A "Working" Vacation

After a year, I’ve made my return, as promised, to a place that I truly enjoy. Although I will not me making my mark for 6 weeks like last summer, my drive here was enough to leave me nostalgic with the memories of Fire Island, rocket fuels, solo brews on the way to the city, nights in the city, (insert rides home from the city here [unremembered]), snow balls, big family house parties, and afternoon cocktails; a genuine working vacation. Sometimes I feel more at home here, than in my native city of Virginia Beach. Not that I know where much is… Actually I don’t know where anything is. I usually ask for directions to the gas station. I have a 15 minute drive to work at the beach off of the Ocean Parkway and I have no reason to go anywhere else than “home.” I am on Long Island, NY in West Islip. I have come here to run surfing camps again, as I did last summer.

It is here that I live like a king. Daily, I drink as many Long Island Ice Teas Vodka Martinis on the rocks with a thin slice of lemon as I eat meals; usually about 4 or 5. These Italians will not let you walk away from the table… literally. After a meal at this kitchen table it is borderline impossible to do anything, but thank the cook and advise others how full you really are. They exchange the same details. At a meal time it is crucial that you eat double the amount that you would normally need in ordinary circumstances. The food is too good to turn down. Homemade Italian from real Italians, need I say more? I look at the meal on my plate and basically everything came from the garden or was created in the pots, pans, or cutting boards that now relax in the bubble bath sink before being massaged clean.

After teaching local Long Islanders, City Dwellers, and Jersey Shore kids to surf all morning my afternoons are completely reserved for pool swimming, book reading, and hammock napping.

Needless to say, life is good. And getting better… I need another beer.