295/365 - Padre

Michael spent a lot of time on Padre Island when he was growing up here in Texas. A few years after we met, Michael wanted to show me the place where he had so many wonderful childhood memories, so he took me camping on North Padre Island. Unfortunately, it was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. It was really hot, incredibly humid, and the mosquito's were so veracious they almost ate me alive. I barely slept that night and couldn't wait to leave the next day! Years later, after promising it would be much better than our first trip, he took me to South Padre Island where we rented the beach house he and his family had gone to for many, many years. Staying in an rickety old house on stilts was heavenly compared to our previous camping adventure, but I still have to admit I wasn't impressed with the beaches in Texas as they're nothing like what I was used to growing up in California and Hawaii. However, over time, Padre grew on me, and I've now come to appreciate it's unique character and charm. Sure the sand is a bit course and not super white, and there's hardly a palm tree to be found, but where else can you rent a beach house right on the beach for an entire month for a $1000 and let your dogs run free on the beach so they can chase gulls and romp in the surf? I can't remember the number of times we've been back since that first unforgettable visit, but it's been a lot and we still go every chance we get. And, I'll admit, Padre now holds a very special place in my heart because of all the amazing memories I have from our time spent there.

Our favorite time of year to go to Padre is in either late September or anytime in October. The summer heat and humidity are gone and yet it's usually sunny and beautiful. The water is still warm, the crowds are minimal, the stores have everything on sale, and the fishing is great. So in true Rush family tradition, we were going to pull the kids out of school for a few days and spend a long weekend in Padre...that is until we learned that there was a bad Red Tide down there right now, so we had to change plans. I don't know who was more bummed, me, Michael, the kids or the dogs. :o( Boo Hoo!

Since I couldn't post a picture taken at Padre today like I was looking forward to, I thought I'd share this photo instead. It was taken about 15 years ago. Looking at it makes me realize how much has changed since then.

Left to Right:
Michael & I...well, we really haven't changed all that much...
Sky & Quinn (dogs)...both are angels now
Robin & Kim w/her arm on Cody...Robin & Kim are no longer together and Cody is about to become a father himself...oh my
Nancee (peaking out in the middle between Kim & Cody)...hasn't changed too much either
Bob and Mom (to Bob's left)...are angels now and both passed too young from things that shouldn't have been
Jeni, Rusty & Holly...Jeni is half this size now, Rusty is...well just Rusty... and Holly isn't a girl anymore, she's turned into a beautiful young woman
Clancy (red dog laying down)...another angel amongst us