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Last weekend Tom and I headed to Port Aransas. It was our reward trip for having finally finished painting the outside of the casita. We had the best time! We ate shrimp, built a fire on the beach, watched the moon rise and the sun come up. We also had lots of time just simply relaxing in our beach chairs watching the waves and the people come and go.
I tell you, I had so many deja vu moments as we were hanging out there. I couldn't help noticing the families with small children setting up "day camp" as their littles ran screaming in delight toward the surf. It took me back... way back to when our kids were young and we were the ones dragging what looked like half our household's worth of stuff over the sand for our afternoon at the coast.
One family in particular caught my eye. I lost track of how many trips it took to schlep all the necessities from the back of their car to their spot of real estate at the water's edge. There was, of course, the shade structure, which is a whole "thing" unto itself. There was a flamingo float, several pairs of inflatable arm "floaties', a couple of kid-sized life vests, a portable table, beach chairs, blankets, that really cool inside-out fitted sheet hack filled with baby toys, beach shovels and pails, and... oh, yeah, a big ol' ice chest with the day's sustainance.
I was tuckered out just watching them navigate the set-up!!
Talk about RESPECT!
I admired each and every one of those moms and dads who spent countless pre-beach hours securing those floats and shade structures, packing the towels and the blankets, grabbing the shovels and pails, cutting up all the healthy snacks, and packing the ice chest. And that... was just the beginning.
The car had to be packed Jenga style to fit it all in amongst the carseats; the trip driven - surely while fielding the recurring question, "How much longer til we get there?"; and the arrival to be followed immediately with the aforementioned schlepping!
These parents... and all those like them deserve a medal, but what I have is props. Props to them for doing the tough stuff in order to give their precious kids some really special memories.
It kind of reminds me of those commercials from a few years back. You know the ones that mentioned each item with its price tag one after another until the final thought and the words: "memories of time at... (fill in the blank)... priceless!"
Oh, how I felt for those moms and dads thinking of all the hours that lay ahead of reversing the process and packing it all away again. But... I also admired them and, yes, perhaps even envied them a bit remembering the special times we were here with our little family in this place.
It was all worth it, every last toy, float, cheese stick, or watermelon slice. When all that remained of our trip was the sand on the mats and the crumbs in the seats, we had our memories. That, and a few seashells, would sustain us 'til the next time.
So here's to all the parents who recognize the infinite value in the prepping, the packing, the loading and unloading, and everything in-between. You are giving your children something that can never be replaced, your time, your presence, and a wealth...
of beautiful memories.
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