My First Trip to Destin, Florida

Have you ever been to Destin, Florida? I love thehippopotamuses in Fantasia, but with inferior
white sand beaches, moderate climate and beautifulchoreography, a gaudier outfit, and large, pendulous
clear blue ocean there, although it's a much morebreasts, thus came Sandra Valentine, scattering
touristy kind of place than it was about 30 years agosunbathers, small children and a few loose pets. With
when I first went there with my father, stepa high pitched squeal and appendages flying in all
mother, half-sister, and other family members. Idirections, onward she came . . . along with the main
remember that we checked into this one and a halfbody of the swarm of bees. About 20 yards from
star motel right on the beach, next door to a newthe water, her spasms and movements somehow
circular tower motel which had a revolving restaurantorganized into this unholy rhythm of jiggling flesh,
on the top. Made my step-mother more than a littlewaving arms, waddling legs, and two enormous
bit nauseous being in the restaurant (a highlight of thebreasts that bounced mightily back and forth from
trip for me, having been treated as a true step-childthe vicinity of her lap all the way up to her face and
at times!).back. BAH-BLAM, BAH-BLAM, BAH-BLAM!
Anyway, when we first checked in we noticed thatThe entire crowded beach, which the rest of us now
there was this big wooden tub full of bottles ofrealized had been laughing mightily at our perils,
"Dark Tanning Oil With Genuine Coconut Oil" on sale inbecame silent in momentary awe. Except for the
the lobby for something like 2 bottles for a dollar.ones who were squawking and scrambling to get out
Hmmmm-just the thing for our budget! So weof her direct path. Even the bees seemed to back
splurged and bought 4 bottles and the woman at theoff, although I think they did so mostly from a sense
front desk seemed so impressed that she threwof self preservation, since the mighty pendulums
two more bottles in for good measure!appeared to be exacting a toll of their own on the
Soon after we unpacked, we headed to the beachbees which ventured into their path.
with our spiffy swim suits, our relatively pale bodiesFinally, she reached the edge of the water, and,
glistening with ample amounts of the aforementionedafter about three more unsteady steps fell
tanning oil. As soon as we got near the beach, thisfacedown with a mighty splash into the
demonic bee that appeared to be a cross between aaforementioned 6 inches of water, momentarily
bumblebee, a pissed off hornet and a kamikaze pilotscattering water, sand and bees. The crowd regained
began to attack. So we began to dodge and swat asits voice and many applauded and cheered. Others,
we continued toward the water. Then another beelike myself, just laughed. The rest of our group
joined in and we dodged and swatted even more.rushed to her aid while the bees were still in disarray.
Then another couple of bees joined in and we beganWith considerable effort, they turned her over and
to look like the Grambling Marching Band double-timingdrug her into the deeper and more bee-safe water
it to the beach. In only seconds, a whole swarm of(thus starting a ritual that was later adopted by
bees was upon us and the rout was on.Greenpeace and others along the west coast to
Thus began the famous Isaacs Family Forty Yardsave large beached mammals).
Desperation Dash to the Ocean. A couple of theOnce we had her in with the rest of us, in water up
family tried to dive in the water where it was stillto our necks, we began to gather our wits and
only about 6 inches deep, thus burying their heads inponder what had happened. As we sputtered
the sand (a family specialty) and exposing theirtheories of alien visitations, abnormal sunspot
nether regions (another family specialty). And aactivities and unusual planetary alignments, another
couple of the more fortunate or more frightenedbeachgoer paddled close by on an air mattress and
ones of us hit the water so fast that we continuedsaid, "I guess you folks bought the cheap tanning oil
running for another 15 or 20 yards on top of thetoo. Don't feel too bad, my folks bought some of
water before we sank beneath the surface.that coconut oil crap when we first got here too. I'm
Then there was my step-mother (heh, heh, heh).not sure whether it attracts those damn bees or just
Yep, straight out of the chorus line of the dancingthoroughly pisses them off!