The Barrington

Ok, folks.. I know. I need a scanner. Hmmm. Ebay. One day.

This picture always makes me chuckle. See the girl pouting in the back? That’s my big sister. I’m not sure why she was pouting. What I do know about this picture is that my dad took it- we were at this place called “The Barrington” it was an oceanfront hotel we used to stay at when I was little. It’s weird, though. We used to pack up, and drive to this place. It seemed like a big trip. An EVENT. A BIG DEAL. Which, of course staying on the ocean IS a big deal…. the only thing? It was about 15 minutes away from home. My mom would dress me and my sister up in these fluffy white dresses, she’d let us take turns on who got to sleep with the transistor radio or the wind up alarm clock. She’s always made sea shell noodles with butter the first night we stayed there. (they had little kitchens) And, in the morning she would send my sister and I to this door; where the top opened up separate from the bottom- and these two old ladies would give us a plate with the most delicious pastries and doughnuts. I got to carry that, and my sister carried the coffee for my mama. I remember the sweet bakery smell surrounded by the smell of fresh coffee mixed with the sea air. It’s so weird I can still recognize that smell in certain situations.

The Barrington was converted to condominums when I was 6.  And there were no more family trips down the road with sea shell noodles.

I used to think it was weird traveling down the road for a vacation. But now, I understand. I know how lucky we were to have a vacation that was down the road. I understand how road trips can be with no a/c in a car in south Florida, especially with small kids in scratchy dresses. I wish I had the Barrington back. I would love to make some noodles for my girls, there. I’m not too sure about the dresses, though…