The hammocks caught my eye as my husband and I enjoyed the beach at the Playa Largo Resort and Spa for our anniversary trip to Key Largo.
According to Dictionary.com the word ‘hammock’ originated in 1545 in Hispaniola. Hmmm…that must mean that millions upon millions of people have rested on hammocks throughout the ages. I assume the majority of them actually used hammocks like we use Serta Sleepers (or waterbeds in the 80’s). But I also assume lots of them simply enjoyed hammocks as a restful place to appreciate an ocean view. That’s my favorite!
Earlier in the week, my husband and I sat on these hammocks for a bit, and, as usual, I fumbled into the hammock kicking sand into the air. Why can’t I ever just get in and out of a hammock gracefully? Truth be told, my husband helped me out of the hammock that day, probably averting a face plant right into the sand.
Our last few hours of vacation, my husband watching the Tour de France in our room, I spent some time alone on a hammock. Miraculously, I settled into the hammock rather easily. Relishing the coolness of the morning, with a nice breeze, resting in the hammock, refusing to contemplate how I was going to eventually get out of it!
One of my first thoughts: I should have painted my toenails. It’s vacation, for crying out loud, why didn’t I get a pedicure? I’m 56 years old (shhh); I should pamper myself a little more. My husband is good to me though, he will rub my feet, or even give them a salt scrub, when I ask. He is a good man.
Thoughts of my friends flood my mind. I text a short video to Kelly and Yolanda, letting them know that I saved them hammocks right next to mine. They are such good friends. Then I realize that I can name more than a dozen friends that I would love to have chatted the morning away with on those hammocks. Wow, I am truly blessed.
I remember our 2015 trip to Aruba with good friends, Tim and Kelly. While walking the beach one night, we saw a hammock that may or may not have been on someone’s private property. Either way, it was irresistible, and soon enough the four of us were all sitting on the one hammock enjoying the starry sky. I think this was the night Tim looked at his tablet and announced that an entire planet had disappeared. I assume that it must have reappeared at some point because that bit of information never made the evening news.
Following a beach walk with Tim, Kelly, Gene and Marilyn in Costa Rica (February 2016), we all welcomed the restful hammocks, covered in shade. I can still taste the ice cold, zesty, grapefruit soda. Awwww…that hit the spot! I also recall that people used hammocks a lot in Costa Rica. I saw hammocks strung between trees for resting upon, spread on the beach to sit on, as well as strung in the trees proving shade. That’s when I decided we should buy a hammock!
This trip was in celebration of our tenth anniversary. Most days it doesn’t seem like we’ve been married for ten years, but when I think of how far we’ve come together, it doesn’t seem possible that we’ve squeezed so much into so short a time. When we married, we both worked full time, each owned a home, and each still had a teenager in the house. Not that it was always easy, but I’m so proud to say that all of our children graduated high school without pregnancies or drug problems and everyone of them is financially self supporting. Yay! Bill and I now find ourselves more in love every day, retired, living on our sailboat in The Sunshine State, so excited about what God has planned for us next.
Please be on the lookout for hammocks, and when you find one, even if it might be on someone’s private property, I hope that you will find rest and count your blessings.
I’d love to hear your thoughts from a hammock!
