Vacation... the Replay

Favorite Bridge into Delaware

So.  Vacation.  With the chickadees (who I adore)(as you no doubt have realized)(and not even because I HAVE to)(Okay fine, sometimes because I HAVE to) A-hem.  

A bit of back story for you. 

(A digression?)(Say it ain't so)( too late) 

Growing up, from Ohio, to Connecticut, back to Ohio, to Upstate New York,  my family went camping for vacation. Each.and.Every.Weekend.  (which was actually super fun)(we were kids, we had NO idea how much work was involved in this)(my poor parents... good Lord) Set up ALL the things. Cook on a propane stove. Boil water for dishes. No coffee pot.  No electricity.  Bugs. Kill Me. 

To Review:  My version of camping as a kid?" Tents! and swimming! and s'mores! 
To Update: My current idea of camping?  Best Western instead of a Marriott.  #truestory

ANY. way.

When I was 16 (and had a job!)(actually 2)(some things never change, evidently)  I begged respectfully asked if we might, perhaps, just possibly, maybe, kinda could sorta "try" out a hotel for our vacation.  Dad, ever up for a goddamn teaching moment told me, " you research it, here's a budget and if you can find something, then we will go."  

PS ~  this?  was PRE internet.  (I know!)(Can you IMAGINE?) thus, I wrote to scads of Chamber of Commerce(s) down the eastern seaboard.  (The ocean was a prerequisite)  And received: catalogs.and.brochures.and.flyers.and.catalogs.and.brochures.and.flyers.  Good Heavens.  

I pored over catalogs, eliminating some resorts (as in ALL resorts) (umm, the word "resort" was not conducive with the budget)(trust me) Eventually deciding that the Bidlake clan MUST head to Delaware, and nowhere else would do.  (Ummm... I may have chosen this based on the applicable motel advertising complimentary popcorn and peach Hi-C in the lobby. All.the.day.long.) (Have I mentioned I was a fat kid?)(no, really, I was)(snacks DROVE this vacation choice)  

Best part?  In addition to the popcorn being delightful (!) Rehoboth Beach? was a hit out of the park.  My family has been going, well, since then.  We went together until I have to get a "real" (read: no vacation time for the first year)(humph) job, and my parents have gone every summer since then. (no, I'm not giving you the year)(Pretty sure the two of you reading know how old I am but I'm certainly not going to leave a map for anyone else)(heh heh) 

Oh My Word.  This is droning on for-ev-er.  Get to it, Charlie.  

SO. 

Last year, my father offered to take ALL of us to Rehoboth (okay, Dewey)(same thing) for vacation.  (even with multiple jobs, beachfront vacations do NOT figure into our little world)(yes, I know I buy a lot of shoes and clothes and ALL the things)(Hush)(there was a sale) 

And the family went.  And a new generation of seashore lovers was born. 

The chicks and the cousins

 
 And Dad, in his ultimate generosity, offered this to us AGAIN this year. (well aware of how lucky I am, trust me)(he's pretty fabulous all in all)

Turns out?  It ended up being just yours truly and the chicks this year.  Which makes for fabulous story telling.  Which I promise to do next time.  Pinky swear.  

Muah!