Sometime between my vacation in Panama City in July and our trip to Myrtle Beach later on in July (the 27th through August 3 to be precise), Christi and I broke up for good. This wasn’t the first time but it would be the last. Although I enjoyed this trip very much, our break-up loomed over it and I was relatively depressed for portions of it. I remember talking to Christi while I was there and trying to work things out, but it was never to be. I pressed on and tried to make the most of the week.
In one final symbolic act, I cast my white sailor’s bracelet - which had now become a dirty gray - into the ocean. It had been two years ago that Christi and I each purchased the same bracelet while in Myrtle Beach. While she had long before gotten rid of hers, I wore it continuously for two years up until this trip. While here, I bought a brand new bright white one.
This was my second trip to the Windy Shores (week 31) condo that my Grandma and Grandpa Murphy had purchased in the mid-eighties. With me were my Mom and Denise and also crammed into the two-bedroom condo were Bev and Ed and their kids Susan, Chris, and Karen - and of course Grandma and Grandpa Murphy.
With my new KISS shirt on the balcony of Windy Shores
Bev and Grandma cookin’ in the kitchen
Chris, Denise, and Karen down on the beach
Chris and Denise passing the old velcro ball
Denise as seen from our balcony
We did much of the typical Myrtle Beach fare during the week: miniature golf, cooking tacos, going over to the Links, swimming in the little pool and big ocean, watching Cheers, and going to the Pavillion. I can’t recall any other specifics - but do remember that I bartered with the ol’ rock t-shirt ship to get a KISS Destroyer and a tan tye-dye Smiths t-shirt.
I really enjoyed hanging out with Chris on this trip. Five years my junior, at just fourteen he was already developing the off-the-wall sense of humor that I loved so much. Even though he was disappointing by missing soccer conditioning (and thus later not making the team) he still managed to belt out some memorable witty dialogue.
Tennis with Chris at the Links. Ah, those were the days when I was taller than Chris and almost as skinny
Grandpa and Grandma Murphy hang out at the Links
Denise catches some rays
Bev and Susan
Denise prepares for a spashdown
At the Links. Christi always loved this photo because of the postcard picture-perfect upper half (lush greenery, beaming smile, and tan physique) and all of the garbage seen in the lower half (along with my pack of Marlboro Mediums)
To wit: while walking with him down the beach, we came upon a group of kids playing football who asked us if we would like to join them. We said no thanks. Later on in the week, we returned to the same area on a walk and Chris said that if we see the kids, we should say “okay, we’ll play football.” That line of dialogue lives on to this day. Then when arriving back to our condo late for supper, he said we should explain our absense in just one word: aliens.
Chris and I also walked to a nearby joint that had a pool table and I was able to beat him at a game when the rule was that I had to bank every shot. I think this humiliation inspired him to continue practicing until he became a worthy opponent that often defeats me.
Finally - I remember that every night as we sat out on our balcony a Jamaican local would come by on his trike and serenade us with “I Wanna Sex You Up” which sounded like “I Wanna Sessju Up.”
Overall, a nice final trip that acted as a diversion between the break-up of Christi and me and the oncoming second year of college…which would get increasingly strange when an old friend re-surfaces with a bizarre job offer.
1991 will continue…
We also came up with 101 excuses for not being able to play football with them. My favorite being, “Sorry, we only speak Swahili.”
The main things I remember about the Sex You Up Guy were his bike that had tubes tied to the side of it that he played as percussion instruments and the dorky guys in our condo or one nearby that sang the Color Me Badd song along with him.
In my defense, that was the first time I ever really played pool. I’m going to have to try to find the cheap little trophy from the Links’ pool tournament. I should bring it with me every time we play.
Chris
May 11th, 2008