Weekending

Yesterday we visited my parents for my dad’s birthday, and took the kids to the beach. I spent much of the weekend hoping it would be too cold and windy for the beach, because I am not mentally prepared for the beach in October. In August I can accept the beach as inevitable, but by October I’m just assuming that those days are behind me. Of course, the weather had to go and be freaking beautiful, so off we went. (I can be a bit of beach scrooge. It’s beautiful, but I get a bit stressy with that giant body of water and my two tiny-by-comparison children.)

What I always forget, is that the beach outside of summer is so wonderful. It surprises me every time, because the weather is the same – even better now that the blasted humidity is behind us – but the beach is deserted. The waves were small and smooth, the water was shocking at first, but pleasant after a minute, and sandwiches on the beach always taste like the food of the gods.

Bubette wore her swimsuit with the ridiculous tutu and a hat that flopped in her eyes all morning. Bub built sandcastles and played tic tac toe in the sand, then opened up a restaurant and took everyone’s food orders. (Dada, you can’t have mint chip ice cream for LUNCH, that’s dessert.) I chatted with  my parents standing in knee deep water. Seals and dolphins came in close and pelicans crashed into the water with such force that I was sure they would just implode on impact. The water was as clear as I have ever seen it, and I collected shells that Bubette tossed back into the waves.

I didn’t take a single picture, I didn’t even bring my phone, which is probably for the best because no one in the middle of storm prep needs to see my Instagrammed family at the beach. For everyone in the path of Sandy, I’ll be sending you my warmest, calm weather, strong tree thoughts.