Part 154 Keeping the summer alive


My first breakfast of September 2011 is a tasty combo of veggie taco, peaches, yoghurt, and juice, and I am encouraged that I will meet the approaching autumn still standing. After a half day of work and another one on Friday, our family heads for Crystal Beach for Labor Day weekend. We head out in sunny and still drought conditions with the possibility of getting some rain compliments of the tropical depression in the Gulf that eases its way toward Louisiana. The wind at the beach slaps us around as we gaze at CC’s beautiful new beach house.

Before a wicked hurricane Ike carried off the previous beach house, a hand-built structure that Becah’s grandfather had built, we would pile multiple families and friends into an open room filled with adjoining beds, and learn a new meaning for the word “cozy”. Now, in this new home, there are actually separate bedrooms, and our family will have our own room. I like a certain amount of privacy, and find tripping over others to be a little tight for my taste, so I am very happy with these accommodations. The place is beautiful, with a huge kitchen area and fresh paint and new furniture. I walk around and feel as if I am in a photo shoot for Southern Living.

The wind still blows hard the following day, and the clouds roll in with a light rain in the afternoon. I rest well. We have soup and sandwiches for lunch and just hang out for much of the day. At night, we walk over to the neighbors’ house, now chilled as the wind whips the rain into us. Their house is packed with people, all sitting inside due to the weather. I sit on a barstool and watch the host Gary carve mounds of fat off a brisket. I find this bizarre of me since I don’t eat meat. After a short time sipping on a beer, I return to our place.

The next day continues cloudy. I make my special broccoletti dish, which we extend from lunch to dinner. Before going to bed, we watch “Despicable Me” again. After hanging around a while Monday morning, we make our way back home.