Beach Mode!!

Today, I am in full "beach mode".  Since the days of my childhood, the beach has held a special place in my life.  Most summers were spent on the Florida panhandle in the emerald waters on the snowy, white sand beaches.  The beach has always represented a paradise of escape from everyday life, and of life, temporarily, without a care!  

Beach mode means ponytails, flip- flops and no make up!  (Well, a little cover-up with sunscreen, these days!)   Beach mode means catching up on reading and snoozing in the sunshine.  Beach mode means nothing but fresh seafood until we think we are actually growing gills ourselves!  Beach mode means laughing and silliness while we cruise the strip.  Beach mode means palm trees and putt-putt.  Beach mode means sunshine and snow cones.  Beach mode means music and magic as we watch the tides roll. 

Spring break has always been a blast, and it served as the official welcome to spring time!  As a teenager, it was a carefree time to enjoy a break from studies, and a marker to the final stretch of the school year.   As a young married couple, spring break rolled around without notice, other than a quick weekend beach trip, if we had the money.   As a young parent, it was a chaotic attempt to hold on to our own youth, while keeping hold of floaties, noodles, swim diapers, and babies!  With grandparents in tow, spring break became more of a family event.  Nanna and Grandpa watched youngsters, while we would slip out for go-karts and amusement parks!  As our children got older, it transformed into an annual family event along beaches across the Carolinas and Florida.  Baseball spring tournaments kept our attention for several years, spring breaking with other families that became like our own.   As middle age approached, we became spectators of our own children and their friends enjoying many of the same things we did as youngsters.  The circle of life continuing on, as it has for generations! 

So today, as we enjoy Spring Break 2013, we are somewhat on our own.  Grandparents are no longer with us, but enjoying their eternal rewards.  One child is at home, living her life independent of us, and doing extremely well!  She needs to keep her routine in order to be happy, and that's okay.  She’s all grown up in her own way!   Another child is playing baseball at college, on a different spring break schedule.  He's not at all happy that we are spring breaking without him!  He is also almost grown, and such a fine young man!  Baby boy drove us to the beach, while Dad slept and Mom read and blogged in the back seat!  He's content to stay in the condo, playing his guitar and writing songs.  Everyone and most things have changed, but again, that's okay!

Spring Break 2013 is much different, but this mom’s eyes still see memories of images forever etched in my mind.  I can still see a little angel with a blonde ponytail playing in the sand, with a smile as bright as the sunshine.  I can still see a little red-haired boy with brilliant blue eyes on a boogie board in the cresting ocean waves.  I can still see a little brown haired tanned baby boy digging holes all over the beach, dragging a shovel bigger than he is!  Shhh. . . let my imagination soar!   Don’t bother me!  I’m in beach mode!