In an attempt to wipe the permascowls from our faces, we ventured to Fort Myer’s Beach, Florida where the sand looks and feels like flour and the median age of the residents is 71. The weather made me feel like it was mid-June. I kept expecting to see GG’s strawberry pizza dessert in the refrigerator!
The kids' favorite part was the Wave Runner Dolphin Tour. Our tour guide, Shawn, was the stereotypically beach boy/45+man with tan, leathered skin, long beach wavy hair, zinc oxide on his nose, and stood up on the jet skis for the entire two hour long tour. I kept wanting to tell him to "hang ten" or how "stoked" I was to be at the beach, but I had a feeling the mom coolness would somehow just sound weird and awkward so I refrained. We did see dolphins right away and the ocean spray of salt water kept reminding me of a salt blocks they’d sell at Super Value for livestock. Crazy connections??
I had to go to the bathroom while shopping at the grocery store for art supplies (Laura felt inspired to sketch). I asked Laura and Sam to wait for me outside the bathroom and I'd be right back. They had the sneaky plan to hide near the water fountain and jump out at me with a “BOO” when I left the bathroom. The joke was on them when a little old lady with a major case of osteoporosis walked out of the bathroom right before me. The look on Sam’s face was priceless and I’m pretty sure that lady hadn’t laughed like that since Johnny Carson was on TV. They say laughter is the best medicine and great-grandma did look a little taller when I saw her again by the colored pencils.
Life on the beach is easy. Starting your day running on the beach, then reading a book, playing catch, sketching, and building a sand castle is pretty sweet winter getaway.
It’s back to the snow pants, boot warmers, and face masks for the last blows of winter. If you see me scowling, just remind me that I have sun kissed skin under my snow mobile suit and spring is just around the corner.
