LDW

Labor Day Weekend is here. This has always been my favorite summer holiday. It marks the end of many hot months, and a chance to see friends before we all get wrapped up in school/work and holidays.

This year this holiday will be bittersweet for many reasons. All centered around my dad. LDW was his weekend for the past several years, and I have so many great memories.

Stephen & Cat sleeping on an air mattress in the bed of their truck. My dad always woke up so early, so he went downstairs to rustle them out and get into his bed. Games of poker and catchprase. And the image of him toting his old beaten up styrofoam cooler out to the beach with his hat, denim cutoffs and unbuttoned shirt blowing in the wind. Shellye with her artichoke dip and all of us on Sally's back patio. I could go on and on.

But the hardest thing is that I saw my dad for the last time a year ago. I stayed down at the beach for a longer break, and one day Sally, Luke, Solon and I drove over to Perdido and met my dad and Shellye for lunch at their favorite spot, Sunset Grill. They ate there every Sunday and loved it because they could bring their little dog, Anna, and she would be served a bowl of food as well.

We all sat their and had lunch. I am sure I had the club sandwich and everyone laughed because I never order anything different. My dad had shrimp. And we all had Miller Lite. I sat next to my dad. And Solon and Luke were eating a ton of sliced pickles that the waitress brought for them. My dad was worried that he lost his phone, and climbed over the bench we were sitting on to avoid me having to move Solon in his high chair. He found his phone in his car.

I remember walking out to the gravel parking lot, and hugging him goodbye. And when I was sitting in the passenger seat of Sally's car, I looked over at him. He was starting up his car. I can't think of this moment and not break down. It is so terribly heart wrenching. I just want to race back in time and hop out of the car and hug his neck so hard. And tell him over and over how much I love him.

I really didn't mean to write all of that but sometimes the hurt, guilt and sadness just hits me hard, and it helps to try and picture him and say something about him.

The reason why I was originally writing was to lay our our plans for this weekend.

So we all pitched in and got a condo on the beach. We will have a pool and hot tub, so it is going to be a blast. We will have our annual speed walking contest (Jay and Cat!), and are going to start one up for the little boys:) So the cast of characters-Me, Jay, Solon, Sally, Jason, Luke, Stephen, Cat, Liam and Lyle at the condo. And then at the neighboring Hilton will be Nancy, Stephen and Mattox. And then on the mainland. Janie, my mom, David and Sarah.

Then Jay and I are going to stay with Sally/Jason through the week. Jay & Jason have golf outings lined up, and Sally & I will try and take the kayak out and pester Janie while she works.

So plenty of photos to come in about a week.