Go On Vacation, You’ll Feel Old
Posted on | July 18, 2010 | No Comments
I had a startling revelation recently. Something dawned on me that sort of shocked me, put me right on my heels, stopped me cold in my tracks.
I’m officially getting older.
That’s the startling revelation, the shocking realization I came to while sitting under an umbrella one sunny day at the beach last week. “I am not as young as I was, once upon a time,” said self. Sure we all get older, but just how often does it hit you? Work too hard in the yard, you’re sore the next day in ways you didn’t know possible. Play a pick-up game of basketball and realize you’re THAT guy trying to play with guys that haven’t graduated high school yet when you graduated over a decade ago. The guy ringing you up says “sir” and he means it.
For this “ah-ha” moment I was thoroughly enjoying a vacation with the wife down in Seagrove Beach, FL. (If you’ve never been there, make plans – absolutely gorgeous place) The sun was shining, the salty breeze was blowing, no rain in the forecast, the shade of the umbrella provided relief to my stinging skin, sunglasses were on (as always if I’m outside), cooler chilling, gorgeous woman beside me – suffice it to say that it was a great setting.
However, that perfect moment was ruined by a 10 year old kid having the time of his life. He wasn’t making a scene, he wasn’t pitching a fit, he wasn’t being obnoxious in any way at all – he was doing what I used to do when I was 10. He was in the water, back out of the water, throwing sand, rolling in the sand, showing shells to his mom, wrestling with his dad – he was literally care free and having an awesome time about 20 yards away from our stake.
This isn’t the exact youngin’ but you get the idea. Not a care in the world, covered in sunscreen, laughing, yelling, running, basically doing anything and everything he wanted to do no matter where the sand got. He played with reckless abandon, the kind of childhood innocence where you still believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny.
While he is making memories he’ll never forget I remembered something I’d like to forget: “I used to love to play in the sand at the beach, run in and out of the water, yell and scream and look for shells when I was his age,” said self.
We have just lost cabin pressure.
No longer could I envision a day at the beach getting covered in sand while being THAT rambunctious. Now a days, I like to sit in a chair, in the shade, sunglasses on (as always if I’m outside), cooler beside me. I even put my sunscreen on and wait 30 minutes for it to soak in before I go out (partially because I was a beach attendant and don’t want skin cancer, but primarily because I don’t want to get sunburned), I prefer to stay out of the sun between 11-2:00 during the day.
Since when did I get so old acting? Since when did I prefer sitting and doing nothing on the beach, as opposed to having a righteous memorable time? Since when did doing nothing in the shade make for a “good time?” About 13-14 years ago by my estimation.
Heaven.
So what is next for me and my beach travels, black socks and sandals? (you know you’ve seen some snow-birds with dark socks and sandals)
Fail.
What I envision for me one day goes like this: stay on the balcony and never get sand between my toes. Now when I have the realization of “man, I used to go out on the beach” I hope and pray comes a long, long time from now. For now, I’ll settle for some shade and salty warm air – minus the sand stuck in every nook and cranny – and hold on to my desire to sit on the beach and simply enjoy the breeze and listen to the waves.
Man, I’m getting old…
Comments
Leave a Reply
Kyle Jernigan
Husband, Believer, rabid Bama fan, immune to stress, trendsetter, smart risk taker, Director of Interactive Marketing, COD MW2 sultan of pain (bravetide).
If you don't know where you are:
Recent Tweets
- @Stephen_Hill I LOVE snow skiing, it's like crack to my soul - insane fan of it bro
- RT @ChaseGoodbread: With a 21-6 lead, Gators have more points than yards at this point. // #awesome
- @Stephen_Hill the only thing great about Utah is snow skiing. Sub-par higher education instructors as well... #joke
- RT @tommydeas: Brantley 10-of-12 for 33 yards vs Miami-Ohio. Still think he's gonna make 'em forget about Tebow?
- @Stephen_Hill Labor Day at the beach - game is on PPV anyway - how's Utah, junior?