My birthday is this week. I celebrate 66 years on the planet. Through the years, the gifts from my lovely spouse Jilda have evolved. During the early years when my hair was thick and my waistline was thin, she gave me records, books and snazzy clothes. This year I got sweatpants with an elastic waistband and an In-Tone Rebounder exercise machine. The refrain from an old Sheb Wooley song, “I Just Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore” flitted through my head.
On the upside, we reserved a condo at Orange Beach for the weekend and I will have an opportunity to spend some time by the water. It is a great getaway in January because the kids are usually back in school and we have the beach to ourselves.
We rise early, sip coffee while waking up, and then walk the shoreline. We normally spend this time in silence. There is no better place for contemplative strolls. My thoughts go deeper as I fall into rhythm with the ebb and flow of the waves. The concept of time seems out of place there. No matter how old my birthday bones feel, my spirit soars making me feel younger – ageless.
The sights, sounds and smells of the ocean are like no other place on earth. When the sea is calm, the surf sounds like a whisper. But after storms, it sounds more like thunder and you can feel the vibrations deep inside.
The colors at the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and the Panhandle of Florida are like no other beaches I have ever visited. The sand is so white that it looks as if it could sweeten tea. It is hard to put a label on the color of the water when the weather is fair. It is not blue; it is not turquoise, but a fusion of many shades from that end of the spectrum. I have always wanted a 1967 Chevy Chevelle SS the color of the Gulf in January.
Another reason for loving the beach is fresh seafood. I know I say almost EVERY food is my favorite, but seafood is very close to the top of the list.
Usually, when we go to the beach, we will have an oyster Po’ Boy sandwich at least one day for lunch along with a cup of seafood gumbo. Then at night, we will hit one of the restaurants where the locals go. These places are often under the tourists’ radar. Last year when we asked a hotel concierge about a good place for seafood, he told us about a high-dollar place that gets all the press. We had read about the place, but we were hoping for some out-of-the-way place. An older woman who worked in housekeeping overheard our question and stepped over as we walked away from the front desk. She told us about a small restaurant nearby where her family went for seafood. It was perfect!
I am excited about my birthday getaway and for an opportunity to reflect on all the blessings in my life. But there is an old saying that resonates with me as I celebrate my sixty-sixth year – “If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of my knees.”
Rick Watson is a columnist and author. His latest book Life Changes is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email at rick@homefolkmedia.com.
