Nov 25

Written by: host
11/25/2009 1:45 PM

I wasnt very old when we started coming to South Padre Island. We drove a long, long, long way to spend winter break at the beach. As the years went on we really didnt want to go anywhere else for winter break and soon found ourselves skipping out on the traditional Christmas too. Nobody really missed the dressing up, or the cooking, or hauling gifts and desserts over to a relatives house. Nobody really missed the overeating, the after dinner nap, the endless card games or the cool weather. In truth, the unwrapping of sweaters, mindless chit chat and washing of holiday dishes had grown a little tiresome. Our first Christmas at the beach felt like a true escape. That year we brought our presents in the car with us (the bows didnt survive well). Then we needed a tree. So after a bit of searching and some creative problem solving we cut a low palm frond off a palm tree near the pool and put it to a new use. Our palm frond decorations included peanut can tops reworked as a star, some mangled bows and a few dangling gum wrappers. But, it was glorious. And we have some eternally funny family photos around our makeshift tree. Soon we found ourselves embracing the idea of christmas dinner at a restaurant where others did the dishes. Then we grew rather fond of post-holiday dinner beach walks and beachfront christmas carols. All in all, there was more family bonding and togetherness than we ever had in our old routine. Yes, Christmas at the beach had its perks. New traditions were formed every year and new ideas of what tradition meant grew to mean more and more.

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus and he finds you at the beach too.

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