Imagination is why we grow in Wisdom

While you are sitting on the beach this year in deep intellectual meditation, take a few minutes and watch the kids on the beach. They don’t seem to have a care in the world; they don’t think about money, job, school, dinner, cars, bags or anything like that! They just don’t care! They are in the” zone” they are one with the world that God has bestowed them. They have the ability to sit there for hours, utilizing the tools at hand such as; water, sand, sticks shells creating magical kingdom that takes them far far away from the toils of everyday life. They have no desires for material items other than what will help them build their dreams unlike the thing so called adult obsess about. They just have a need for creativity thus using the greatest gift of all our imaginations. They have captured the ability to take a small narrow confining box (our minds) and expand it to the reaches that only they know. Now we all know the perfect example of imagining and creating versus stupidity (Some adults on the beach) . “The Turtle Killer” There is a fine line between imagination and stupidity, and that man crossed it the day he was born. Instead of letting his offspring (in this case I use that term loosely) use their creativity he hands them a shovel (I guess that he must be on the president’s staff and got that shovel for one of his “shovel ready jobs”) that is used on a construction site, and starts to dig a pit to china!  He is taking his children’s development away from them by not letting them use their own minds! I bet they sit at home all day playing video games while mom and dad are at work. My prediction for those kids they will be sitting there long after the old man is gone teaching their kids to dig holes to china, while the next generation of Maloney’s will be sitting there calling them “turtle killers”. So enough of the negative, This year we must all use this time away from the daily grind and problems that each of us face, and take a lesson from the children on the beach…. Forget our knowledge and use our wisdom, or in other words for the first time in 46 years in my case forget the box which I call my world and expand to the imagination that I had when I was a young pup! Sand shovels and buckets will be supplied!

I have some good news and some bad news. If you all remember a few years ago a rare late Friday storm, caused me to forget our original beach watch as we were forced to evacuate the beach. Jay was kind enough to supply us with a couple new ones, but the battery has gone in the last one! So yesterday, I made a trip to target with the intention of getting the battery replace, and found it prudent just to purchase a new official beach watch. Let me tell you it’s a great addition to our beach experience.  First the numbers are big, so those with aging eyes will be able to tell time without glasses, and second, it has the ability to have different alarm settings. You may be asking yourself why an alarm would be a good thing since I just suggest that we forget all of the trappings of everyday life, and use our imagination. Well this will only help us achieve that goal. For example, we no longer will have to be thinking about the itinerary Uncle Byron he will no longer have the fear of not having Karen’s umbrella be put up on time, he doesn’t have to stop his mind from being imaginative, his concern will all be eliminated be it the first activity of the day or the final (you know chair and umbrella up and then chairs and umbrella down)   

Below you will find a preliminary list of alarm settings: If you all had smart phones I would not need the alarms, I would just set up the tasks and send reminders to everyone!

Alarm 1…. 5:50AM that will give you all time to get down to the beach for the morning walk. I researched the tide and sun cycles, sun up at 6:22. (a little side note: it looks like the perfect time for the family portrait is Tuesday or Wed evening, so since I am taking all this time to make every last minute of your vacation productive someone else can take this on )     Assignment: Alex run to Staawrbucks and get everyone a coffee, your old man said he would spring for the cost, since he is buying, I would also like one of those breakfast sandwiches your choice as the kind, and since you are being so nice, I bet he would not care if you got one for yourself.                                                                                                                                                                        Alarm 2…. 11:30 Group fun time! We all gather to watch Andy Griffith show on TV land.  Assignment Andrew check the cable company and find out what station TV land is being broadcasted and then post the episode on the selected TV. This will provide all of Andy’s fans the opportunity to try and figure out what old Andy, Otis, Barn, and Aunt B’s adventures will entail.                                                                                                       Alarm 3…. 12:07 Umbrella set up, and chair delivery.  Assignment:   Byron read the local tide charts so that you can choose the optimum location for set up. According to the established ground rules, the chair and umbrella must be in position for maximum comfort, 3 minutes prior to group beach time.                                                                                     Alarm 4…12:10 assigning people to dinner duty for the following day.  Assignment:  Ashleigh posts the following day’s chief, exact time, menu and location for dinner.  This list will be on a laminated sheet and posted in each condo.                                                                                                                                           Alarm 5: 12:13 gather in parking lot to either go to the beach or field trip. Assignment: Lauren takes attendance if you are late or missing (see ground rules). She will use a laminated card and grease pencil and document the time of each person’s arrival. After Byron returns from his putting up the umbrella and chairs task, we can proceed to the beach. (Thus the three minutes, you better run buddy)                                                                                               Alarm 6:  2:45 General hospital. Assignment: Karen and invited guest to go back to the condo to watch general hospital.                                                                                                                                                     Alarm 7: Gather on beach for family activities, to include: walking, Frisbee, that game where you roll the balls, etc.  Assignment: Sarah, plan and organize the daily group activity, you can take suggestions from people but your word is final, isn’t mandatory fun a marvelous thing!                                                                                                                              Alarm 8: 4:48, wine and cheese.  Assignment, Natalie, go up to the condo each day and bring back Rex and whatever else you think might be good to feed us.  If anyone has any suggestions please give them to her by COB Friday, they must be in writing and post marked, so that there is no confusion during the week if you did not get your request.                                                                                                                                     Alarm: 9 6:06 clear the beach of all chairs, coolers, etc. assignment: Byron since you are special you get two things per day! I am specifically talking about our STUFF, but if you see it in your heart to help someone like the turtle killer’s wife then more power to you, Hey here is an idea, you could walk the beach and see if anyone needs any help, and they might just give you a tip, that could offset some of the cost you will have in purchasing us our coffee each morning, it would also bring you back to your child hood, just like doing delivering all of those newspapers! (See I do try and help). Just don’t be late for dinner.                                                                                                                                                                      Alarm 10:   7:15 Call for dinner. Assignment: Jay meet and greet everyone as they are walking in the door, a tux would not be out of the question on this activity. For those who live in the designated condo for the assigned meal, they must leave and return so that they will receive a  proper greeting. You will be expected to provide a drink for everyone as they enter the door, and then seat them in their assigned seats for dinner, now in case of rain, you may have to provide a taxi service along with umbrellas.                                                                                                                                                                         Alarm 11: 9:15 end of the day stroll on the beach Assignment: Adam, guide people safely to the beach lead the walk and make sure people are returned home safely. At times we have spotted wild animal in the parking lot, and especially at the tree line. I think that they come out at night to feed; the time of this activity may vary (+ or- 10 minutes) depending on the tides, so you must become familiar with the tide schedule. Once you have reached your decision makes an announcement at dinner as to the time and place for the group to gather before proceeding to the beach. I might suggest that you take a whistle and spot light given the unexpected things you may encounter on the way.