More Than Just A Kiss

I really don’t have much pictures that captured “Kiss” literally but I have one picture which reminds me every time why a kiss should be more than just a kiss.

I shared this picture before but today, I just want to remember that love can endure the tests of time and that “Happily Ever After” stories are real.

To mom and dad, Thanks for inspiring us your children what love is everyday. For helping us see the good in others despite of their flaws. To love without conditions. To love with all your heart even if there are risks for heartbreak.

Kiss comes in many forms. It can be between two cups of shared brewed coffee at the start of each new day. My wife and I discovered this 1 dollar cup from Starbucks about the size of a Grande. We share one order for a price of one and customize each cup the way we like it. She likes her coffee without sugar sprinkled with Vanilla mix with half and half creamer. I like mine with Vanilla, Cinnamon, honey and creamer as well. In the real world, no matter how different we are, there is always a way to share something in common as long as the heart is willing to give.

On the sunny side of things, I’m revising a “Sun-kissed” inspired post I made 2 years ago. It reminds me that life is all about adventures and choices. It is about chances and moments as well. Chances and moments we need to make not because we had to but because we love to.

The Sun-Kissed Beach Of Galveston Island State Park

The beach always holds a special place in my heart. For some reason, being near to it makes me feel that I’m close to home. It brings about wonderful memories as comforting as the gentle waves caressing my feet.

Every Summer my family and I would visit the Galveston Island State Park, a coastal gem at the west end of the island. The pristine beach offers solace from the hectic city life.

My son was staring at the waters, pointing to the Pelicans resting on the Pier’s worn out deck. He didn’t notice I was staring at him from a rear view mirror. He had this big smile on his face.

As we walked towards the beach, I felt the sun’s kiss on my skin and my heart raced faster than the pace of my feet.

Carrying his fishing rod, my son followed me or was I following him?

The view was breathtaking that day. It made me feel that anything was possible. A kite was hovering above us which made us stop for a while and we just stared at the vast blue sky.

My son saw a couple of kids playing with their colorful buckets. They would fill them up with both sand and sea water. He tugged my arm and whispered, ” can you ask their mom if I can play with them?”  I was surprised by his request. Normally, he initiates the conversation when he meets new friends but today he was being shy. Anyway, I spoke to the mom who was more than happy that he plays with her children.

I sat on our red folding chair while I watched him play excitedly with the other kids. For some reason I kept staring at the bright-colored buckets. Some full of water, others halfway filled while others were empty. It reminded me of a person’s memories, his hopes and dreams in life. I felt sad for a moment as I remembered a piece of my childhood memory.

For as long as I can remember, a lot of my happy memories involves the beach. When I was about 6-7 years old, my parents would bring the family for a barbecue picnic at the beach during weekends. Back in those days we don’t have  fancy floating devices so we improvised. We would use the cover of the styrofoam coolers as our body boards and the inflated inner lining of the truck’s rubber tire as our float tubes. It was always a fun time for everyone. I miss those precious and wonderful years with my parents and siblings. I felt my heart ached a bit.

I could hear my son calling another boy to play frisbee with him. My son’s laughter was as crisp and clear as the skies above me. It was a hot day. The Sun was scorching. I love the golden tan color but I felt my skin burning. I covered my back with the beach towel and wore my son’s cowboy hat. I probably looked silly since it was too small for my head. I didn’t care.

I had to get out of my chair and join my son with the other kids. They were heading towards the deeper waters. They discovered how fun it was to play with the waves. They would jump as the wave comes their way. Sometimes my son gets toppled down and I would pick him up quickly. He was having a blast. I’m happy that he was ecstatic. I was a child once and I know that this moments are priceless. It’s also an important part of his childhood.

I heard my son telling me from a distance, ” Dad, I’m hungry. Where’s the food?” I kept looking inside the bag and I can’t find any. I didn’t realize my wife placed it inside a separate paper bag. I told him I left it the car and that we had to go back and get it. He said, ” dad, you’re in trouble.” I replied, ” well, I didn’t know. Come on, we need to go back.” He answered back confidently, ” you can leave me here. I can wait.” I looked at him seriously and said, ” no, you can’t. You’re coming with me.” He did look tired and hungry so I carried him on my shoulders.

We had some delicious cheese croissant with sweet mangoes for our “brunch.” We were so hungry that we finished every bit of whatever was in our picnic bag.

Before going home, we went to the RV Camping site, I saw an old couple playing cards inside a covered picnic cubicle, It was one of the sweetest and endearing images I’d ever seen. I wish to be like them when I grow old. Side by side, hand in hand, forever in love in this lifetime.

Every day we have chances to make Sun-kissed memories like these. Memories that makes our heart glows with delight when we remember how happy we were during those moments.

Thanks for sharing your day with me. May this post made you remember that kiss that made you smile the happiest. 

Related articles

• Gone fishing in Galveston! (goodbyehouston.wordpress.com)
• An incredibly brief history of Galveston Island (quirkydirt.wordpress.com)
• Galveston named one of Gulf Coast’s best beaches (click2houston.com)
• Travel Channel names Gulf Shores, Orange Beach in top 5 ‘Best Gulf Coast Beaches’ list (al.com)
• In Galveston, Texas: Checking Into Hotel Galvez Before Boarding Disney Magic (avidcruiser.com)
• Galveston-mecca for Fun (otrwjam.wordpress.com)

• Weekly Photo Challenge: KISS (lifeandink.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss (klling.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: KISS (smartntrendymom.wordpress.com)
• Weekly photo challenge: Kiss (jmsimpson.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge – KISS (beyondbeautytips.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss (jlroeder.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: (Kiss) (brettfish.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss (sarahneeve.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: The kiss we built the dream on… (rarasaur.wordpress.com)
• Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss (daddysnaughtylittlegirl.wordpress.com)