The day was rainy and Will arrived first looking sharp. Rachel and Jeff came next, with Richard a close third. Erin and Jess and company came next. Dad and I brought up the rear, picking up the stuff others forgot.
The leaving began almost as soon as we arrived. Was it the rain? the parking meters? or the company? or maybe it was the train!
We had plenty of food! We ate hot dogs and drank soda pop. Chips and licorice red vines. Erin and Jess brought untraditional chicken shishkabobs (very tasty).
It was our first time at this beach. It had several things going for it: it was easy enough to get to, and had a good parking lot, real bathrooms, and a snack bar. There were mega rocks to climb..... and the Amtrak commuter train came barreling by nearly every half hour. The train whistle was like a summons. The kids jumped up and ran to get a front row seat view of it as it whizzed by. Scary for the adults thinking they might be going home with one less child! (Sorry, Rachel.) Alas, it looks like we need to find a safer place to play.
When the kids weren't running after the train they were busy digging in a giant sand pit.
The adults did what we always do---talking and laughing at each others stories. It was over too soon. I blame the parking meters. Each time someone went up to put quarters in the meters there was the risk that they wouldn't return.
I started scrounging for change, so they'd stay.
Don't go, I shouted. You just got here!
Did they listen to me? Not one bit.
I guess I am just a beach bum after all. With an unlimited supply of quarters I could have stayed to watch the sun go down.
Anyhow, I liked it a lot.
I think Tyler did too!
