Its 7:59 local time and we’ve all had 3 hours of sleep. Our 9:30 flight didn’t leave the gate until 11:55 last night, and the KC airport is 30 minutes from our hotel. Circadian rhythms had us all up early for bland hotel breakfast, so were all wrung out and grouchy. Look out Kansas City, here we come…
We’re back from the beach, sadly, gearing up for our return to normal life. We had an idyllic week 50 yards from the water, one big deck away from the dunes. The house we picked out with help from Google Earth and Street View turned out to be an absolute gem; one wall of windows opening out onto a deck facing the Delaware bay. The water was warm and gentle compared to the vicious riptide and crushing surf of the Outer Banks, so both Finn and Zachary were perfectly safe the entire time they were in the water (and when the tide was out, the water was waist-deep for 50 yards). We walked the beaches during horseshoe crab mating season in the middle of a preserve, so we took the time to check each one on the beach and throw them back in when they started wiggling. (Our final tally was somewhere around 18).
The kids had a great time together, settling into a sibling-like pattern of peaceful playtime immediately followed by total warfare and then back to playtime, which meant us adults could sit and relax a bit more than we’ve been used to. We carried several cartfuls of toys, chairs, and gear down to the beach and then left it there above the high tide line overnight, which was a huge help. The beaches were as quiet as we were used to in Hatteras, which was a fantastic surprise. Meals were easy, and we each traded off an evening to drive into Rehoboth for a quiet dinner. Beer o’clock started at noon, punctuated with Dark & Stormys, vodka tonics, or wine.
Saturday came too fast, and we stretched it out as long as we could by heading into Lewes for breakfast and some sightseeing. Then, we hit the road. Three hours travel time is nothing compared to the OBX trip; this is our destination for several years to come, and we’re already making plans to make next year’s visit two weeks.
Little feet running in the early morning. Bacon and eggs for breakfast, family style. Rolling out to the beach with armfuls of toys. Soft, lapping waves from the bay. Chattering teeth: “I’m n-n-not c-c-cold!” Sandwiches and cold beer at lunchtime. Hard play until mid-afternoon, And then rest in the air conditioning. Huge steaks and fresh corn on the deck for dinner with Dark & Stormys to wash it down. Twilight on the beach with fresh drinks, a cigar, and laughing children. Finn curled up on my lap in front of the waves: “Daddy, I think I need to go inside and go to sleep.”
Vacations are some of my best memories of being a kid; I hope Finn remembers these days the same way as she gets older.
Here’s a shot of Hillary Clinton I got yesterday at the WRI event up in New York City. It was a whirlwind two days of work, travel (and work while travelling), logistics, a delicious dinner, more work until midnight, and then a brief sleep in an incredibly swank Park Avenue hotel. On Thursday morning, we hit the ground running. I helped set the venue up, got things organized, and shot still pictures. Then we broke everything down, got the venue cleaned out, hopped a cab downtown, and made the train back to DC with time to spare. I’m worn out but happy it’s over, because there are about 100 other things I need to get back to.
13 years ago, Jen asked me to come down to the Oyster Festival to meet her family and have some fun. We’ve been going back ever since.
Finn is getting in on the action this year.
She even tried one herself!
2011
2013
We’re back home from the beach. It was awesome. We are all exhausted and refreshed and sad to be away from the water and sand and fresh air.