RealityRamblings

I'll share my music state of mind. July 2009 my family traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I'd have to say, I've been to Myrtle Beach about 5-7 times throughout my childhood. It was either let's go to Myrtle Beach or Disney World, and Lisa and Tony always picked MB because it was closer, cheaper, easier to get to, etc. (Although we did go to Disney World a good number of times as well.) Every year we went besides last year, we stayed in the same condo on Lake Arrowhead Drive. This condo was five minutes from the beach, a short walking distance but seemed to take an eternity when you were seven and all you wanted to do was go swimming and get to the beach. We made it a habit to eat at Ryan's once while we were there, we played putt-putt every single day we were there, sometimes twice in one day, we went to the beach every single day, we flew kites, we essentially had the perfect family vacation. 
So last year around my birthday, we decided we wanted to go back to Myrtle Beach. Tony was hesitant, he "hates" the beach, thought it was too expensive, etc. In reality, its not as expensive as you think it would be. Yes, you have to pay for the food you'll consume, the condo you're staying at, but that's really all you have to pay for. The beach is free, the shopping complexes are free to walk around at, the pool is free. Free's a nice word. ahah. Anyways, he finally agreed to go to MB. July 2009, MB was ours. We left on a Friday afternoon and drove all the way to Wrigley, West Virginia.(Mind you, the soundtrack to our trip was Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits.) I've never been to a smaller town compared to Wrigley. We asked what was there to do and a local told us, "Go to town. Its right up over that hill." Sounded kinda sketchy but we figured what else are we going to do. This "town" was half the size of downtown Willoughby. It was tiny. So we drove through it, went back to the hotel room, and just relaxed. The next day, we drove and drove and drove and drove. We stopped for homemade peach ice cream, went the back way to MB that not many people know how to navigate and finally arrived in MB. Our condo was still on Lake Arrowhead Drive, but it was in a different building. Nevertheless, it was still MB. We unpacked and my Dad drove to the Super Wal*Mart and bought breakfast for us for a few days and other random stuff we forgot to bring. 
Throughout the week, we did the beach everyday, we shopped at night, went putt-putting, did everything we used to do when we were younger. To be honest, if I could live in MB with my family, I would in a heartbeat. Everyone is so calm and relaxed. I can say that my dad never yelled at any of us in the entire week we spent in MB, he was in such a good mood it was unbelievable. I was able to drive around MB by myself, exploring the back roads, with just Kenny Chesney singing to me. Every time any song from that CD plays, it brings me back to my favorite place. The palm trees, the relaxation, the happiness I experienced. It brings me back to that perfect place; MB was the perfect vacation getaway and my family enjoyed it so much. 
I'd do anything to go back this year. Anything at all to experience that happiness again.