By Georgia Osten
We plan, we scheme, then, like Magic, it’s finally here! There’s a group of us who have gone together year after year for (I think) seven years now. I missed one, I don’t remember why? Certainly not because I didn’t want to be there, The Stars just didn’t line up … For 3 or 4 years now, we’ve tailgated. Right? I think we started it! You should see all who have followed in our path! We happen to get parked up front, by circumstance only (Thanks, Paul!). Mel always makes her chicken salad, Tammy (or Tammy’s husband) made some too. I made deviled eggs, Kel made her ham/cheese sliders, Leigh brought cheese, dips and crackers and chips, Barbara made Pigs in a Blanket and Blueberry Muffins, and Kel and I brought a few donut holes. Libations are not allowed (shhhhhhhhhh).

We met up at Leigh’s at 8am, me and Sandy climbed into the back of the huge Toyota (I always grab the back, my daughter is an “aggressive” driver, and I’m a “back-seat driver,” it’s all good). Oh, btw, Sandy is a long-time friend from our San Antonio days, going back at least 20 years. Wow, She hasn’t changed a bit – family and friends, we go way back!

First time for our Kelly! It was so fun to envision it through her eyes. I kept telling her, “It’s going to knock your socks off, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen!” It’s magical, and seeing her enjoy it all was magical. AND, she shopped like “one of the family,” we even had to go back to Round Top before we left! Atta Girl!

Anyway, Leigh and Kelly planned our “Team” shirts, gathering everyone’s sizes and having each appliqued and screen-printed alike. Kel and I searched out League City for light-up necklaces the night before, finally found them at Party City.

We shopped ’til we dropped. We managed to keep together throughout the whole day, we broke for lunch and refreshments, we met again for a snack and refreshments, we landed again around 5:30pm for a snack and refreshments – then we realized we only had another 30 minutes until the doors closed – Holy Mackerel! Off we go, back in!!

We closed the place down!

We all piled into our respective “loaded” cars, and headed off to the South! Leigh warned us to “turn off” our flashing necklaces. “But, why?” “We love them!”

I’m prohibited from saying “why.” But, secretly … Last year, as we were driving home on the I-45, our “driver” happened to catch a glimpse of all the flashing lights around her and thought we were being apprehended by the authorities. Turned out to only be our necklaces … Yes Ma’am, they’re off, “we’re in the clear!”

GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you. Email: [email protected]

[11-18-2019]