BEACH LIFE 101 (January 4 - 26, 2020)

After a great three week stay in Daytona Beach, we caught two standby flights and landed in Myrtle

Beach, South Carolina, where we would call the WYNDHAM OCEAN BLVD RESORT home for the next 9 weeks.  This would be our first visit to this famous beach town and we were looking forward to a new location and new adventures.

To say that January in North Myrtle Beach is "quiet" time is almost an understatement as most businesses are only open on weekends and the beach was nearly empty.  But "quiet" time is exactly what we like so the panoramic ocean view from our 14th floor, ocean front room was perfect.

These first 3 weeks were shared with Sherry's brother, Curt, and his wife, Jenny.  We did find some good places to eat including; Blueberry's Grill, Ella's of Calabash, and the Crab Catcher's.  We spent a little time each day walking the expansive beach, enjoying the sun, and the activity that always surrounds an ocean beach.  The chattering of the Sea Gulls, the formation of the pelicans as they skim the water, the folks looking intently for sea shells, the people electronically prospecting for hidden treasure buried in the sand,  dutiful dog walkers, struggling kite flyers, power walkers, joggers, sand architects, and a few sun worshipers dotted the shoreline each time.

Over all it was , again, a good time of being with family and being reminded how important those relationships are.

REFLECTIONS

As I mentioned above, the beach attracts different folks for different reasons.  Some spend their time there looking intently at the sand near the retreating waves hoping to find that perfect shell.  Some spend their time looking toward the horizon hoping to see the perfect sunrise or sunset.  Some spend their time looking toward the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of a particular type of sea bird.  Some spend their time looking for a distant landmark that will indicate a turning place in their quest to reach their step goal for the day.  Others......well you get the idea.  All are having a great time doing what they consider to be "beach things".

Likewise, living together with another couple points to the how different our "life things" can be.  Differences in diet, sleep times, movie/TV likes, and so on, make co-habitation a challenge. As a matter of fact living as a couple is a challenge as well.

Once again, it comes down to understanding that we were all created and raised differently.  Our heredity and our environment helped shape us into who we are today.  No two (even twins) are the same.  Therefore, the secret is to enjoy what you enjoy and allow others to enjoy what they enjoy and to find some common things to share together and learn not to believe that all our "life things" need to be the same.  Remember it is exactly our differences that make life an adventure whether on the beach or in our lives.

And now I am off to the beach in search of a line of pelicans to photograph while Sherry sits by the open deck door; listening to the sounds of the never ending waves, viewing the sparkling sun reflections on the ocean waters, and doing today's crossword puzzle.  

REFLECTING ON REFLECTIONS (December 14 - January 3, 2020)

We left the heat of Mexico and winged our way, uneventfully, to Florida.  Upon arriving in Daytona Beach, it was interesting to overhear many comments about how warm it was.  Interesting to us because it was 20 degrees cooler then where we had been in Cozumel.

Our three week stay at Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort was a time of fighting raspy, dry coughs, resting, and visiting with family and friends.

My brother and his wife and long time friends, Rosie and Bryan Solomon and Steve and Rhonda Schafer all stopped in for a couple of days as they headed further south.

Our 9th floor, two bedroom, oceanfront unit was the perfect place to enjoy the rhythmic splashing of the waves as they kissed the sandy shore.  It was the perfect place to watch the eastern sky turn orange as the morning sun peeked above the watery horizon.  It was the perfect place to look down on the dozens of pelicans that drifted by just below the balcony.  It was a good place to welcome 2020.

                         REFLECTIONS

The older I get, the more I reflect on days gone by; the more I remember what used to be.  I have found that, like the reflections of the sun dancing across the waves or the seagull standing on the ocean's edge, these memories are becoming more and more distorted.  As a matter of fact, many times these "reflections" are such that they barely reflect the reality of the actual occurrence.

It doesn't diminish the beauty or importance of the event.  It just causes one to wonder how accurate their reflections are.  Two people can recall the same thing and come up with two totally differing opinions as to what exactly happened.  It doesn't make one right and the other wrong.  It just means that they are gathering their information from different perspectives.  

Like some will remember January, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Florida, as a time that they enjoyed warmer weather and others will remember it as a time that they were able to get away from the heat and humidity of southern Mexico.

As I reflect on the friends and family who visited with us in Florida, I am certain that we all would not remember our times together the same way.  But, I do believe, that we all would say they were good times and that the memories, no matter how exact they may be, will be points of joy for a long time to come.