Page 5 - July 05, 2017 Magazine Style Full page issue

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hour or so of beach bliss, my darling into “the girl,” and I made a huge sand
Mixing Bowl rising middle schooler started to fort, and then walked down the beach
to find shells to decorate it. It was a
complain. He was sticky, the sand was
Beach bum on him (oh Lord, you’re at the beach, beautiful and happy day. However, the
for crying out loud) and he was ready
next three days poured down rain. We
blues to go. I tried doing what seems to work made it to Wilmington to visit their
best for us when he begins to complain,
funky shops and have lunch, and we
I ignored him. After another 30 minutes
enjoyed that, but you can only take so
of eye rolling and hefty sighing, I could much rain in a sleepy beach town.
By Gena Lashley contain myself no longer. “Seriously, On the third day, we woke up and
it’s Father’s Day, could you choose to be put swimsuits on. I proceeded to coat
Chester Muff er & Brake Shop he Lashley family has just for me. We made our way down totally adolescent tomorrow,” I asked everyone with sunscreen. My mission
Highway 17, meandering through all
returned from its annual trip to
was to get us down to the beach no
not-so-gently. My hand was seriously
Tthe beach. This is something that of my family’s old stomping grounds: itching to slap him, but I was trying to matter how cloudy it was. We were
I start dreaming about around February, Jacksonville (Camp Lejeune, where my keep the peace and again, it was a day getting ready to leave when the bottom
when we are right smack in the winter maternal grandparents were married), to celebrate his wonderful daddy. fell out. I threw up my hands. Done!
doldrums. I dream about the small Jacksonville High School; where my I finally decided that we were going The kids played in the street and
little beach town that we think of as our parents both went to school, down past to have a nice time, so I walked the driveway in the rain and puddles for
second home. The quiet streets, the pier, Holly Ridge and the turn off to Topsail angst-ridden, sand-hating child back a bit, and then I went inside to begin
the small little shops in the little town (another one of our favorite places); to the beach house and left him there packing up our stuff. We ended up
square; there is not much to the place, Surf City; and on towards Wilmington. with the dog and the door locked. It leaving a day early.
but it is beautiful, and peaceful, and we Once we passed through Wilmington, is so wonderful having older children. The rain and the whiny children did
start yearning for it each winter. waving at the UNCW campus (my Back to the beach I went, only to have me in; I just wanted to come home
My aunt grew up in this little beach mother’s alma mater), we made it down my precious flower fuming over her where I could go to the pool and enjoy
community, just south of Wilmington, to our little beach heaven. playmate being gone and now she was worshipping the sun while my children
N.C. Being able to stay each year in It was a great first day. I was able whiny as all get out. Lord, do you have happily played for hours without
her family home has been a wonderful to shop for groceries, get settled in the no mercy on mothers trying to relax at complaining of sticky skin and sand. I
opportunity for us, and we have come house, and be on the beach just after the beach? wanted to be home where I could send
to love it as our own. This year we lunch time; my kind of day. The next The next day was much better and them to a friend’s house or have one
arrived early in the morning, having left morning we woke up, and grabbed my hopes were raised again, I should over here to occupy these little darlings.
the day before to stop in to see my Dad some donuts from the local Wake N always know that trouble is right around We are home, and now we are happy
and Papa in Emerald Isle. I grew up Bake Donuts shop (heaven, I tell you) the corner the minute I start enjoying and getting into the groove of this
going there each summer for weeks at for Father’s Day, we had our swimsuits myself. The water was perfect, and the summer. Next time, I may just escape to
a time, but I will tell you that now that on and lunch packed before 10 a.m. I boy and his daddy were enjoying being the beach with my sweet husband, and
it’s been discovered, it’s too crowded love to get on the beach early. After an in it. The flower, who is fast turning leave the kids at home!

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