After Another Incredible Manzanita, It’s Time To Put My Shirt Back On
To My Future Self,
Without a doubt, the past three days have been awesome. It’s been nothing but hitting the beach with my buddies, knocking back cold ones, getting in a few rounds of golf, and strolling through town — and I got to spend every single minute of it feeling the warmth of the sun on my chest. But it’s finally come down to it. I gotta wipe the sweaty sunscreen from my shoulders and crack open the duffel bag for the first time since Thursday.
Yep, after another incredible Manzanita, it’s time to put my shirt back on.
No use denying it, and as much as I hate to admit it, I gotta nut up and pack it in for the year. The time has come to grab a T-shirt and cover up the goods — or maybe something without sleeves to smooth the transition.
But that’s life, you know?
It sucks, but at least I’ll always have my memories of rolling out of bed each morning, slipping on my trusty board shorts, and letting those sweet, sweet rays toast my pecs to a perfect tando. On the drive back, I can always look back at all the pics of me and my buds having fun — hanging out on the deck, cruising around in a crabbing boat, this great shot where I’m scoring some 'Za — all without a stitch of clothing on from the waist up.
Putting on a shirt for the first time in 3 days and no longer feeling the breeze on my chest — I [expletive] hate it. But that’s life, you know? There’s just some stuff you gotta wear a shirt for: the first day of school, PTA conferences — and all those things are coming up soon. Maybe that’s a good thing in a way, because all the times you’re forced to put on a shirt just make Manza more special, right?
Farewell...
As fast as they seem to go by, these completely shirtless days spent boozing around a fire, hollering at friends, playing volleyball in the park, or getting asked to leave the San Dune are that much sweeter when you look forward to ’em all year long.
But for now, it’s time to take a deep breath and say a fond farewell to a few good friends: Goodbye nips and badly peeling skin; goodbye tummy fuzz, freckles, and moles — I gotta hide your light under a bushel for another year, but you’ll all be back on display come next Manzanita, when I once again pull off my shirt, tuck it into the back of my shorts, and triumphantly turn my upper body to the summer sun.
The best is yet to come.
