Tooties ahoy

So what does any normal person do in the first few days after packing up and moving every item in one house and then driving it 12 minutes across town and putting in another house? Go to the beach, of course! You see, we had scheduled our closing on the new house about nine weeks out. And about two weeks before it was even listed, I coordinated and confirmed for myself to join my mother, sister, aunt and twin cousins for a long girls-only beach trip on the Gulf. And even though it wasn’t the best timing, there was no way I would have backed out of this trip. For two reasons:  One, my sister is only a few months away from having her first baby, and my cousin Blair is entering her final year of law school. It was hard enough to schedule around everyone’s current schedule, so we knew there weren’t many other chances in the new future for us to take this trip. And Two, this Mama needed a break. After a summer of around the clock chaos, CFPs and moving, I was due a kid-free beach vacation. Love my life! But needed a break.

And there was no way I would have been able to leave Chris with the kids for five days if his parents hadn’t offered to come in and help so he wouldn’t have to miss work. I am ever grateful to them. And they even made the through-the-night drive from Wisconsin to be here in time for me to leave Wednesday morning. Seriously the best inlaws ever. In the history of the world.

And after writing about six detailed lists and leaving my house two-thirds full of boxes, I drove to Birmingham in record time – Amazing how fast you can get someplace without taking a million restroom breaks! – and had lunch with my dear Granddaddy before meeting up at Libba’s and hitching a ride with her, Blair and Sarah. It had been a very, very long time since just the four of us had been able to hang out together. And you can be guaranteed there was lots of laughing and question-answer sessions on our nearly-five hour trek to the coast, as well as some detailed labor and delivery descriptions that I’m sure pushed my twin 24-year old cousins to the brink of insanity. And even though we pulled into the Sandy Key parking lot in time to catch the sunset, we were too busy hugging our respective mothers and aunts, and rehashing each of our journeys that led us all to that table on that Wednesday night. After months and months of planning, we were finally there.

So the next morning we all met down on the sand, each of us eager to relax from our daily obligations, read our books, eat our cheesecurls and gawk upon all the other guest of our condos, which all happened to be stereotypical lunatics. And little did our rednecked neighbors know that each and everyone of their families and backstories were being speculated upon and fabricated about by six fabulously creative women who all had Barbara Blackwell’s blood coursing through their veins. And I do believe my Gomar was looking down on our tight knit group with a big smile on her beautiful face. The other people in our condo, however... Well, she surely would have been giving the once over while picking at her lower lip and glaring her eyes at. Ah, Go-Go! The original tootie.

And while the weather wasn’t perfect, it didn’t really matter. Because when it was nice, we were out on the beach together, catching up and telling stories, and when it was raining, we were taking naps or reading our books in silence. It was heaven. It was what each and everyone of us needed.

Because both Jane and Lib had been working hard for a long time on scanning all of our family photos, we were treated with two separate slide shows that showcased tons of pictures of all of us through the ages. Not many families have digital copies of the ancestry, and I am indebted to both of them for preserving our memories with such enthusiasm.

And we also ate lots of delicious food and drank lots of refreshing cocktails. We each took turns laying our hands on Libba’s belly and coaxing the newest tootie of our gang to be known. But she was she shy. But if she’s anything like her Mama, YaYa, Aunt, cousin Taylor, Great Aunt and second cousins, she’ll find her strength and character early. And Lib’s gonna have her work cut out for her... The female Blackwell personality is naturally fierce.

And exceptionally good looking.

And after five, wonderful days of peace and relaxation at one of the most beautiful places on Earth, I was ready to get back to my husband and kids. I missed them terribly, and trekked ten hours in the car from Perdido Key back to Asheville on Sunday. And when I walked in the my new front door, Chris, Taylor and Luke tackled me to the ground and covered me in hugs and kisses. And that feeling was just as wonderful as being at the beach with all of my fellow tooties.