This past week I was at the beach with my sister and we had a lot of time to bond together as we played on the beach, swam in the pool, and went out to explore the area together.

In the time we spent bonding we talked about an abundance of things such as; life, boys, the past, the present etc. One of the topics that was brought up was relationships. She asked why I hadn’t committed to anyone or something along those lines. I thought about it for a minute and responded with ” I don’t want something that is just mediocre. I don’t want someone who is going to buy me a lot of “things”, because I can by myself the things that I want. I don’t want someone to just be comfortable. I do how ever want someone who gives me their time, and puts forth effort to show that they care. I want someone who is willing to see things from different points of views. I want someone who is open to traveling the world without planning every little thing out. I want to be loved for who I am, and not by what I give.  That seems like a lot of “I wants” now that I read back on it but it’s so true. Why settle for something Mediocre?

I am 25 and my sister is 16 (even though she acts 30). We have a very good relationship and talk about pretty much anything. Since I have moved back from Korea and lived with her and Susan we have all had a lot of time together. I laid on the beach and thought about how fortunate we both were to be were we are today. looking at my sister from afar on the beach I felt a sense of being so proud. Proud that she is who she is, proud of what she has overcome, and proud to be a positive influence in her life.

I found myself getting overwhelming feelings of sadness on this beach trip as I thought about my past . Certain things trigger past memories. Whether or not that will ever go away I am not quite sure, but maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe it’s what will keep me level-headed. On one occasion I was walking through the gift shops picking stuff up and looking at them; and it took me back to the time I was with one of my friends on their summer vacation. I was looking through the gift shop and picking things up her mom had tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear. “Do not touch the things on the shelf or you will have to buy them if you break them.” I then kept my hands clasped behind my back, because I couldn’t afford it for one and two I wasn’t sent with any money to spend anyways.  As I have said before. You are so naive as a child and then you get older and the things you go through start to all come together. I was sent with my friends without any money. I borrowed her clothes when we went places and they treated me like one of their own. I will forever be grateful for good friends.

I walked through the gift shop at the beach and saw salt water taffy. I can remember my mom loving salt water taffy. So that instantly made me feel sad. It’s so weird how things change when people aren’t living anymore. I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels weird about things like that.

We bought grapes to eat and I was like “Oh mom would always tear a bundle off and say “hey you want a tree?”  I reminisced on the times she would always say “Someday we are going to save enough money to take a summer vacation to the beach.” Unfortunately we never did, but I am glad I had the opportunities to go with other people.

I went to stay at the  beach when I was in college for my first time. I can remember being terrified to go in the ocean. The unknown feeling of what may happen is pretty scary. I went in and eventually got used to it. That feeling of being so scared of the waves often pops in my head each time I go to the beach. This Year the shark warnings were out from all the people getting bit by sharks. The same sense of fear was in me the first day we were there, but by day two and three my sister taught me how to dive through the waves. I thought to myself. “I can’t believe I am 25 and have never tried diving through a wave….I guess there’s a first time for everything. It was fun to say the least.

I sat on the beach and watched the waves crash in and out. I watched as the tide came in. I watched all the people walking by and thought “Isn’t is amazing that so many people in the world take a vacation to the beach to relax?”What makes it so magnificent? The warm sand between your toes? The sound of the ocean? The atmosphere all together? It’s amazing how water and sand can attract so many people… Maybe my head is just in the clouds.. Either way the beach is my favorite place to be.

I am so thankful I had the opportunity to go to the beach with my sister. The memories that were made will never be forgotten and I will continue to eat “little trees” and share memories from my past. After all they are what made me who I am today.

What about you? What is your favorite part of the beach?