I had a very relaxing time in Galveston last week. Ken and Christine rented a beach house, and they invited me to join them for a few days. One of their sons, Esten, was there, as well as Christine’s brother, Abel, and his two kids Ayla and Christian and their significant others, Michael and Alexandra (Alex).
I didn’t realize how much I needed to get away, but the sound of the waves and the gulf breeze was exactly what I needed. I walked the beach every day, but I only got in the water up to my knees.
I was so relaxed, in fact, that I forgot to take all of my medications the first night and the following morning. No ill effects detected. I was also so relaxed that I didn’t bother bathing the first two days.
On the second day I got lost. On the beach. Christine was on the beach reading David Sedaris’ latest book when I left heading east. Unbeknownst to me, she decided to go back to the house, so I missed her as a landmark on my way back and went almost a mile west past the house.
On the third day I arose from my comfy deck chair with a view of the Gulf of Mexico, and ascended into the bathroom where I both bathed and brushed my teeth for the first time since leaving Rockdale.
That day we went to my favorite restaurant in the whole world, Gaido’s, for a wonderful late lunch/early dinner at 3 p.m. because the restaurant was so busy that was the only time we could get reservations. And they didn’t have flounder which is what I’d been so looking forward to eating. I was kind of mad but after a couple of Grey Goose dirty martinis I found I didn’t care so much about the flounder after all.
Shrimp season just started so I ordered the grilled shrimp and they were so fresh and delicious. I could see the trawlers from both the beach house and the restaurant. That’s how fresh they were.
The first night we were there we ate at a restaurant called Willie G’s, which I think might be a chain. It was overpriced and I don’t recommend it if you’ve been wondering. But it was right on the pier where the cruise ships pull up so the view was nice.
The weather cooperated by being kind of overcast and it even rained a couple of times. I was therefore not sunburned when I got back home.
Mom made me promise to buy a hat, which I did, and that helped. I am usually not a sunglasses wearer, but my friend Joyce Dalley went to the grand opening of the What-A-Burger in Caldwell and got some swag, one of which she gave me: white and bright orange What-A-Burger sunglasses. So between the hat and those glasses I’m sure I was a sight. Christian, age 19, declared that my sunglasses were “sick,” and in case you are not up to date with the young people’s lingo, that was a compliment.
It was the first time in I don’t know how long that I went both shirtless and barefooted in public. There were lots of young, beautiful bodies, but also ones like mine which were not exactly swimsuit ready. Beer bellies, muffin tops and giant behinds galore. But it’s the beach. No one cared.
I think bodies of water, be it a beach, lake or river, just cause you to relax and not care about anything. I know my bestie, Leigh Armstrong Owens, always looks very relaxed when she is at her river house in Seguin.
If you’ve been stressed out lately with your job or your kids or whatever it is that causes you stress, I highly recommend immediately going to the body of water of your choice.
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