Family Vacations

Yesterday at lunch, my coworkers and I talked about summer vacations growing up as a child. My dad worked at a chemical plant and was the hardest working man I have ever known. He never missed a day of work unless he was deathly sick. But once a week every summer he made sure we packed up the car and went on vacation. My mom was a SAHM so needless to say, I had the most frugal parents alive. We may have not worn designer duds, but we always and I mean always, went on vacation.

We always traveled with another family so that my brother and I had friends to play with. We always rented a place at the Wild Dunes which is on the Isle of Palms, SC. I have the most clear memories of summer vacations there growing up. One of my most favorite memories is laying on a float with my dad out in the ocean riding the "waves" for hours. He had this red and blue float that he kept for years. It would always get a hole in it and he'd just patch it and move on. Hilarious now thinking back. (there's a picture of that float below) We'd spent the week in the ocean, bike riding, crab fishing, flying kites and making sand castles.

Remember how when you were a kid vacations would last forever??? And nowadays they fly by. Maybe it's because when are little we have no concept of how fast time goes. We just enjoy the moment and have no regard for the days passing by. As I get older, I almost get panicky thinking about how fast the days are flying. And I'm always conscious of it. I'm always thinking how many days left til vacation is over. Or how many day until summer is over. Or Christmas, etc. If only we could be as nonchalant as when we were kids. Maybe time would slow down again.

Do you have fond memories of your childhood vacations? I know I am so lucky to have had those days with my family those summers years ago. If you have kids, take the time to take them on vacation, even if it's just a few days. Make the most out of it. Because those memories will last a lifetime. I can't remember what I ate for lunch, but I can remember these special days like they were yesterday.