Then and Now

Spending time on the beach gave me lots of time to think. Dangerous...really. I needed a break from reading a book my sister sent me, called Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland. It's a wonderful story about Renoir's life in Paris in the 1880's. But, I'm a lazy reader, so the plot has to be filthy or scary to keep me turning the pages. This is neither, but it is so well written and the story is so authenic, that I'm actually learning something about the Impressionists. So, as I read this book, I rewarded myself by taking breaks. Well, this was one. I started comparing how I spend time at the beach now with how I spent time at the beach then.

This shot was taken at Myrtle Beach in the 60's. We spent four summers there working at various restaurants and just livin' the life. This was our first summer. What fun!



Here's my list of comparisons:

• suntan lotion -then- baby oil and iodine, now-any suntan lotion with SPF of 45
• things to take to the beach -then-towel and lotion, now-towel, lotion, chair, umbrella, book, magazine, and cooler
• beach reading-then-Peyton Place, Valley of the Dolls, Cosmo, now-Dorthea Benton Frank, Anne Rivers Siddons, Grissom, and Patterson
• towel position-then-right smack in front of the pavilion, or near the lifeguard stand, now- as far away from people as possible
• beverage-then- Pepsi, now- wine, maybe a little water
• footware-then-Dr. Scholls, now- cheap flip flops
• hours spent on the beach-then-from 10-2..had to go to work around 5, now- as long as we want
• exercise on the beach-then-never! now-walk when I feel like it
• bathroom at the beach-then-in the ocean, now-in the condo

Well, that's my list. Feel free to send me any of your ideas, and I'll add them to this post. Click on comments at the bottom of this post, and you'll be able to add yours.

FYI: At the top are me and Mary; middle-Barbara and Karen, hanging on the sides, Linda and Penny; front- Connie.