O.K. So hate may be a strong word.  "Strongly dislike" would better suit my feelings for the beach.  Give me a nice chlorinated pool anyday over the beach.  I can't recall a whole lot of memories of the beach that were pleasant ones for me.  I have always lived approx. an hours drive from the beach.  When we went (growing up, all the way up until now), 99% of the time it was in the heat of the summer.  And being in Central Texas, it was HOT!  And being a white boy, I needed a good amount of sun block on.  HOT from the sun added to sticky from the sun block plus sand equals misery.  I HATE SAND.  I hate the feel of it on my skin.  I hate when it blows in my eyes.  I hate having it all over the inside of the car when we get home.  I hate having to rinse it out of the shower/tub for days after returning home.  I just don't like it. 

I can stomach the beach a lot better now that I am a papa.  To see the joy in my kids faces and the fun that they have makes it much more palatable.  I can now be at the beach and smile, because to see them happy brings me joy, no matter what personal feelings I have towards the ocean. My kids have a way of making things not be all about me.  I can't even begin to verbalize the absolute joy and fulfillment being a father to TDC and LA is.   And sand or no sand, if they like it, then I like it!

We spent two days at the beach.  Most of the day Saturday we just played in the water and collected shells until our bucket couldn't hold any more.  Then we released them back into the sea.  It was amazing to see the beauty in the shells through my daughters eyes. Even the most jagged, plain fragment of a shell amazed her, and me in return.  Day 2 we spent about an hour.  Shortly after we got in the water, we watched dark clouds roll in.  It got quite dark for 2 in the afternoon.  But I think I enjoyed the beach at that moment more than ever before.  A cool breeze hit (almost a chill in the air) and the beach minus the heat was actually a pretty nice place.  We did make it out before the rain.

I do feel rested and am glad for the recharge. 

Advertisement