Hellur! (Said as spelled, with the voice of Tyler Perry as Madea.) Summer is fast approaching in temperatures and mindset. As much as I like the winter months, I have to admit that I am more of a summer type of lass. My human – who I think of as a** – and the spare infinitely prefer warmer to cooler weather. I am ready for it, too!

Come tomorrow, I get my first summer cut for the approaching season. I will transform from a furry bear to a sleek seal! My charming and mischievous self will be aerodynamic! The increased speed will hopefully pick up my human’s pace. That joker needs to get his own physique in shape for summer!

Warmer weather brings to mind trips to the beach. When I say beach, I mean the Gulf Coast. Being a Mobilian, the Gulf’s many beaches are within a short drive from my homey midtown bungalow. My favorite Gulf Coast watering hole is Dauphin Island. Let me tell you, Boykin-loving reader, of my first visit to that quintessential Gulf Coast destination.

Pour yourself a cocktail. I am likely to take a sip of my human’s. The brown water compliments my soon-to-be trimmed fur coat!

My human introduced me to the joys of the Gulf when I was a puppy.

Our first forays were not to Dauphin Island but Bear Point. One of my grandmother’s friends, a lovely lady who is a second mother to my human, has long had a place there. I loved my initial forays to salty air and spirit that is the Gulf. Bear Point holds many memories for my human. It is not Dauphin Island, my place and the subject of this account.

When the spare first appeared on the scene, some three years ago, we visited the Island. All three of us love that crunchy community. Almost completely devoid of the big developments that unfortunately characterize so much of the Gulf, Dauphin Island reminds my human of the way the Southern coast was in his early childhood.

He misses the days of the Gulf being populated by summer colonies shaped by the seasonal occupation of families from across the Deep South. The old families of many coastal and inland towns and cities all had their own favored summer haunts, many going back generations.

The summer houses were nothing grand. They were like beach and bay houses should be – informal and rambling. Screened porches and decks were true outdoor rooms that brought the smells and views of the water inside and their occupants outside. You did not have to worry about where you placed your towel once you got inside. “Seconds” from town comprised the furniture.

Pictures of family and friends topped tables, fronted walls, and plastered the refrigerator. These summer houses were escapes from the formalities of life and places where you reconnected with families like your own in an environment that was anchored by place and tradition.

The Dauphin Island experience starts before my little family even leaves town. I know what is going down as soon as the beach chairs emerge from the storage house. Towels and coolers appear. The humans are not wearing their stiff collars and pressed khakis. Bathing suits and breathable shirts are the uniforms of the day. Towels and coolers appear.

I make my selection of a favored toy from my play basket and watch with joy as those humans prepare our day of fun in the sun! When not dashing in and out of the door, I pogo up and down in anticipation. In short, I make a genuine a** of myself.

I am looking forward to the beach, not to mention the car ride to reach it! The chairs, towels, and cooler displace me from the back of our ride. My human tells me to stay in the middle portion of our ride. Rules do not apply to me, though. I hop from the front seats, the area where I am supposed to be, and the rear of the car. As the drive is about forty minutes, it does not take long to reach Dauphin Island.

I love it when the human and the spare roll the windows down a bit. If you have seen the head of a brown dog emerging from a car on the road to the Island, that canine would be me.

On my first visit to Dauphin Island, I did not know what to expect of the journey. We drove over a big bridge. The sight of birds outside my window intrigued me greatly. I barked at them.

My human told me to shut my trap, only with stronger language. The human uses such foul language, which is not suited to a lady such as myself. I gave it right back via the expression in my eyes and the barks from my snout. Does he not know it is a dog’s world? I am the star of his dog-and-pony show, after all.

Upon descending upon the Island, I could spy lots of activity. Cars, golf carts, people on foot – you name it.

Ultimately, we reached the main intersection and hooked a right. The center of the Island is forested, which is a good thing, for those trees help to keep it from washing away!

A few minutes after making that right at the intersection, we drove into a parking lot. So to ensure that I was not left behind, I jumped between the human and the spare. They secured in the car a tad longer while they gathered our possessions. I could see the beach. This lady was ready to go!

Cooler, chairs, and towels in tow, we began our walk down to the water. I led the way. You should not find that state of affairs as shocking in any shape, form, or fashion. I jerked the human in zig-zagging way all the way down to the advancing and receding tide.

Oh, I have failed to mention that the rounded one was having neck issues. He has chronic pain in that area. Anything can tip it off. I feel for him during those times. All the same, I do not alter my movements, literally or figuratively. My constant pulling might have a role in his pain. Two tears in a bucket.

Unbeknownst to me and the spare, the fatso popped a muscle relaxer on the ride to the Island. The pill was going into effect; a reality I would take advantage of very soon.

While the human and spare were setting up camp, I kept pulling on my lead. The tide, seagulls, people, and a few other dogs were all of interest to me.

Finally, my people settled down into their chairs. It was at this time that I realized that the tubs was a tad out of it. A cold beer or two soon caused for even less monitoring of my movements. He removed my lead and this lady was off! Never leaving sight of my people, I ran along the beach and into the water. I was in heaven.

When other dogs came along, the spare would capture me. The popping of the muscle relaxer was still unknown to us.

The pleasures of being on the water are so many and so nice. It was nice having the human detached a bit. I continued to take full advantage of the freedom afforded by the scenario. A lady who positioned her belongings near ours was out in the water.

Reclining on a float, she was not paying attention to her chattels, including foodstuffs wrapped in aluminum. To the horror of the human and spare, I helped myself to them. The cheeseburger was delicious. That gal did not need it. The spare questioned the human regarding his overall calm demeanor. The latter admitted to taking the muscle relaxer. The spare gave the human a look like I give the human.

I back-kicked sand in both of their faces before taking off with a catch-me-if-you-can look!

My first trip to Dauphin Island almost became my last. Other trips have ensued since that first and most glorious visit though. Let me tell you, I thoroughly relish those trips.

The preparations, trek, and beach time are all equally relished. If all visits were like the first, that burger was delicious!

—CARTLEDGE WEEDEN BLACKWELL III