One of my motivations behind taking an early retirement was the opportunity to spend more time doing fun things with my parents - now in their mid-70s. Making memories and hanging out as peers, before it becomes necessary to shift into a care giving role as their needs and progression of age dictates. Having a memorable anecdote to stir a memory in a mind plagued with dementia can make the difference between a mundane task and quality time reviewing the past while completing a bothersome task like taking medications or tending to skin issues.
This past weekend, mom celebrated the 53rd anniversary of her 21st b-day - Don't bother to with the math... It's not my forte. Taking my mom to the ocean is where her inner 5 year old emerges. She brings her kite, her brightest smile and checks the wind for the best angle to launch her kite and spirits aloft. Offering Mom an escape from the usual schedule with a beach trip was one I could offer with no qualms. It effectively worked its usual magic. We added daily morning mimosas in small orange juice containers and a good time was had by all.
Time spent at the beach - whether ocean, bay or lake side - has always been cathartic for me. Long ago, I developed the mantra that the waves come close to steal whatever is plaguing your mind, take it out to sea and smash it in the surf. Now that I practice yoga, the image of surf and kites riding swift breezes give me another dimension to escape to during my time of mindful practice.
We were also celebrating the long-awaited closing of the sale of our family home, which occurred during our beach trip. And we timed our trip to be able to tour a series of artist studios to see creativity in its natural habitat. How could one not create art when surrounded by beach scenery on a daily basis?
As usually happens when we travel together, anecdotes are shared and new ones develop. After birthday dinner at the casino, we were on our way out the door. My folks are NOT gamblers. They spent much of their lives together under a STRICT budget that left no room for trivialities. So, when Dad pulled out a $5 bill to take a slot machine for a spin, I was stunned. Even more so when he pushed MAX BET on his third roll. AND WON! The bonus animation started and I had to coach him through the steps of each level... he ended up with a three level bonus... for the uninitiated - that RARELY happens. He figured if he made $20 on his $5 investment, he was doing OK. When he ended up with significantly more than than - both he and mom were stunned. He cashed out his ticket and more instruction was required on the redemption... he wanted to take it to the cashier cage - of which there is no more; unless you win in the tens of thousands. Dad was a little disappointed that when he cashed out there was no cascade of quarters to catch in a bucket like in the OLD days. But still amused that he won on three rolls.
In my family, when there is down time and cocktails, there are board games. We played Scrabble - complete with "My rack is deplorable" jokes - "I hear no complaints from your better half..." "There's gotta be a vowel in that old bag." "Who are you calling an old bag?" We discerned the new rules to a new game - badly and made up our own to serve our purposes. I noticed that as the night got later and the cocktails more potent; the rules followed became fewer and fewer... hmm.
We had originally contemplated taking a 6yo nephew with us for the excursion, but decided that a reconnaissance mission was necessary first. We've determined that next year both nephews will be prime age for:
1) fetching crashed kites
2) sprinting up the stairs to unlock the hotel room door ahead of us - usu for a bathroom sprint...
3) fetching dropped items left behind
4) possibly learning to make a good cocktail,
5) provide good nap companions and
6) give us reason to try all the entertainment options we skipped this time - like bumper cars...
Now we have to decide which WA beach presents a better venue for that purpose.
Here's to more family quality time to make those precious memories! Cheers!
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