I am leaving tomorrow for the beach–the whole family is going for a week to a great house we found in Pensacola, Florida, right on the Gulf. One thing I don’t understand about Florida is that I can never find decent seafood in a restaurant.

Usually, I stress over the preparation for this week, but as I load the car up tonight, I am noticing that this year I have embraced a much more relaxed attitude about packing. Rather than checking each item off of a list before I place it into a suitcase, this year I find myself saying, I think I packed bathing suits.

I don’t care. I am just ready to hit the beach and relax. I have packed all sorts of books I won’t read.

I always say I am going to do it, but this year I am going to get a t-shirt air brushed with a line of poetry–Neruda, Redneck Riviera style.  “I” (pink) “am of the earth” purple writing, glitter starburst, “and with words” black bubble letters “I sing.” pink again, with a star dotting the i.

My son has been begging for this beach towel since last year when he spotted it in a shop window–obviously the answer is no.