This is where our family gathered each summer. We had ribs on July 4th and shot off fireworks on the beach. We watched our babies grow and swim and build sandcastles. The First Son caught his first fish with his Papa. This is where we took sailing trips on my aunt and uncle’s boats. Later, this is where we piled up in my brother’s boat for trips to Cumberland Island where we fished, sunned and searched for shells.
This is also the place I have not been since July 2012. This was when the unthinkable happened and we lost my ever fun loving, life of the party, brother and best friend to me, rock solid son to my mom, Uncle Mike to my boys, and husband and father to my sister in law and nephew. It was unfathomable that such a horrible, tragic thing could happen at a place that was filled with so many happy times and memories. I wrote about that trip here.
So, for a long while I have said that I could not go back there. I’ve tried to look for a “new family beach” for us. We have just missed going to a familiar place for vacation. Then I slowly began to realize that I couldn’t recreate another place with so many happy memories and times. Maybe it wouldn’t be sad to go back to an area that had been so important for so many years. Of course, we could never go back to stay at the same place where the horrific event happened, but we could comemorate all the fun and happy times – before there were so many losses, and begin to make new memories that would build on the old ones.
So, this is the plan and I’m on board and think it’s a good one. I’m a little nervous, but we all know it’s time to gather and honor Mike and say goodbye. Our new normal is our smaller family unit consisting of my family of five, and my, just like a sister, sister-in-law, and her son, my nephew. We are still knitted together by blood and by memories and experiences. We will be missing three important members, my Daddy, my brother and my mother. But we will gather on my brother’s boat and take to the waters he loved so much in a place that meant so much to us for so many years, and we will let the waters have his ashes, part of him, as he would have wanted. The sun will rise and set and he will be so happy and joyful and I’m sure he will be giving everyone a toast at the 5 o’clock hour.
I am looking forward to some quiet times, enjoying the beach, (there’s nothing like a walk or run on the beach to begin the day), reading and being with my family. I may visit this site or I may unplug, I’m just not sure. In any event, have a great week!
I hope you enjoy your July 4th!
Wishing your family and Amy and Farris a vacation full of happy memories and an unusual peace and comfort sent from above.
Marla – I loved your post and understand it completely! I grew up going to Amelia too! We went every summer for my entire life with my grandparents and aunt, uncle and cousins. It is where all of my most fond memories of childhood are. I have loved taking my own kids there to do all of the things we loved to do back then. It is really the only vacation my dad would take every year probably because my grandmother would have never let him miss it! We used to kid her that we had to have a written note from Jesus to miss it. We moved to Texas and still had to come back for that precious week! After my dad passed away my first visit back was so difficult but the more I return the more precious the place becomes. It feels like true home and I feel such comfort in the family history that surrounds me when I am there. John and I got engaged there on July 4, 2010! I wish we were going this 4th too but 2 of our children are at camp so we had to plan the trip for the end of July! Have a great trip!!! Prayers for your entire family. XOXO
I pray that you have a wonderful vacation filled with loving memories of your family.
Have a great time! You’ve come a long way in 2 years! xo
Loved reading that Marla, thanks for sharing. I’ll be thinking about y’all this week. All my love. And thanks for all those great memories we had at Amelia!
We too went back to St. Simons without my Dad for the first time this week. We didn’t have as long of a history there but did have several years of family trips there and a wedding. It was 2 years ago memorial day weekend that we last spent with him there. He had been slowly declining but right after that trip, he went in the hospital and then to a nursing home and never came back home permanently. Those were good memories with him in SSI not knowing at the time we wouldn’t be able to take him on vacation anymore. My Mom was really happy to be able to have our family trip once again and we talked about Dad a lot and she brought his picture to put in her condo. So, I do think that it will be a very special trip for you, a time to enjoy your family and reflect on all the great memories. Thanks for posting and I will be thinking about you! Your brother seems a lot like my brother :).
I’m so happy you are going back to Amelia. I know it will end up being a happy vacation with lots of laughs and a few tears too. Praying for a great week for all of you! Start a new tradition (or 2) and make new memories.
I hope this trip was a good break & a great release! Xoxoxo