Tropical Disease

Happy 4th of July weekend. I was supposed to be out and about smooching on a boy and hanging with friends, but instead I'm home nursing what can only be described as the tropical disease that will likely kill me.

Or a flu-type bug.

I spent last weekend in Nags Head, NC with two couples and their kids. It was a wonderful weekend of beach time, boat time, and silly time with kids (and adults).

The kids ranged in ages from 3 to 15 and ranged in enjoying me and my attempts to connect to kids about as widely as well.

Here's what I learned on this vacation.

1. So long as you are willing to play the Rock Relocation Game exactly as scripted, the three year old will be your friend. (If you're unfamiliar with this game, it goes like this: Take rocks from pile no more than 3 at a time, walk to end of dock, throw in water. Go back to pile of rocks, pick 3 more, walk to end of dock, throw in water.)

 

2. When it comes to getting in the ocean, any grown up will do. Maybe or maybe not due to Hurricane Arthur making his way our direction, the ocean was particularly choppy and rough last weekend so most of the kids weren't allowed very far in without a grown up. Despite the fact that I categorize my swimming skills as "semi-proficient in not drowning," these parents kept letting me take their kids into the ocean. And truly, because of my fear of losing a child, I suppose my grown-up-ness did keep us safe. 

Little A: "The ocean is my best friend!" SQUEAL!

3. If you bring a shovel to the beach, someone will dig a hole. If a hole is dug, someone will get in it.

I swear she chose to get in.

4. If it takes 4 weeks to lose any weight before going on vacation, I will gain it all back in 3 days.

Bag o' steamed crabs waiting to be
dipped in butter

 5. While it's a myth that drinking in the mountains gets you drunk faster, it's a truth that drinking at sea level has fewer consequences. Every night I drank enough to cause me severe annoyance in Denver... but at sea level, I was ready to go in the morning. Hydration is weird.

6. If you find an app that takes pictures and puts them in weird scenes, you will spend hours with your friends laughing at yourself as Iron Man. See #5 above for context.

7. Children are gross and germy and I'm 90% sure this flu is the fault of one of them. Stupid adorable children.

8. I like vacations better than work. I'm sure this is a real revelation to my readers...