The drive from New Orleans to Destin, Florida was hard. Mostly because Ruby shouted that she wanted OUT of her car seat for several hours. Secondly because Andy was driving and I was in charge of direction which I messed up twice. But I really think the direction snafu would have been hilarious if it wasn’t on the heels of a yelling child. Yes, I think that.
But we made it! Like childbirth, I immediately forget about road trip pain. Andy’s memory remains crisp and the first night in Destin when my brother asked about our drive, Andy said he was never doing it again — knowing, of course, that we would be back in the car in four days. Me? I declared it to have been delightful. Andy laughed, patted my shoulder and joked oh buddy, how soon you forget.
Thankfully the four days served as a fabulous reset button. Full of family, beach, laughter and celebration.
The reason for this entire trip is my little brother’s wedding. My parents rented a wonderful house near the ocean where we all arranged ourselves around each other like sandy, sun-soaked, happy clams. Day after day.
I wonder if people who are always near the ocean forget it’s magic? I don’t for one second take my backyard mountains for granted and I imagine sea-dwellers hold the same regard for their ebbing landscape. The flat infinity, turquoise to navy forever. The righteous predictability of waves bowing to sand. The thrill of stepping into that water knowing giant, ancient creatures touch the very same water droplets.
dolphins!
Travis and Crystal married on the beach, naturally. It was an intimate gathering of just immediate family — 14 of us total. My dad was the best man, my daughters flower girls. I sat next to Andy who sat next to my mom. Holding my man’s hand during a wedding ceremony is one of my favorite times to hold his hand. And doing so while my little brother (who is now totally an adult?!) pledged his love and allegiance to this woman I adore was tops.
Margot and Ruby were beyond thrilled to be flower girls.
I come from a family of toasters and huggers so there was a lot of that. And I come from a family of frisbee tossers, swimmers, laughers, story tellers and cocktail lovers so there was a lot of that too.
Trav and I removed our matching fanny packs only for the wedding photos
I got to be with my mama on Mother’s Day
The newlyweds.
The day after the wedding, my brother and I swam out to the far sand bar, swells heaving us 20 feet up and down while we breast stroked and breathlessly talked about big stuff and little stuff. Our salty faces smiled, our adult legs pushed water as we inched away from the land holding our parents. I thought about Margot and Ruby in the ocean. I thought about this quote from Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club: “…I love my daughter. She and I have shared the same body. There is a part of her mind that is a part of mine. But when she was born she sprang from me like a slippery fish, and has been swimming away ever since. All her life, I have watched her as though from another shore.”
We returned quickly, body surfing in, knowing our mom was likely nervous at how far out we were. She was. My dad even mentioned how we’d bob out of sight for an uncomfortable length of time. That’s it, right? The way we all swim around, pushing ourselves to believe in things even when it feels a little scary or unknown. To let go and hold on tight. The way we trust something to be there even when it dips below our horizon. The way we sway toward and away from our parents, toward and away from our children in a great big ocean of pulsing, thriving, mortal LIFE. It’s thrilling. Lucky us.
next up: part three: Orlando with my dad
31 Comments
Love reading about your delights, and how you uncover, discover and discard as you and your sweet peas carry on.
Awesome.
Great writing and nice photography.
I have been following your blog since last couple of months, silently. But today, your blog made me to comment about the great pics. Thanks for sharing.
Keep enjoying and keep posting.
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Loved reading this from our vacation deck in Destin! This is our family beach spot and will be for years to come. Thanks for the pictures and lovely words. Enjoy the rest of your journey!
Beautiful, as always. Love your photos and perspective on it all.
We went to Destin for our honeymoon 22 years ago, and have been many times before and since. What a beautiful place for a wedding. I love how your family loves, no wonder you are such an awesome human being. Did you make the girls’ flower girl dresses? They were beautiful.
Oh, I am like Andy after long, not so fun car trips. My husband, on the other hand, forgets the pain immediately. LOL
Flying flower girl = favorite picture today. Sounds like a beautiful stop on your trip. I love to hold my love’s hand at weddings, too. It’s a really special thing.
