Family

The feeling that family is standing on all sides.  Holding each other up.  Another anniversary of our finest family-hold-us-up moment. 

Destination  -  the coast.   A coastline that holds many special memories.  Many spring break vacations.  And there's no crying or nudity in baseball moments.  It's a place of serene loveliness that speaks to the soul as the waves crash against the rock outcroppings, filling the tide poles and spraying toward heaven.

So in family fashion we went.  The staggering of arrivals made for excitement as vehicles were unpacked and food and beverage located a home.  VRBO once again hit the mark with spacious, clean digs toting a million dollar view.  

It was a relaxing, don't worry about much weekend with the biggest noise coming from the crowd and buzzers of March madness.  The singing of the whistles and the local crowd noise was like a choir of angels as the games came and went.  It was almost as if it was okay to enjoy this long loved game.  It was a feeling of comfort as it was known that our boy would have been right in the middle of it all had he been there.

The activities were staggered with the best memory of Papa, overhearing of plans for a bonfire, gathered drift wood.  In Papa style he piled his family the desire of their heart.  Papa has a reputation of course...one of the finest wood cutters, gather, burner you'll ever meet.  When a local resident showed up, hoping to find some easy wood, this thankful family did what we could to let him know it was our pile. 

Epic ice cream runs and rock hunting on the beach filled the time.  Treasures collected. 

Time among the tallest trees around.  Majestic beyond measure.

The pictures of the bowling time would have been too dark but reside in my head.  The old and young, enjoying will be with me for a while.  The memories are etch'd and make me smile. 

Silent grieving.  As time ticks on and year five begins, your head tells you it's time to move on.  Time to let it rest.  Time to lay it down.  The heart.  That's another matter.  The beginning was just that.  But I'm pretty sure there is no end....at least not until we reach the heavenly places.   Until then, the best family on earth surrounds and rounds.