Day 1085 Treasure

 

Treasure hunts, pirates, booty, beaches, and bands—perfection.

Once a year, the beach club hosts a field day for the kids, complete with pirates, buried treasure, and lots of games. Bridie and the boys made a special trip to Rhode Island just to take part in the fun day—and what fun it was! The kids got cool t-shirts, had their faces painted, played tug of war and other classic games, and were thrilled when a group of pirates arrived with a treasure map in hand.

The children followed the pirates all over the beach, searching high and low for buried treasure. At the first spot, they eagerly dug up a treasure chest—only to find it was empty! But the map led them onward to a second location, where they uncovered a new chest, this time filled with booty. Each child received a bag of treasures, followed by pizza, ice cream, and chats with the “real” pirates. Yes, Tim dressed to impress and most adults didn't realize that the amazing pirate was him, although Mack knew right away that it was just Grampa, but somehow even knowing it was him didn't lesson the magic. 

After field day ended, I happily parked myself on the sand to soak in the sunshine and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. Tim went off to a family party, but due to the host’s prior inexcusable behavior, I opted out. Call it self-preservation, but I’ll always choose to avoid situations that have a high likelihood of turning into a shit show. So, the beach it was—and with clear skies and warm sun, it was absolute perfection.

Later, I only dagged myself off the sand for a concert at the Ocean Mist that Tim had gotten us tickets for. Thurston Howell Yacht Rock Band was every bit as corny—and fantastic—as you’d imagine. All of us older folks sang along to every song, dancing the night away to old-school one-hit wonders and covers rarely performed by other bands. The crowd showed up in their best yacht rock attire, and the energy in the room was electric.

Though the dance floor was packed, Tim and I have a way of always ending up front and center—and true to form, that’s exactly where we landed. We danced and sang until midnight, and finally putting my head on the pillow felt amazing.

There’s something magical about a day that starts with buried treasure and ends with dancing under the stars. Summer memories like these are the ones that stay with you forever—and I wouldn’t trade them for anything....color me ready for the next adventure.