allthingstucker: Summer of George

With all my beach trips this year, I feel like I got to have the Summer of George. Year started off great; my buddies and I all flew down from different cities (D.C., Louisville, Chattanooga) and met down in Ft. Myers for a long weekend. There’s nothing quite as great as having friends you know will always be there for you, and friends you might not see for years at a time, but can get together and laugh as though time never skipped a beat.

Next up was an awesome trip to Key West for one of my Sigma Nu fraternity brother’s bachelor party. I love Key West. I’ve been twice now; the first time was back in High School and I have to admit I love it more each time I visit. In high school we drove down and spent an entire week camped out on the beach on a small island and snorkeled all day long. Great trip then and was not let down one bit this second time. I love that city. I love its rich history, the locals and all the culture it has to offer. It is just a wonderful place on earth. When you’re there it hardly feels like you are even in the U.S. but a town somewhere across the Globe. When we weren’t out celebrating like we were 21, I was able to sneak off and do some solo sightseeing. I rented a scooter and was able to explore the entire island. My favorite was the home of Ernest Hemingway. His home was not only a master of art with design and building construction, but just being in the same house where he wrote some of the most wonderful works of art is a marvelous feeling. He was a remarkable man. It is rumored I took a midnight dip in his pool, but that has not been confirmed by the local authorities.

I also spent a week with my family at Amelia Island Plantation. The Tucker’s haven’t all been under the same roof in some time, so it was great to be all together once again. I also had a few trips down to Hilton Head Island with my Chattanooga buddies. We spent the whole week of July 4^th there as well as Labor Day weekend. I love some Hilton Head Island. . I hope to one day live at the beach for half of each year. I’d also like to spend a couple years on my boat traveling across the globe to cities all around the world. I was quoted this past trip down as saying, “leaving the beach is worse than getting hit in the head with a hammer” and “leaving the beach is just awful, you get that awful gut wrenching feeling in your stomach when it’s about time to leave, it’s just painful, it feels like your girlfriend just broke up with you.” I love the beach to say the least and I always hate to leave. So goodbye Summer of George, I hope next year is just as lovely.