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Jellyfish Memorial Weekend: We still kicked it tho...

Spiegro's picture
Submitted by Spiegro(612)
Contributor
June 15, 2011 - 10:55am

This past Memorial Day weekend, me and my family decided on a whim we were going to spend the weekend at the beach.

That's kind of a big deal for us. We all have busy, complicated lives and our schedules don't typically allow  us to take a (mini) vacation together. We had family flying in, and we decided we could all use a fun, relaxing time at the beach.

If you read any of the Central Florida news from that weekend you'll quickly realize this trip was doomed before we even set off towards Cocoa Beach. An infestation of jellyfish meant swimming in the water was, shall we say, hazardous to your health.

In defiance of the jellyfish swarm, we got in the water. My son and my father lead the way, with my wife and my mother protesting, from the safety of the dry sand of course.

Yes, we got stung. Luckily they were small jellfish and not the type with a particularlly potent or dangerous sting. My kids cried a little, but got over it quickly with the mere suggestion of going home early. There were moments when the tide took most of the jellyfish out into the ocean, and then there were moments the beach looked like this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is no joke, an ACTUAL PHOTO from Cocoa Beach, FL during Memorial Day Weekend 2011. The entire beach was like this...

But we played soccer, threw the frisbie, drank beer, laughed, and generally had a fun time. Nothing went as intended, but we made the most of it.

Just about everyone that went in the water was stung a bit, but we all survived. The trip defenitely didn't go as planned, but it was such a rare moment to be together that we didn't care. We laughed about it, and talked about how it'll be remembered as Jellyfish Memorial Weekend, a time to remember the weekend we went to the beach and all got stung by jellyfish.

How about you? Got a story of things not going wrong, but still making the most of it? Share!

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Comments

drskillzz
drskillzz48 weeks 3 days ago

I read about the jellyfish

I read about the jellyfish infestation... crazy. Ya'll made the best of it. I do have a similar story. I just spent the past 4 days with my family in Omaha, NE celebrating the life of my late Grandpa who passed last week at the age of 98. Grandpa was the glue that held the family together... we're talking over 33 grandchildren and countless great-grandchildren. He was the family patriarch, a wise soul, highly reverred, and in our eyes the most interesting man in the world. The coming together of family was a roller coaster of emotions.... sadness, drama, laughter and reflection. "We still kicked it tho..."  The circumstances of our reunion were not ideal (i.e. jellyfish on the beach), but the outcome was inspiring; a family bonding experience that changed us all for the better. Make the most. 

 


Spiegro
Spiegro48 weeks 3 days ago

I didn't even think of that,

I didn't even think of that, but lost loved ones usually bring out the conflicting emtions; the joy of having your family together and the sadness that is painfully evident.

I too shared in that painful experience Skillz, twice actually. I lost both of my grandmothers to cancer within two years of each other, and both could be described just like your late grandfather.

They were the focal point for everything, admired by everyone, loved by everyone, and they'd be missed more than most when they were gone.

But in their passing they did what they always did best: They brought the whole family together and made us appreciate each other more. And of course we kicked it, hard. I mean it's not everyday you get all the cousins, aunts, and uncles together!

Great connection Skillz, albeit a much more dramatic one. Many thanks for sharing.

And sincere condoloences to you and yours. 98 years is quite a run no matter how you look at it, but that your grandfather was such a great person means he lived enough for several lifetimes. The pain of missing them never stops, but after a while you won't want it to. Reminds you they were more than just a memory.