Beach Blanket Bingo

The towel was placed with great precision. Angled absolutely appropriately to be facing the exact rays of the sun. A nice even tan with no shadowing high on the list of necessities.

The hair was exquisitely sculpted. The perfect flip, with the perfect bangs, adorned with the perfect white soft headband. The sunglasses were the latest style. The frames you would probably recognize walking down Rodeo Dr. in California.

The bathing suite was two-piece. Not a bikini. That would not have been acceptable for that time period.  No, it was two piece.  Brown dotted swiss with a white ruffle around the hips, and also white ruffles over both shoulders.  My big sister, 16-years-old, lounged on the beach with one leg extended, the other curved to a slight angle.  Not a speck of sand on her.  I always wondered how she made it to the chosen spot on the beach, spread out her towel, and got positioned without a speck of sand on her.  She's pretty anyway, and this day she looked beautiful and adorable.  She could have been a vision in one of the famous beach movies ... like "Beach Blanket Bingo."

Now, picture the little sister.  Thirteen years old, hair slung back in a pony tail.  Trudging down to the beach with a beach bag, towel, and one of her favorite possessions ... the family poodle, Fi Fi.  This would be the first time Fi Fi had been on a vacation with the family.  It took some convincing the parents to agree to let the dog travel with us. But in reality, I don't think they looked forward to leaving her behind either. Fi Fi was quite energetic.  If there was a wrong way to do something, she would seek it out and go for it with great enthusiasm.  She shredded phone books one day, while home alone, into such small pieces that it would have put an electric shredder to shame.  Standing almost an inch deep in her paper creation, with pieces of paper hanging off her ears and mouth, made her look quite guilty.  So cute, all you could do was laugh.

The little sister and Fi Fi continued on to the beach. Found a spot right next to the big sister, and flopped down for an afternoon of fun and sun. The little sister, anxious to show Fi Fi all about the ocean and beach said, "Look Fi Fi. See the sand."  Taking one of her hands and the tips of her fingers, she made a small digging motion in the sand.

Cocking her head a bit, pricking her ears, wagging her tail, Fi Fi discovered the magic of the sand.  Slowly at first, but then with great exuberance, the digging began. I think she could have made it to China if left to the task. The sand flew. It kicked to the sides some, but the biggest majority kicked to the back of her.  And where do you think it all came to rest?  You're right!  All over the big sister, so strategically placed, looking so adorable.  Oops!

At that point, my memory recalls, that it may have been time for a shower.

This is in response to a challenge by The Red Dress Club to write about sand.