By Georgia Osten
I never get the birthdays right. When we arrived at the skating rink yesterday for his party, I was taken aback by the cake with a big number “7” on it. I thought he was 8? Glad I didn’t buy that “Big Boy #8” birthday card I saw at WalMart! I remember his birth so well. We were in North Carolina taking care of the older two, and it snowed on his Birthdate!

I remember going to WalMart (again) and everyone was stocking up on snow supplies. It was kind of like here when we’re expecting a hurricane. But, snow? I just couldn’t wrap my arms around the urgency.

But let’s go back to the birthday party at a skating rink “of all places.” Man oh Man, did that take me back. It had to be every weekend growing up, every Saturday night for sure. I guess my Mom would have to come pick me up when the skating rink was closing. Had to have someone pick me up because I sure wasn’t driving at that stage. If I were driving, I sure wouldn’t have been skating, I would have been driving!

Oh, those were the days, good clean fun! Skating to music, round and round, in the same direction. Races, doing the Hokey Pokey … I’ve gotta tell you, my feet were itching to put on some skates yesterday just to see if I could still do it. There was a guy out there on skates, had to be my age … It’s so cool, he never grew up.

My son and daughter-in-law, who are fully grown with 3 kids, were invited to a grown up skating party just the other night. The rink was rented by a grown up Birthday Kid, the event began at 10 pm when the rink closed to the public. A bar and grown up refreshments were served. Now, that I can’t imagine – skating and drinking.

And, of course I remember when we were a lot younger and the metal skates that attached to your shoes and you wore your skate key on a chain around your neck. Yep, those were the days, I’m so happy I got the chance to experience those good times growing up.

Y’all polish up your skating skills, next year I think we’ll have a Senior’s Skating Party for my birthday.

GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you. Email: [email protected]

[Feb-11-2020]