And Summer Ends...Sort Of

It was the first official day of school here. Kristen and I spent the day at the beach with our preschoolers that don't go to preschool and our two year olds. Three wonderful families of friends just moved away this summer leaving Nicky clinging to Kedrick, one of her last friends. I'm going to have to start extending myself to new friends in her behalf. I don't know why but I hate making new friends. I would rather have one group of friends forever and I'd like them to live with me here by the beach.

For the last three years we've lived in San Diego the beach has been a favorite destination. I always loved it as a kid when my family would vacation in Southern California. I honestly never dreamed I'd live within a 15 minute range. It sort of ruins any beachy vacations we've been on because we already live with a beach practically in our back yard. I guess that is why I liked Nauvoo so much, no beach.

I wish the above pictures of the kiddies captured the sand in our toes, the children's giggles and squeals, the splashes and falls, the soft roar of the waves, and the rolling clouds and intermittent sunshine. No picture can ever capture the way the horizon and the water never quite touch. The sight of such vastness always leaves me breathless and sort of panicky if I sit and look at it too long.

So each week as I sit on the beach, I have to wonder if it is real life or if this is just a three or four year vacation. I mean this place sometimes feels too good to be true with its weather, beaches, and the perfectly manicured grass, shrubbery, and trees in my front yard.

Everything is perfect in the front yard but the problem is there is no back yard. My kids need a back yard to make mud pies, have a dog, cat, or (shoot me) a bunny rabbit. They need a fenced in area to run in the sprinklers and play hide and seek with friends. Nicky needs a quiet side walk where she can learn to ride a bike. Sadly, those are the things missing here in paradise. Actually, they aren't missing, they are just millions of dollars that we don't have away.

I think someday we will have to leave perfection and on to real life where there is normal weather with colds and hots and no beach. I don't think I'll mind too terribly because it will make beach vacations fun again. I'll smile when I see my kids enjoy their pets and time outside. I'll be happy when I don't have to be a millionaire to see them go to a good school.

Maybe Jeff and I will move back to S. D. when we retire and we'll join Getoffyourrocker.org. Yes, friends, there were 70+ old ladies boogy boarding at the beach today. I can't tell you how inspiring it was.