Sandbar, 2011

In 2010, most of my family had the opportunity to meet in Salem, MA for a few days.  As we sat there, the salty wind sticking to our skin, someone had the idea that we should rent a house for a week and we should all get together again.  The next summer, we rented a ridiculous house right on the beach in Sandbridge, VA.

I can’t tell you how we all fit at the table or how we swam in the indoor pool at all hours of the night and day.  There were fishing trips and Cranium challenges and beer pong and table tennis.  In the end, we spent most of our time laughing until our sides ached.  A house large enough to hold 24 people for a week without them being forced to interact turned out to be one of the best vacations of my life.

Watching my mother watch the waves, putting up a literal fight for her life, gave me strength; as did seeing the sand hold back the crashing waves to create this thing of beauty.