As the beauty of April’s weather rolls into southwest Florida across the Gulf, I am reminded of my own childhood at the water’s edge.
Regular readers of this column will remember that my father was an ichthyologist (fish biologist) who attended the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1970s. Dad, mom, and my brother and I often went with him down to the Gulf Coast and played on the beach while my father seined fish, counting the various types of fish caught in the nets before taking samples back to the lab for testing.
Our group often took a (very) small boat out to Horn Island for tent camping, and in April the weather was fine! Scrubby trees and salt-loving plants hugged the sand dunes where my brother and I played, running and laughing. Mom would collect driftwood for a fire, and we would fry freshly caught fish in cornmeal that we stored in an old metal coffee can. Afterwards, my dad would share a sip of his beer, probably a Pabst Blue Ribbon that had to be opened with a “church key,” creating a triangular hole. I remember this vividly, because one trip to Horn Island we forgot the church key and dad had to punch a hole in the top of his beer can with the same knife he had just used to clean the fish!
Related: Editorial: Grateful for Beautiful November
On one such trip, we got a dose of “April showers bringing May flowers” when an unexpected storm blew in, partially flooding the island. We swam out to our boat which was anchored just offshore – my mother can’t swim, so I remember my father forcing her into an orange life preserver. She floated off towards the boat with the cooler attached by a rope to her wrist. As my brother and I swam to the boat, I saw the fin of a shark go by. Later, I learned from dad it was only a nurse shark and no danger to me, but at the time all I could think was “Jaws!” (the movie had come out just two years earlier and my parents had unwisely allowed me to see it at the drive-in).
These days, April is still beautiful, but I can honestly say it’s nothing in comparison to my amazing childhood on the beach. So this month, I wish you warm breezes, beach picnics, and fond memories of swimming in the Gulf.
NEW STARTING IN THIS EDITION: Wherever you see the READ MORE! symbol in Lifestyles After 50, there is an enhanced version of that story online! It might be a longer version, valuable links, fun videos, additional photos, or other exclusive content. Check back throughout the month as new stories are posted every day or two on www.LifestylesAfter50.com.
