Summers at the Beach
Every summer of my youth (between two and twelve) my mama and I spent nearly all of our time at the beach. Virginia Beach. I have wonderful memories and some not so wonderful memories of those times.
I have pictures of my mama and grandmother and cousin (Karen) and me under an umbrella, playing in the sand and simply loving time spent with the people who loved me.
I can still smell the suntan lotion mama wore and if I think real hard I can feel the way it felt on her shoulders as I hung on while she waded out in to the deep water. You know deep, about 3 feet. 
Well to a 3 or 4 year old that was deep. I held on for dear life but was very excited at the same time.
I recall that we stayed in a tiny cottage down at the beach. I don’t even know if they still have those at the beach any more. I’m sure it wasn’t too expensive and I know it was very small. I actually remember mama making a bed for me in one of the drawers in the chest of drawers in the room and Karen my cousin slept on the floor. I think the first real family portrait that I remember ever having taken was at the beach. As I remember my family consisted of just the two of us. Mama always had the latest bathing suit on – very cool sun glasses and of course a swimming cap. My mama was a hair dresser and she would never think of being in the sun too long without a hat or something on her head to protect her hair and to go into the salt water was simply not something you did.
After a day or 2 at the beach we would drive back home. I remember how relaxed I always felt after spending that time there. I also remember not caring too much for the sand that got in some very uncomfortable places and I also remember the horrible jellyfish. Mostly though I remember just being glad I was with my family and feeling very loved.
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