About the LOGO

I believe ‘MadSons O’ Beaches’ was a theme suggested by Emily that she remembered someone had thrown out at an event in the recent past, and your hosts liked it -- so it is what it is! We already had started working on design with an artist when Jessica suggested another but it was too late; we were already too far down the road with our surprise logo. This blog describes why it resonated to us, which is depicted in the big logo collage of pictures!

First, O’Beaches: We had a small pseudo reunion in 2011 (only 5 days and only partial family) on a cruise ship to the beaches of Bermuda out of Baltimore. That’s when we hatched the idea to make this a regular thing, but with everybody included! So in 2015 after much hunting for a place, we landed the whole fam at the time in Siesta Key in a seven unit house with our own pool. Some great beach time! And alas…we had planned beach time again on Isle of Palms in 2020…but no thank you COVID-19! It will still happen…just a year later! Sun, sand and surf means fun for everyone and ensures a good, mad vibe, right? See pictures in Gallery.

Second, MadSons: Well of course Kenny and Shirley, and the crazy, mad, lovely life that they created for our family is at the heart of who we are, the partners we choose, and the loving fun bond that we continue to nurture. Some of the cartoons in the logo depict what we 4 originals remember of that life growing up: hard, manual work through Madson’s Floor Covering followed by hard partying with neighbors, grilling out & picnic table 'come as you are' parties, music jams, eating ‘weird, luxury stuff’ of the times like frog legs and raw hamburger on saltines with anchovies (spend $$ as you get it LOL!), weekend camping in the van and boating the islands of Lake Erie. Of course Manhattans and other Martini's and cocktails were always prevalent. BUT -- guess what! I NEVER saw an ocean beach in my life growing up until Bart and I were dating! Unless you count the burning beaches of Lake Erie, mucky Ham Lake WI (where we would meet Dad's Minneapolis cousins), shallow Lake Champlain (to visit Mom's Aunt Ruth & Uncle John) or Cumberland Lake (where Chris met his first girlfriend at 16!) See pictures in Gallery. We only took a few real family vacations like those mentioned, and actually seeing an ocean beach was inconceivable. So now we can!

Anyway – to me – the theme and logo of ‘MadSon’s O’Beaches’ has so many meanings, so many FOND meanings. Yes, it is a play on words for something nasty, but that is the irony of it: I don’t know who amongst us is one of THOSE! Thank goodness...