Sunday

I haven't posted in so long, and it's the beginning of December....so, new month, new commitment to try to keep posting.

But then you knew that, didn't you?

Yesterday, Makenna and I had a beach day together. We went to Flagler Avenue at New Smyrna Beach. It was a gorgeous day. Unfortunately, the red tide wasn't fun to deal with, but it was a great day nonetheless. Makenna was mostly driven to go to the beach because she is always looking for an opportunity to ride her skim board (see previous post), and because she just loves the beach - her words, and I do too and love to be there with her - my words.

We had a discussion on the way to the beach about how, because I grew up in the north, once summer is over I forget a bit about going to the beach. Around here in Florida we mostly avoid the beach in the heart of the summer, it's just way too intense of an experience, so things are a bit backward in that regard. It seems to me that remembering where I live might be a good thing at this juncture.

Some memories of our day at the beach...sniffling, burning nose, coughing, nasty taste in mouth, sore throat...Thanks red tide!

Other memories...cool sand drip castle which looked more like a forest of wild wacky trees than an actual castle.
Getting washed out on our blanket by a rogue wave, then going into the ocean with the quilt to rinse it off, trying to hold onto it as the waves came and went, carrying Makenna like a little boat, then wringing the quilt out playing tug of war.
Tiny little olive shell given by older man-shell seeker. I love olive shells.
Makenna and I finding interesting ways of writing our names in the sand, piling the letters inside each other, attaching letters to other letters.
Just sitting in a beach chair, feet in the sand, watching little sandpipers and gulls, people, reading my book. sigh.
Makenna doing hand stands into a bridge, then laying down to get out of it.
The joy, the buoyancy, the energy. Just watching M run, skip, cartwheel through the waves and the water just for the sheer fun of it.
Playing the "add one word, make a story" game waiting for our food at Breakers.
Going for a walk, window shopping, looking in a shell shop at all the cool shells and dried sea life.

I guess that's mostly it. It was just a very nice day, even with the red tide, and I'm thankful for getting to have it!