Awoken by the sun rays that tiptoe through the cracks in your window blinds, you gently rustle around in the crisp light sheets that are conformed around you. Stretching your legs out, you feel something that definitely does not belong in your bed, but the feeling of it just coincides with the life you have been living the past few weeks.
Sand.
Sand grains have found their way not only into the foot of your bed, but the bottom of every bag you own, in your hair, and it seems to lightly coat the floor of your house, no matter how many times you sweep.
Your skin feels a little stiff, but warm, as yesterday’s slight sunburn makes the transition from red to tan.
Your hair, which seems to cooperate more with you these days, you throw up into the perfect messy bun in just one attempt as you make your way to the bathroom to brush your teeth.
Looking in the mirror, your sun-kissed skin and naturally blushed cheeks make you look refreshed. The lack of makeup you feel the need to wear has also diminished the darkness around your eyes, leaving them bright and fresh looking.
You then proceed to the kitchen, where Mom and Grandma sit overlooking the day’s paper while sipping on some coffee and enjoying a couple of freshly baked scones that Dad ran downtown to the deli for.
“Good mornings” are exchanged, and you grab a scone for yourself and head out onto the deck to enjoy every flaky bite under the table umbrella, while simultaneously assessing just how hot it will be that day.
You sit in silence enjoying your scone and see Dad pacing around the pool while on the phone getting his business calls out of the way for the day.
As the morning progresses, your siblings wake up and you all throw on your bathing suits and inform Dad of your lunch requests from the deli.
The car gets packed, and you take turns applying sunscreen – some using far more than others, leaving a ghost-like white layer upon their skin… Mom.
The drive to the beach is one with the windows down and the Jimmy Buffet turned all the way up.
You look out as you pass the gorgeous beach houses, one after another, and wonder who on Earth has that much money, while also wishing the answer will be you one day.
The anticipation increases as the car makes familiar turns, and your car ride almost comes to an end, making the final stretch around the bend revealing the beach parking lot.
You will either find an American flag blowing in the wind or resting, draped around the pole, with another smaller flag strung up below it. The end of the car ride was filled with bets placed on the color of the bottom flag, which determined the roughness of the ocean that day.
Personally, you wish for a white flag, the calmest, or a blue flag, which will be fun with bigger waves.
As you and your family carry chairs, umbrellas, and food over the dunes, you try and scope out the perfect spot to set up camp for the rest of the day until sunset. Some days even past sunset.
You relax and bury your feet in the sand, while also letting your arms drape over the sides of the chair into the sand, feeling the warmth of the sand on your fingers and toes.
The day goes on and your skin and hair become salty from the cool water and the beachy breeze.
After many trips into the water, conversations with relatives regarding life and college, and maybe a nap or two, it is time to pack up and head home.
You argue with your family on “first dibs” for showers and run into the house with sand still on your feet, greeting Grandma again on your way to the shower.
All clean and fresh, in a nice sundress, with even more sun-kissed skin, your wet hair sits on your shoulders and air-dries in minutes as the family tries to decide where to go out to dinner.
Either a quick car ride or a short walk into town, surrounded by the people you love, leads you to a dinner where stories and laughter are shared. Next comes a stroll to the pier with an ice-cream cone in hand, admiring the stars and the yachts, once again wishing to be aboard your own one day.
As the night dwindles, you find yourself in one of two situations: either back in those same crisp light sheets pretty early if you are tired or out on the deck with your siblings and cousins playing cards into the wee hours of the morning… but don’t wake Grandma on your way back into the house after you're done!
One beautiful day after another, from sunrise to sunset, you spend each minute with the people you love, doing the things you love, in the place you love.
