Oliver All Over

Different Strokes For Different Folks

It always amazes me how different people can be.  How many ways there are to be a family.  How many ways to take a trip, go on vacation, spend your spare time. 

This was especially apparent today when we took a trip to the beach.  I compared and contrasted how we did things today to the way they were when I was a kid.  In other words, how I do thing differently from my parents.  For example:

Then:  We would never get to the beach early enough to get a spot on Ocean Ave., so we would have to walk three or four blocks in the hot sun before hitting the beach.

Now:  We either get to the beach real early, or we don’t go until after 4, when the people who got the good parking spot are ready to leave.  Almost always park less then one block from beach, and temp is still below the hottest of the day.

Then:  All three kids and both parents were loaded down like pack mules for the multi-block walk:  Cooler, lunch bag, chairs, blanket, towels, change of clothes, castle building toys and water toys.

Now:  One towel apiece, enough cash for snacks, point-and-shoot camera.  We still bring the castle building toys and bucket; we’re not philistines.

Then:  Play in the sun all day, eat a sandy peanut butter sandwich and a warm Shasta cola.

Now:  Go inside for lunch, re-apply waterproof sunscreen.

Then:  Completely shower off, change into clean dry clothes for the ride home.  Apply Solarcaine when you get home and realize you have turned the color of a cooked lobster.

Now:  Rinse off your feet, play on the swings or sit at a cafe until you are dry enough to get in the car, vacuum up later.  No sunburn. 

The beach, which was a major event, taking planning and a whole day to recover when I was a kid, is a no fuss, “do it at the drop of a hat” thing for us now.  That’s better, to me – but I’ll bet the wet sandy butts in the car would be no good as far as my parents are concerned!