairs and umbrellas and usually we have pretty good luck with the location being close to the water. But one year the cabana boy (is that what you would call them?) kept setting us up deep in the fourth or fifth row, our view mostly blocked by the umbrellas in front of us. When I finally questioned him about it, he said we were the only ones who had not payed in advance and he thought we were going to try to get away without paying. I didn’t know we were supposed to pay in advance. I hate it when you think you’re justifiably mad at somebody and then it turns out to be your fault.
Gradually even I learned the ropes of a successful beach vacation. Things like: Always stop for peach ice cream when you pass through Chilton County. Spend the extra money to get the ocean view. It’s no fun drinking your morning coffee while staring at the tennis court. Make sure you use sun block. I finally figured out what that SPF number means. The higher it is, the colder it feels when someone sprays it on your back.
And take plenty of pictures. How else are you going to rub it in to your land locked friends on Facebook?
Very visual details!