a day at the beach

I load up the golf cart.  Alexander and I set up.  We lug five beach chairs, big towels, food, books, sunblock, and all the other required beach gear.  I take some photos.  

entrance to wild harbor beach

It’s only 10:30 and I stay.  Others will join me later.  I anticipate my mom coming down, along with Alexander, and then my sister Valerie and her husband Abbey, who are arriving from New York around noon.

The beach is quiet and beautiful and people-less.

I take out my book.  Get comfortable.  Say hi to some people I know.  Briefly catch up on life between summers.   Walk along the beach.  It’s hot.  My mom comes around noon.

Alexander decides to bail.  “I hate going to the beach with just you.  It’s so boring.” 

Then Val and Abbey decide to check into their nearby hotel, and stay there.

So it’s my mom and me.  I read about 20 pages of my very-smart book, How it All Began by Penelope Lively.  By three, we've had enough sun, so we lug all five chairs and everything else back to the golf carts and drive home.

Lesson learned: Next time everyone can bring their own chairs.