Thinking of my father today. He worked 6 days a week, so Sundays were a sacred day…at the beach.Â
My dad inherited hardy Irish skin that turned dark brown in the summer months. Sunscreen and the giant yellow umbrella with the lethal metal pole were for the rest of the family who just freckled and burned!Â
My mother laughs when decribing all of the equipment hauled to the beach, along with 4 children: a large playpen (even heavier than the massive umbrella), beach chairs, buckets, coolers, etc. And of course, my father’s fishing gear. At a certain age, my sisters and I were permitted to walk back to the house to retrieve more food and beer for the grown ups (wrapping the beer in foil to trick the lifeguards…) Â
The Sunday tradition continued with the next generation. My sons enjoyed beach days with “Pop Pop” and followed the rules at the end of the day: “call” your turn for the outside shower, and hang bathing suits/towels on the line. All beach items were thoroughly rinsed, set in the sun to dry, and of course, neatly stored by night fall. Even though we grew up by the beach, sand was NEVER permitted in the house!
  Long beach days are an ongoing tradition with our family. My father’s rules are now enforced at my house (I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown the day this picture was taken…I am my father’s daughter!)
The love of the beach…and family time together. Thanks, Dad.
Comments
7 responses to “The Sunday Beach Bum”
He left a lot of good memories and quite a few laughs! So great to know he is still missed and so fondly remembered.
Definitely!
Thanks for the memories, laughs and tears. You forgot to mention the binoculars for watching “boats”, and digging the big hole – that tradition that has now been passed to the sons in law and grandsons!
Funny- forgot about the binoculars!
And the scanner for Saturday night! (and yes we have both binoculars and a scanner!)
I loved reading about your dad. He sounds like he could have been related to my dad! I never cross over the dunes when I don’t think of him and my mom…such great memories. He also never went to the beach without his binoculars…and he WAS watching the boats not the beach beauties. That’s the kind of guy he was.
Lorraine
Thanks- he’s been gone 18 years, but thankfully, the memories remain so vivid. We are both fortunate to share the beach experience with the next generation, too.