Kim Wilbanks

Making Preparations

It’s the height of hurricane season and as a Floridian, I need to be prepared. I’m a lifelong resident of Florida, so I know the drill. We have our sandbags ready. We know what we need to stow away if bad weather threatens, and we’ll get our water and other supplies when we know there’s a chance a storm is heading our way.

But we have made different preparations recently. We are getting ready for a month-long visit to the beach with our grandsons.

Our Special Place

My family has a long-running history with beautiful Anna Maria Island, Florida. Dad grew up spending his summers on the island when he was a boy. My parents spent their honeymoon in Anna Maria (sixty-five years ago this week). I recall many trips to this coastal area when I was a child and a teen.

My husband and I visited the beach before we were married and then early in our marriage. We would walk the beach and notice the families with young children building sand castles or splashing in the surf. “One day”, we said, “that will be us”. And it was.

Our family visited the beach often, but then our children grew up and went to college. They left the nest and moved away. However, we still managed to visit the island, spending our days walking the beach or riding bicycles, lost in thoughts of owning a place of our own. This time, when we walked the beach, we noticed older couples with small children—grandparents. “One day”, we said, “that will be us.”

And now it’s time. Another dream is coming true. We are so excited to experience what we dreamed of years ago.

A Different Kind Of Preparation

There’s much work to be done to prepare for our grandsons’ arrival. Suddenly, we see our house at the beach in a whole new light. It has been dog-proofed but now it needs to be baby-proofed.

I ordered a huge package of outlet covers and cabinet locks. We have a gate for the stairs and a high chair for the toddler. Blackout curtains—check. Matching swimsuits and beach t-shirts for the boys—check. We’ve identified what we need to move or put away and transported a rocking chair from home. We’ve inventoried beach chairs, umbrellas, cabanas and toys (we need a few more of those). When it gets closer to their arrival, I’ll stock the refrigerator with their favorite things.

At my age, I hate to wish the time away, but I can’t wait until the middle of September. I can’t wait to play in the surf and sand with my older grandson. I can’t wait to teach him the names of all the seashells, just like my dad taught me. I can’t wait to show him the sea life at the pier or the Aquarium. I can’t wait to hear him laugh at the antics of the squawking seagulls. I can’t wait to experience one of my favorite places through his little eyes.

My younger grandson is fairly new to this world, so I look forward to snuggling with him and whispering, “Isn’t God’s creation amazing?”

We pray that a hurricane doesn’t come to our part of the coast and interrupt our holiday. If one does, it’s a short drive to evacuate back home. As long as we’re together, it will be okay.