Seaside Sisters

We all popped out of bed well rested and ready for a simple breakfast of eggs and buttered toast.  Patrick made a pot of hot Lavazza coffee.  Everyone doctored their cup of coffee to their liking, then we slowly unfurled in the light of the soft sun rising over the gulf coast.  Salt kissed the air and the sun would soon kiss our skin. It was a perfect morning in Seaside.  

My whole family enjoys going to the beach, but the love my sister and I have for it is next level.  Seaside in particular is so special.  It’s a feast for the senses.  All good things are at your fingertips, and the ocean makes its relentless offering of peace and beauty.  For my sister and I, it has all the things we most love to do together- beach, shopping, good food, great people watching and adult drinks with cute little umbrellas.  

My sister wasn’t a big drinker (nor am I), but, when we were on vacation together, it always called for a delicious well garnished adult beverage… each night!  And, after we’d ordered our drink, she’d always say, “You know, I never drink like this.”  I would nod my head, antagonizing her with “of course not” and one eyebrow raised. One night while picking up dinner at Pickle’s Burger & Shake, we stumbled upon a menu of pickle infused drinks.  We decided we’d come back later, order pickle margaritas and enjoy them while sitting at a tall two top table with an ocean view, just the two of us. 

Once we finished our dinner and Patrick summoned River to take his shower and start winding down for bed, Susan and I joyously headed out to get our much anticipated pickle margarita.  We placed our order, and the first drink prepared had Susan’s name on it.  It was beautiful and garnished to perfection with pickles and olives thoughtfully lined up on a toothpick balancing on the rim of a plastic cup with that perfect Pickles logo.  Minutes later, my drink followed.  We sauntered over to the table and watched and listened to the waves as they crashed on the beach and also the gaggle of teen girls not far from us art directing the 9,000 selfies they snapped.  Half annoyed, we shifted our attention back to our pickle margaritas and the good company of one another.  It was a perfect night for two sisters to be out on the town, low key but ready for adventure.  

As it turned out the pickle margaritas were strong.  And, loving all things pickles but being light weights didn’t make for a long night.  When we reached the bottom of our glasses, slurping the final drink from our straws like two dehydrated animals, we tucked our tall chairs in and headed back to the house where we’d plotted walking into a quiet house where everyone was fast asleep, getting into our cozies and perching on the couches, lights low, with our beach reads we’d purchased at Sun Dog the day prior.  But, as we were walking, I noticed that we’d started out side by side, arms brushing each other, then we’d stray from one another before bouncing off one another again.  It was like two pin balls in a machine.  Could we be?  No.  Not possible.  Tipsy?  I suppose that made more sense.  

There was lots of laughter.  I mean, deep belly laughs until we walked up the stairs and entered the house.  We both looked at each other in agreeance that our plan to lounge and read would ensue after getting into our cozies.  I was first out on the couch with my book awaiting my sister’s arrival.  Within minutes, she joined and in unison we would read.  That was the vision.  The next time I looked over the top of my book at my sister, she was out like a light, sitting up with her book in hand.  I woke her soon after and sent her on her way to bed.

The next morning, over eggs and buttered toast, we laughed and laughed at the power of the pickle margarita.  Who knew it could be that good and also that strong.  After the laughter dissipated, we began to plot when we’d be in Seaside next, have another pickle margarita and lots of laughs.  I turn fifty in early February.  And, waking up on the 3rd together in Seaside sounded like one heck of a plan.  So, we put it in the books and eagerly anticipated our next trip.

In early August, my sister passed.  There won’t be another trip to Seaside together or pickle margaritas or laughter or lounging with our beach reads.  There won’t be another memory made with my sister which makes all the memories, like the one I just shared, precious.  I share this story because my sister was a blessing.  I’m equal parts sad and grateful.  In grief, the two can coexist.  I think of my sister and smile and cry and laugh and question.  Then, I thank a good God for the gift that she was in my life for forty-nine years.  My sister was my first friend and best friend.  She was also my first customer and my best customer.  The Seaside Sisters Collection is a nod to who she was and will forever be to me, my Seaside Sister and true beauty.  

If you have a sister, love her well.  Forgive her hard.  And, never take her for granted.  Moments become memories.  Make sure they’re good ones.  

Stay Divine, 

JL PARISH