Yes, I'm back. I can't believe that it has actually been 11 days since I last posted. I was originally hoping to get back into the blog-seat on Sunday, having returned from the Garden State on Saturday, BUT I have been resting nicely with my family for the past two day and it felt good. Time sure flies though. It feels like only yesterday that I was nursing my son back to health and praying to the Beach Gods that the little guy wouldn't be sick on our vacation (side note: he was just fine all week - he was having a minor reaction to some vaccinations he got at his doctor visit).
My family had a great week at the Jersey Shore. Because we went in September, the "peak" of the beach season had already passed. As a result, the crowds were small (or non-existent) and rates were cheap. The weather was pleasant (for the most part) and the water temperature was in the high 70s and low 80s on the Fahrenheit scale. Nice. The Boy and the Bean both had a splendid time playing in the sand and water - and the grandparents (my folks) really enjoyed watching the kids have fun.
I also had the opportunity to 'hit the links' with my dad for the first time in nearly three years. I love playing golf, but never have the money to get out and play. Needless to say, I didn't score very well, but I did hit par on a couple of holes. Not too shabby for an amateur amateur.
T'was a great week for all involved, but it's also nice to be home. I've heard some people say that you "need a vacation from your vacation", and in my case this mantra does ring true. The kids loved being at the shore, but it's nice to be back into their routine of naps and snacks.
I feel like I've missed so much. So much that I don't even know where to begin...
I'm proud to say that I watched very little television while on vacation. I occasionally did watch Morning Joe or the Today Show while I drank my coffee. However, the family was usually lathered with sunscreen and headed to the sand by about 9:00 am. It did rain on Tuesday (September 11th) but we did not watch any of the news coverage. Instead, my family popped in Over The Hedge, a funny animated comedy that was great for the kids AND the adults.
I'm sure that many people will scoff at my apparent insensitivity to the remembrance of September 11th, 2001. But they would be ignorant and misguided in their scoffing. Here are my two reasons why...
1:: I have two kids, one of which is extremely aware of what goes on around him. Last year on 9/11, I had cable news on in the living room (as I do many days) and he saw footage of the planes hitting the WTC. I'm not exaggerating when I say that he still talks about this event whenever he plays with his toy planes. I didn't want to have to explain again what happened on that awful day. In addition, he is merely four-years-old and cannot understand why someone would intentionally hurt someone else in such a way.
2:: I do not need to watch footage of planes crashing and buildings collapsing to memorialize those lives that were senselessly lost six years ago. I do not need to listen to dumbass pundits praddle on about al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden to remember the pain that we, as a nation, felt on that day - and the days ever since. There were numerous times last week when, in my own silent way, I remembered that day and what it now means to me - and my country. I still grieve for those most affected by the tragedy. Life moves on, but I do not believe (as others do) that we will forget anytime soon what happened in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. on a sunny day in September of 2001.
That said, I really did have a nice vacation. Ugh, what a buzzkill.
Anyway, I hope to be covering all of the big news in politics and, as usual, NOT covering any O.J. Simpson, Britney Spears or Paris Hilton pseudo-news.
Great to be back.
Bert McBrayer - Founder/Editor
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