Such perfect words.
Loving the vacation photos. I think my favorite is the carefree beach dancing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the quote from Joy Luck Club!!! Safe Travels!
Loved part 2, looking forward to part 3…..you captured our family,a wedding, the ocean and LOVE all around beautifully!
I love you Burb! xoxo, Mom
LOVE this post. Magical memories. Happy for your family (& congrats : )
You & Andy on the beach – such harmony
Impressive that you got a picture of a dolphin from the beach – I’ve tried and in the hypothetical scrapbook I would need to circle the dot and label it.
Beautiful photo of the Groom & Bride
You girls in their dresses – love their spunk! Adorable.
Your dress in the photo with your brother (sans fanny pack) – you look awesome – where is that dress from??
Tell me, where does one find matching fanny packs? I’m looking to get Judd and I some. Great storage; convenient location.
Sandy beaches suit the Cline clan. Lovely post, friend.
xo
My source is secret. The wookie knows.
I don’t think I’ve ever commented before but I’ve been a follower for quite some time now. I really enjoy reading this blog and that quote you shared was so beautiful, I’m the mama of two amazing little girls and that was just really beautifully said. Thanks for sharing your life, pictures, words and gardening skills 🙂
I love this post! What a gorgeous wedding and fun family and beautiful photos.
So did Travis invite chubacca to the wedding too? Maybe he was the one holding the fanny packs in the back while the wedding was happening.
I love vacations and I’m glad yours was so awesome…even though Andy won’t soon forget the drive. Welcome back, we missed you.
Jaim
I started following you on Instagram because you have such beautiful pictures (and hilarious pictures) but had to comment on this. I live at the beach in NC, and yes, I have taken it for granted. After reading your sentence wondering if we forget the magic, it struck me (into commenting) that I have to make more of an effort to remember the magic of the ocean. It makes you different, makes your hair different, makes your outlook different. Thanks for the wake up call… off to the sea I go.
What beautiful pictures! You were close to me. I live at the beach in Florida…thanks for helping me remember why I love my home 🙂
You are such a damn good writer. I not only see your words…I feel them. You’re awesome. Just wanted you to know 🙂
Yup – I had to come back and read this post again. It was THAT good. This book of yours is going to be amazing.
PS I started reading the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kid book. It’s so good I called my sister today and said, “drop everything and go find this book.” So glad you recommended it.
Oh what a lovely comment. Thank you so much! Glad you are loving that book. I refer to it often! xo
Holy shit, you are a great writer 🙂 Love that quote!
Can I just say that I love this? Your photos and words ooze beauty and it’s obvious that you take your family and love between you all seriously. So inspiring! I love that your girls are included in your adventures and that they seem to embrace it all as much as you do. (Maybe not the carseats, but who can blame them for that?). 🙂 Thank you for sharing a bit of your life and your words. Can’t wait for part 3!
What an awesome trip! Gotta love those 80’s style fanny packs. I also really love your quote at the end of the post, beautiful way of putting it, this crazy thing called life… Thanx.
Aw…the ocean…what an amazing part of this world.
I mean, we all know you’re foxy, but that old-school photo? So pretty! And the Umbros!
Lol, I can tell you have mountains in your backyard, not the ocean. 20 foot waves in Destin? Lol! Was Kelly Slater there? I laugh only because I used to do the same thing!! When we first moved to the beach I’d tell my husband I was just ‘out on a five foot wave’…..and he’d have a giggle and tell me it was two feet tops 🙂
OK maybe they were smaller. 🙂 It was the swells though, not the waves. It sure felt like we were rising and falling super far! x
Love Amy Tan and the Joy luck club… such an awesome quote. xo
I love your perspective and your ability to put experience into a beautiful rhythm of words.
Congratulations to the happy couple. Life is meant to be celebrated!
in love with the last paragraph. YES.
i like to do all the talking myself. it saves time, and prevents arguments.