Her Favorite Thing

Her Favorite Thing

Shelley sits in her favorite orange and white striped beach chair, holding her camera and waiting for the precise moment the sun crests on the horizon. It seems to take forever as the sky turns from the darkest blue ever to a lighter shade, then the yellow starts to add more light before the sun ever appears. Soon, it will be worth the waiting as the orange melts into the yellow which has banished the night. Still her favorite thing in the world muses Mark, her life-long partner and best friend. He once thought he was her favorite thing, but nature won out every time. Or so he thought anyway.

She grins over at him once she’s finished capturing all the images she wants and says, “Shall we make a coffee run?”

“Sure” he says and they rise together and head for the Jeep. It's late summer and they are in her favorite vacation destination; Port Aransas. Shelley was sad that they just missed the Sand Art Festival but looking at the pics on the website had decided she didn't miss the crowds.

Together they drive to her favorite coffee shop called “Waves” and instead of hot coffee she orders a frozen, sugar-free frappuccino and Mark gets his favorite, a regular with whipped cream.No “diet” stuff for him. Shelley scoffs and picks out a table, looking at the gigantic blackboard as she sits. It's where they display in colorful chalk the specials, the flavors offered that day of gelato-another favorite - and the menu of paninis, sandwiches and wraps. Around the border are beautiful flowers and other artwork. She wonders who this talented person is. Do they work here in the shop or are they hired from one of the many art studios on the island?

Mark arrives with their order and they start to plan their day. Maybe a bike ride before heading back to the beach. No, Mark wants to fish, which sounds great to Shelley.

“Ok, beach or channel” she asks so she will know how to pack.

“Channel” he says, she agrees and hopes they get to see the crazy dude who surfs the wakes of ships when they pass by. The year they came and that happened left its mark on their hearts. It was a crazy but wonderous thing to see. So unexpected too. One second they are fishing and talking with friends Janet and Walter and the next, this guy comes up next to the bulk head on a single ski, riding the waves that a passing ship made. They stare and shout and once he’s ridden the wave put, he passes by them on the way back to his truck and chats a bit. They learn that he works nearby and does this crazy activity on his lunch breaks! What a life! Well, she can dream, she thinks as they head out of the coffee shop.

First, they have to stop by the RV, grab beach bags, fishing poles, chairs, and snacks. They will be there most of the day. Mark also grabs the tent cover so they don't roast in the sun.

Second, its off to the bait shop for fresh dead shrimp and other types of bait. Coming back to the Jeep, he packs everything neatly into the back and shuts the door before driving to Twice the Ice to fill the cooler. This is all old hat for the couple. They have been coming here so many years now it's starting to get monotonous.

It wouldn't be back in the beginning when their anniversary trip started the entire thing. Back then it was magical. From the beginning, she was entranced by Port Aransas. The smells, coming across on the ferry and looking for dolphins, the multi-colored beach houses and condos. She fell in love instantly.

Even though that first trip was chock-full of disasters, it was the most memorable trip of all. The repetition not of mistakes but of visiting all their favorite places to go is what cemented the joy they felt every time they arrived on the island. Mustang Island is a family-friendly place. Mark only went over to St Jo Island with her once, yet it remained one of her favorite things to do. So when they brought in-laws or friends, she would go with the female in the group for a few hours of fun combing the beach, and sometimes other places on that island. They had to ride the jetty boat to get there, whose fee seemed to rise every year the past five times they visited.

In fact, everything was so expensive now that Shelley felt like some of the magic was gone. The experience was also dampened by the huge crowds that started flocking to the island the more word got out.

Still, nature always won out. She loved going to the birding center, or taking pictures of seagulls and pelicans when they spent afternoons on the beach. She and her bestie Becky loved beach time the most. They could spend all day at either beach, combing for shells and playing in the water.

Now, however, things were different in some ways. Shelley had to realize her limitations as age and aching joints limited what she used to think was fun. No more riding on boogie boards in the waves. Her speed now might be floating on one. Nothing could keep her out of the water but cold. She hated going in the fall or winter. She was only a summertime girl.

She used to love to wake up before Mark and race to the beach, in the car or on foot, depending on where they stayed,to catch the sunrise and memorialize it for all time in a picture or video. Now though, trudging through the sand had become difficult and tiresome, so she mostly drove. The time before this one, she was still able to walk to the famous park, climb the watch tower, and take her shots. Now she waits impatient for Mark to get ready and get her there. He's been her rock though, she has to give him all the credit. He takes care of her to the point of neglecting himself, though she constantly protests that fact. God made sure she had the perfect man. He loved her so much that his favorite things fell to the wayside because he wanted to give her everything she dreamed of. She knows this and is grateful to God for sending this wonderful man into her life. Had she gone with any of her past beaus, none of this would have ever happened. Not to mention their two beautiful boys who grew up loving this place as well.

The day is done and after dinner they return to the beach, grab a spot and break out their chairs and get ready to watch the sunset. Like a fire on the horizon, together they watch as the colors change, darken, and finally the sun disappears below the horizon. She takes a sip of wine, seeks her lover's eyes and grabs his hand.

“Its been a great day, Honey” she says and gazes out at the waves cresting at the third sandbar out.

“It really has, hasn't it?” he replies and they sit long enough to finish their beverages before packing it in and heading off to dreams of doing it all over again tomorrow.