Holden Time

Yesterday was our first night in Holden Beach. We are staying at our friend’s family’s vacation house, and it is absolutely adorable – everything you’d hope for in a little beach getaway and more. My favorite part is the outdoor shower, which is more like a fully enclosed personal locker room, complete with benches, a mirror, hooks, two shower heads, and shelves. There is a full wraparound porch with more wooden chairs and tables than you could ever imagine. I think in my next life – when I’m a cat – I’m going to live there and lounge all day in the sunshine on the Adirondacks. You really don’t even need the inside of a house when you are at the beach in early June.

Last night we went to dinner to celebrate our friend Scott’s birthday and then came back to listen to 90’s slow jams (Boys II Men) and rock and roll. We all sat snuggled on the porch and watched Ryan, Dan and Justin dance and have pull up contests from the rafters. Even I participated in the pull ups – of course I lost with my measly one – but I gave myself an A for effort.

This morning we made a big breakfast, put on our swim suits, and walked across the street to the ocean. It was the perfect day to spend outside in the sun with good friends. We ate grapes and pretzels, went on walks, counted dead jellyfish, dove into the waves, and even encountered a washed up juvenile turtle (he didn’t make it). After the beach, we all showered and started to prepare dinner, which was later cooked by Mr. Taylor on the grill. Steak, potatoes, asparagus, corn, zucchini and squash – can you think of a better summer dinner? I think the only thing missing was watermelon for dessert.

Tonight we are laying low and spending the evening watching the lightning storm on the porch, listening to Citizen Cope, and soaking in every glorious beach sensation that we are offered: the smell of the salt in the ocean, the breeze in our hair, the heat radiating off our skin, the leftover scents of coconut sunscreen on our drying towels, and the laughter of our closest friends.

Emotional Stuff

"Hair brushing is emotional stuff."- AMS

This simple little statement made me laugh.  Out loud.  And maybe cry a little.  On the inside.  Because it is so inexplicably true.

And So ...

My mom used to say “I want, I want, I want” in a whiney voice – mocking me – when I got like this. And it’s true … I’m having a major case of the “I wants” right now. Unfortunately I’m simultaneously having a case of the “can't haves” right now, but the “don’t really needs” are trailing closely behind. So basically I’ll end up with nothing (lose), spend nothing (win), which is okay because I seem to have all that I need (neutral). Mostly I’m wanting new bathing suits and dresses from Victoria’s Secret, and that’s probably just because we leave for the beach tomorrow. In two days I’ll be completely over it and onto something new that I’ll forget about in another week. And so it goes.

Tonight I have to pack (my old boring clothes), and there’s probably nothing I hate more than packing. But did you know about my giraffe luggage? I really like it a lot, and you would think it would make packing so much more fun, but it really doesn’t. Not at all. Not even a smidge of extra excitement comes with it (lose). But it does make me feel pretty fabulous walking through the airport and picking up my suitcases at baggage claim (win). And people talk about it. They do. I hear them. Even the airport workers have something to say about my giraffe luggage: “Wow, I bet you never lose your bags!” or “Haven’t seen that one before!” (neutral). And so packing is still packing – no matter what kind of animal suitcases you have.  Even if they look like this:

Image (and luggage) from CSN.

One time, I went to the beach and forgot to wear bathing suit bottoms. My best friend Katie and I rode our super sweet beach cruisers to the oceanfront from my old house in Virginia Beach. We locked up our bikes, laid out our towels, got settled into a spot on the sand, and began to undress. I took off my shirt and began to take off my shorts. I quickly noticed that I was still wearing my unmentionables, and they were halfway exposed to all of 9th Street (lose). Katie thought it was pretty funny (neutral). I had to ride all the way home and all the way back – by myself – just to fetch my bottoms (lose). And so, nothing good comes from wearing your bikini top paired with your unmentionables when you are fifteen at a crowded public beach. I can’t imagine that anything good would come of that when you are twenty four either – and so, I will remember.

Road Trip

On the first Wednesday of June last year, we were sitting at a hibachi restaurant sticking chopsticks up our noses. And wearing them like walrus teeth. Tonight, I think we’ll pass on reenacting that and just do a few loads of laundry and catch up on missed episodes of US of Tara.

On Friday, we are packing up a few necessities (like a bathing suit, toothbrush, and towel), and heading to Holden Beach. It has been way too long since I last saw the ocean, and although where we are heading is nowhere near home, the waves and sand of the Atlantic are home enough to satisfy my cravings. And getting away from the city with a handful of our closest friends will make this trip extra special. Everyone loves a good road trip.

And every road trip needs a good playlist. Like one that includes Citizen Cope, Ke$ha, Pearl Jam, Black Eyed Peas, Eric Church, Michael Franti, Usher, Train, and maybe even a little Simplified.

Where do you want to go? And what’s on your playlist?

Happy June!

In our 14th month together, events are starting to repeat themselves. We celebrated Memorial Day by spending time with good friends at The Rusty Rudder - listening to the songs and sounds that feel so much like where it all began. Next, there will be birthdays, the 4th of July, more birthdays, and the cyclical nature of the rest of the year. Oh, no, I am not rushing this away. I will savor every last little minute of it. And live it. Again. And again.

Happy June!