A double packing job surrounds me in my bedroom. All the things I packed from my Gainesville apartment now lay stacked around my bed. My homecoming from Gainesville to Pensacola seemed more like a halftime show rather than a full-fare celebration, as I was only awake in my home for about 2 hours before I once again packed and relocated to Emerald Isle, a studious boy's paradise disguised as a condo. I return home coated in a deep bronze, thankful that the almighty powers of SPF 4 sunscreen made a thick enough shield to prevent a nasty sunburn. Sure, my teeth look brighter than the sun against my blackened coat but a shiny smile is supposed to be attractive, yes? Plus, I have a tan that will hold over through next March.

Eight days in paradise. Every moment soaking up the sun and splashing in the water felt like having a beautiful woman massaging your neck, then when you get tired of it telling her to move down and rub your feet. Some specific moments during the daily routine made the getaway all the more memorable:

5) You can only play a wild card if you have no other options...
Fridays during middle school brough me to PATS for goof-off time with fellow friends who were rewarded for being smart. Pogs, Crystal Pepsi, hair parted in the middle: several fads came and left during our stay. The card game Uno became one of those flashes-in-a-pan. Last week, after my sister bought a deck of Uno cards, the love affair was rekindled. We would escape the sun occasionally and spend time indoors, and to pass the time we'd play the occasional Uno game. One game in particular should have been videorecorded and permanently filed in the archives.

Order: Camille, Adam, Your truly, Adam's brother Brandon, Brittany.
Time of game: Hour-plus
Reshuffles of the deck: Seven-plus
Who won: Well...

Camille called Uno, which I repeated after Adam's turn. Brandon knew there was no stopping me because he remembered what card I had: a "Draw 4, Wild" card. Because a slip-up, we all knew Camille had a green 6, a card that could not be played in the current state of the game. Brittany, tired of my gloating, put down a wild card, called "green," and allowed Camille to put down her final card and shout for victory. Too bad Adam knew she could have played other cards; you can't use a wild card unless you have no other options. The turn was replayed, Camille had to draw, and I won!

4) Uh, I thought it was a family dinner...
Adam's family arrived for a birthday dinner with us. Shortly thereafter, my mom sent Camille and the birthday boy to pick up some grocery items. While they shopped, we snuck 30 of Adam's friends into the condo. All was quiet in the house when we heard the key unlocking the door. Adam walked in, saw a wall of friends, and was engulfed in a sea of screams...

"Surpriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise!"

If only I could freeze-frame the facial expression on the unsuspecting birthday boy. Mouth drooping, eyes squinting yet bulging. He chuckled, and in a bashful tone responded, "Uh, what's up, guys?"

3) A room with a view...
The aura from waking up at 9:30 am, stepping out from your bedroom, and gazing at stark-white sand and gentle emerald waves: I could try to describe it. I would fail.

2) Better than watching Gellar bending silver spoons...



I effin surfed with the fellas from Incubus! They happened to be staying at Emerald Isle while in town for their concert. Before the teen girls could swarm out, the band running into the bay, right in the very location I was occupying to boogie board. When a decent wave finally arrived, I caught it, as did Brandon Boyd, the lead singer of Incubus.

Brandon: Best wave out here so far.
Me: Yeah, they were a lot stronger yesterday.
Brandon: Really?
Me: Hey Brandon, you mind if my mom takes a picture of you and me.
Brandon: Sure bro, where is she?
Me: She's just over there laying out.
(All pumped up yet embarassed, I get my mom, who snaps the picture)
Me: Thanks, man. Appreciate it!
Brandon: Cheers, bro!

With "Morning View" being one of my favorite albums of last year, I felt honored to see face-to-face the performers behind the songs I had just sunbathed to the day before. I ended up bumping into the band members a few more times during the day. I even struck up the nerve to talk to Brandon again, wishing them luck for their show. After that, I thought to myself, "Wow, I am totally uncool. But who cares? I talked to Incubus!"

1) Ciao bella...
How can a list of my experiences not include one with the girl I always talk about? The girl who constantly runs circles through my brain. The girl who's been a featured player in the saga of my life for the past six months. Ah, Haley Haley Haley...

Before her final night visiting the beachhouse, she told me she had seen a shirt at the mall that could not be resisted, and I would love it. Sure enough, it's now my favorite shirt of hers: an aqua top which in cursive reads, "Ciao Bella." I would say ciao bella, or goodbye beautiful, to Haley to end some of our e-mails and phone calls. We were growing closer ever minute, and our feelings for each other were practically oozing from our pores for everyone to see. Haley suggested we take a walk on the beach, and I gladly escorted her outside.

Some things must be kept private out of respect, so I will not detail the importance of our walk and talk, but the stroll put us in the right direction to leave this summer without regret. I was surprised at how bluntly honest we were with each other because I'm not sure if I've ever been so specifically blunt about my feelings in my life. We better understand each other and why we've done the things we've done so far in our relationship. For the rest of this summer, don't ask me if Haley is my girlfriend, of if we broke up for good, or if we're friends with benefits, or whatever idea you have. Anthony and Haley will be just that this summer: Anthony and Haley, without a label to the connection. We can grow together this summer, search deeply into each other's souls, discover what paths our lives should take, and what role we will play in each other's futures.

And our growth together all started during a wonderful little getaway on Pensacola Beach.