I am so old and set in my ways, and I don't realize this until something unusual happens. I get up at a certain time. I eat breakfast, lunch and supper at a certain time, and I go to bed at the same time each night. (Sometimes before sunset.) I always wash my hair on Thursday. I wear my favorite at-home clothes over and over. I take a short afternoon nap about 2 o’cock. I am a true creature of habit.
Last week I vacationed with one of my children and family on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is one of those times when my whole world turns upside down. We were going to leave at 10 a.m. but left at 3 p.m. I, of course, was at her house waiting at 10. Instead of letting my husband drive and me, well, sleep, I was in charge of our 2-year-old who hates her carseat and is Houdini and gets out so easily. So I was wrestling with her trying to keep her restrained. Even with the threat of me telling her we would be locked up, she continued to escape. Of course we are potty training her, and she needs to stop every 30 minutes, so it took us nearly four and a half hours that usually takes three. By the time we pulled in to the beach house, I was ready for my nap.
We took two of Eli's buddies with us, and they were perfect boarders. They helped wrangle JoJo or we would have lost her on day one. I've had a gate, that can be locked across our opening to the porch steps, which are 14 feet high, so that she could go on the front porch and play. Within 15 minutes, she had escaped this barrier and was leaving by foot headed to the beach. We, they, caught her, and we used zip ties to secure the opening which deterred her some.
These people never go to bed! I'm sitting over at the table at 12 bobbing my head, and everybody else is getting ready to go night fishing. I took our baby, and we locked down for the night. Remember now, I am four hours off schedule. She and I are up by 9:30 the next morning, and we don't see the others until at least 1 o'clock. Nobody eats breakfast; they sleep through that meal. JoJo and I have already drank a pot of coffee sitting on the porch and are ready for our first nap.
We “relaxed” on the beach for a couple of days and found out to our chagrin we have a streaker. JoJo immediately took off her swim suit and suns and swims in the buff. I'm really glad that we were not banned from the beach area.
We have been home several days now, and I am once again back into my habit of routine — up, down, nap, eat, sleep, etc., right on my time. Don't get me wrong, I love these unexpected happenings of diverse vacations. It may take me some time to recuperate, but it sure does make for some wonderful memories.
Oh yeah, it's cucumber time. I love cucumbers and just eat them straight from the vine, but I love a cucumber sandwich.
Here’s a recipe for a cucumber sandwich:
8 ounces softened cream cheese, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix all with a hand mixer. Spread the mixture on a piece of bread, and then add very thinly sliced cucumbers. (I like lots of cucumbers.) Eat immediately or cover with damp paper towel and store for 24 hours. The longer they sit, the better.
