"We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings." An astute (as always) observation by Erma Bombeck, one of my favorite columnists.
As the first week of June rolled in, our family congregated on a sunny beach in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 2012, for our every-other-year reunion. Normally, we met in the odd years, but my "nine-decades-young" mother decided that life is too short to wait until 2013. She planned a bonus year trip, and all but the family of one grandchild found a way to arrange a week away from work. We arrived from Chattanooga, TN - Franklyn, TN - Mt. Pleasant, TN - Murray, KY- Bowling Green, KY and Kevil, KY. We occupied four condos at our favorite resort, all close together and on the bottom floor looking out over an expanse of white sand and emerald waves.
Let the "occupying" begin!
The location is well-loved, well known. The oldest of us have been visiting this resort since 1984, and the familiar is dear to us. So are the traditions that have grown through the years. Ours include: a family portrait, an evening meal eaten together at a local seafood restaurant and long days spent under bright blue beach umbrellas with foaming waves nearby and the "biggest sand pile" providing all the entertainment necessary. The adult couples sgn up to provide the rest of the evening meals for the entire group in turns (Family Law : someone must prepare a shrimpboil). The kids expect nightly flash-light crab hunts and early morning shell hunts; the adults gather for coffee on the patio after a daily walk through the bay neighborhoods. There's always the scent of sunscreen and cool Aloe lotion. Sun visors, hats, sunglasses and flipflops, boogie boards and big tubes and floats, sand toys and sand castles, kites and cameras - all make up the sunny fabric of our vacation. There's just no better place than the beach to entertain children of all ages.
The gulf resembled a clear aqua lake the first few days. It was float paradise and easy supervision for parents and life guards. Mid week there was a full moon. The weather people claim the moon and the tides had nothing to do with the sea change that occurred, but overnight the water erupted into huge rollers and breaking waves at nine and ten feet high, something usually tied to the effects of a tropical storm. The skies remained sunny and there was no storm to explain the rough seas, but there was a powerful undertow and a fierce rip tide. The life guards flew red flags and warned swimmers to keep their feet on the sand and to go no further than thigh-deep, something that was difficult to maintain, given the ferocity of the waves. Only the surfers and paddle-boarders defied the warnings on our beach. But five miles away, out from Destin Harbor, three boats capsized at different times and pitched boaters into the water. The ten people were rescued, though there were some injuries. But two swimmers, an eighteen year old boy and a thirteen year old girl, drowned. Caught in the riptide, they were unable to last until rescuers could reach them. My heart breaks for the families these two teens left behind. Their loss is unimaginable.
Each summer, the thought of what could happen, of what is possible, briefly enters my mind as I fold clothes into suitcases and stuff beach things into totes. The sea is no amusement park ride, no thrill with tightly snapped seat belts and controlled action. We step into the salty brine and act as if we are in charge. We flirt with the seas and the awesome power of God, with creatures who see us as prey, and we believe we are invincible. As much fun as it is to ride the big waves, it is never wise to ignore their power.
We'll still go. We'll still brave the rough water and protect ourselves from the sun. There will be another trip, another week where we enjoy the beach, meet old friends and have a wonderful time in the sand. But as we delight in the awesome orange, purple and pink-streaked sky at sunset and the pastel sunrise at dawn, I can only be grateful that my family is safe. I pay homage to Almighty God for the beauty of the world He created, and I revere His power in creation.
And I'm very thankful that our week in June was such a marvelous one.
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