Vacations have three parts: the trip there, the stay, and the trip home. All have their moments of trial and enjoyment. But for us it’s been a marvelous time spent in Rosemary Beach, Florida.
Getting There
From Woodbridge, Virginia, we took I-95 south. So do most Americans residing along the East Coast traveling to the Sunshine State. Yet the roads seemed busier in the northbound lanes than the ones we were on headed south. Our number one focus was on gas prices. With the conflict in the Middle East, it’s clear that fuel prices have been affected. They hovered around $3.50, about 40 cents cheaper than on our trip to Chicago in early June. It’s a bother. But weighed against getting Iran under control—not an easy task on the best day—we rationalize that paying more now for gas is better than an Iran on the loose in the Middle East. But I digress.
The trip was fun and uneventful. We had time to talk about life, people, and other topics married folks digest together. In a time and age when people talk more to their phones than to each other, it’s refreshing to discourse with another person. I took note of the former when we stopped for lunch in Georgia for a hamburger and refreshments. Taking a seat in the restaurant area, I noted how many people sitting across from one another were riveted to their phone screens, as if the other person sitting inches from them wasn’t there at all. Being in person wasn’t personal enough. Somehow, we need to get back to the days when people were more interested in the people in their presence than those who exist only electronically. Who knows, we might actually learn to write letters and postcards again.
There
We’ve been to Rosemary Beach along the Florida Gulf three times before. And we were not disappointed when we arrived this time. The house we are staying in is spacious. It needed to be for six adults and five active kiddos. The two top attractions are, of course, the beach and the community’s expansive pool complex. Both can get crowded, but people seem to expect that and are most accommodating to one another as they soak up the sun, enjoy the warm water, and the friendly banter.
Not to be neglected are the shops, where everything is expensive, and the opportunity to splurge is just a pocketbook away. We celebrated three birthdays among us, including a granddaughter’s. That was special this time around. The shops yielded up gifts that punctuated those occasions. Notably is Charlie’s Delights, the local doughnut vendor. Yes, they are good, and two dozen doesn’t last too long.
We preserved one night out for the entire family. That was spent at McGuire’s, an Irish bar in Panama City. It is hardly a “bar,” but rather a sprawling series of restaurant rooms that by 7:00 PM are packed to the gills. For that reason, we showed up at 5:00 PM, which proved wise. The portions were very generous, and they brew their own beer on site. So too was the service first rate.
The most fun for us was watching the kids romp and play. They are old enough to initiate their own games and often race in unison from one venue to another, occasionally like a herd stampeding.
Family meals are fun, both the preparations and the consumption. Games in the evening are routine and a good way to wind down activities before hitting the hay. Ah yes, sleep has been wonderful.
I have used the days that offer a bit of solitude—when the herd has left for the pool or beach—to do some writing and reflection. I was able to get a book proposal and introductory chapter out to a prospective publisher. And then consider life a bit. With the untimely death of Senator Lindsey Graham, I—as others must—have contemplated how life can end suddenly. As the scriptures tell us, that time can come without warning, and as a result, we must keep watch and remain faithful even to the end. That said, all of us are enjoying life together as a family in a place that will produce a harvest of bountiful memories.
Gone
By weeks’ end, we’ll be headed back to Virginia. Hopefully, gas prices will not have risen much. Fortunately, we have friends along the way where we can stay overnight. The trip home will give us an opportunity to reset and remember tasks that need to happen or were unfinished before we escaped to Florida. But the best moment will be when we reconnect with Woody, our affectionate Yellow Lab. He will have no idea where we have been. But will be exceedingly happy that we are no longer gone.
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