Planning the “Girl’s Beach Trip” this year meant battling tropical storms, cancellations, insurance claims, and scoring an insurance reimbursement. But the hardest trick of all was rescheduling five days for four busy ladies and finding a beach front room with a view during spring break. To say it was complicated is an understatement. But for those who are determined, success is always guaranteed. A condo on the beach with a view was found, and as usual. I packed several more bathing suits, than scheduled number of days at the beach. All of the girls were able to locate our “beach vacation rings” we wear on our trips, and Bonnie, our designated driver, managed to fit all of our luggage in the van, while still having the ability to see out of the rear-view mirror, no easy task!

With all the excitement of four “70 plus year teenagers at heart” going on spring break, we stopped for breakfast at the Avon Diner, took a short shopping trip at Macy’s and Dillard’s, and arrived at our destination, all before happy hour. Finding our assigned parking place proved difficult, as not only was it not numbered, but a vacant space also had an orange caution cone marking its significance. The parking cone’s familiarity was something we easily related to. Did we really travel two hours only to land in the world of Tanglewood caution cones?   Without a doubt destiny dictated, this was and our parking space!

We merrily celebrated at dinner, and one of us (me) was babysat by the others as my two martinis were true masterpieces and required immediate consumption. Our first night of vacation included our annual ring picture, and the following day was breathtaking. The perfect beach. The perfect temperature. The perfect salty breeze, which was enough to keep us cool, but not enough to blow sand in our faces. Our only disappointment was the promised Tiki bar was still closed from the last storm. But that was insignificant considering all perfection would abruptly end at 4:00, when uncontrollable pain would begin, requiring an ambulance ride at 5:30, and emergency surgery in the middle of the night for sepsis, a stent, and a kidney stone.

No one ever knows what hour, of what day, or what week, our lives will suddenly change from joy and delightful expectations to a life-threatening emergency. Being seniors, we are at a time in our lives when “shit” literally happens, and the perfect storm arrives.  One minute you are holding a pretty cocktail with and umbrella in it, and the next minute our hands are folded, selfishly praying to God to take the pain away and for more time on earth Our destiny is completely out of control, and we are at the mercy of others. I was lucky, my besties were my angels! When I was in pain, they were there to soothe me and call for an ambulance. Bonnie was incredibly ingenuous in inventing a makeshift heating pad by microwaving a plastic baggy filled with water and securing it with masking tape. It worked like a charm and was incredibly comforting even though the paramedic rolled his eyes when he picked it up and said, “What is this?”

After the surgery I was taken to my room and the next morning I noticed, “Holly Batshit, Robin!” Low and behold, I had a room with a view! Not that I was in any mood to celebrate, but I thought how ironic! My beach week with the girls turned out to be a disaster. I had so many mishaps with the medical care, including having to scream for help in the hallway because my hands and arms ballooned up in size, to look like they belonged to a 300-pound woman because IVs were not inserted in veins. This happened twice. But, seriously, what the heck? I survived another crisis which is almost guaranteed with our age and am still alive. And my sweet Daryl, as always, was right by my side. My optimism is always with me, and there is always next year for another girl’s beach trip, and a “Room with A View!”