Here’s a little teaser as to how our vacation went…

The weather in Nantucket was really nice all week. In the 70′s, maybe 80 degrees here and there, decent ocean breezes and much sun. We were lucky that Irene didn’t make her way north until we were ready to go home. And when the lady did arrive, she really messed stuff up. Logistically, not weather-ly. Part of our happy group left Friday, instead of Saturday, which was really the best option of all. All of our flights on Saturday were canceled which left us stranded in Nantucket until Wednesday, so said the unhelpful folks at Delta. We would have enjoyed staying in Nantucket until Wednesday but the car and the car seats were leaving without us and really, staying in Nantucket for several extra days is not cheap. So, we piled into the car on Saturday, taking as much as we could fit, shipping a bunch to Atlanta and leaving the rest there for some soul to go back and retrieve at a later date and headed to Connecticut. There was some concern about the ferry and our general safety, which turned out to be completely unfounded as the ride was smooth with the occasional burst from the fog horn.

Ferry ride during Hurricane Irene from Karen Chatters on Vimeo.

Hurricanes are no fooling, I’m not trying to make light of something that can harm others. We were quite lucky, I know that. But sometimes you need to find some laughter in the storm.

I’m going to try not to stress about naps and feedings and laundry and the lack of sleep for a week. My goal is to enjoy the sandy shores, the lobsters, the wine on the widows walk and my family for the entire week. We’ll just worry about life when we return.

We all spent our days in the same Speedo bathing suits, the swim team issued version, played marco polo and shark for hours on end, and never did a minute of sun bathing. We talked to the life guards all day and never missed a minute of pool time. I can remember days spent under the awning, watching the rain fall and yet we just hung out. It may have had something to do with the rule that we weren’t allowed at home during the day in the summer. Or, it may have had something to do with the life guards being cuter and more enjoyable to look at than hanging out with my baby brothers at home. Priorities.

Now that we’re visiting my folks, I’m finding myself sitting by the exact same pool. I look at the lifeguards and think, holy crap they’re so young, like babies. I just remember them being so cool and mature and “old.” There’s no sign of the club issued Speedo’s worn by the swim team but tankinis and ruffled bathing suit bottoms and bikinis. I definitely don’t remember that from my childhood.  The venue is the same but these are definitely not the 80′s anymore.

On Monday the kids, my mom and I were the ONLY ones at the pool, just sitting and playing on the edge. We had the life guards complete and undivided attention. As a matter of fact, he was just staring at us because there was no one else to watch. As we sat there, I watched Courtney make flirty eyes with the lifeguard. She was smiling and looking at him coyly, batting her little eye lashes. And then there was Patrick, doing the exact same thing but with the female guard. I swear, it was like looking into a mirror. Or a crystal ball. My past, my present and my future had all come colliding on the pool edge.

I’m pretty sure I’m doomed. If my past behavior is any indication of what we’re in for, we have many many challenging years ahead of us. The good news is that I did so much when I was young, hopefully my kids won’t get away with anything.