The Florida trip was grand. We enjoyed Easter there, along with many pool & beach excursions. Not to mention the occasional ice cream treat. Perhaps the most memorable part of the trip for me was my pilgrimage to my grandparents' home in Bonita Beach. They both passed away just a few years ago, but I just HAD to return to the place where so many childhood memories were etched into who I am today.
The place looked JUST as I had remembered it. So much so, that I could almost envision my grandma & grandpa coming to the door to greet me & take me on a boat ride, or for a stroll on the beach. I was curious about who had bought the place, so I knocked on the door. Then I heard a voice, "They're not there- those folks only come in July." It was the next-door-neighbor who was sitting out on his porch. I walked over & began talking to him...told him who I was & why I was there. I also inquired about the people who had bought their place & made other small talk. They, of course, knew my grandparents. It was a delight to speak to them & share a few memories with them. Then I took a walk down towards the docks where my grandfather kept his prized Bayliner. Flashbacks of feeding the seagulls the crust from my morning toast at this very spot & memories of spending the night on his boat suddenly washed over me & I broke down in tears.
Then, we walked across the street to the beach so that Hayden could have her very first "walking on the beach" experience in the same sands that her mama once did about 30 years ago.
Our original plan was to simply walk on the beach to let Hayden get her toes wet a bit, so we didn't dress her in a swim suit & swim diaper. Apparently, she had other plans! We discovered that she was a beach bum, & couldn't get enough of the sand, sun & waves. Soon we took off her shorts so they wouldn't get too wet. Then, she sat down in the sand in her diaper. And finally, even her precious little baby halter top was drenched with salty sea water.
This kid loves the beach. Duly noted.
This tackle shop is in Bonita & Bart and I get the biggest kick out of it's name. The immature high-schooler in me just had to snap a picture.
And, I'm so glad I did, because check out what the sign reads just above the neon "OPEN" sign. I would have missed that had I not snapped the pic! HA!
So, we had to indulge her & take her for a real beach experience- swim suit, pail, shovel & all.
I am just in LOVE with this last image. It's my new desktop background.
On one of our last nights there, Bart & I went to see the sunset show at Ft. Meyers Beach. I told him that it could have been one of the best dates ever. Check out the view...
I will post more Florida pics in another post...that's all for tonight!
