2012 marks the fifth year that the Melones traveled to Chincoteague for summer vacation. When your to-do list includes going to the beach, sitting around & reading, crabbing, and a nightly trip to the Island Creamery, and getting nearly everywhere you need to go by bike, life is ridiculously good.
I love the bike rides around the Wildlife Loop. I love waking up and hearing nothing but crickets, cicadas, and nothing. I love looking out of the bedroom window and seeing nothing but green. But, to be unashamedly cheesy, my favorite part about Chincoteague is being with the family. Bill's sisters (and mine), and his parents, and us, get to be in one place for one week. And thanks to his parents being so generous, we get to be part of this!
Morning: Ticking clock. Birds chirping. Dog pacing until he finds a spot to rest. Grace chatting with Grandma. Grandpa reading. Others sleeping. Me writing. A house surrounded by nothing but green and mosquitos.
Beach: Nothing but a few dolphins on the horizon. Clouds that look painted on the canvas-sky. The ease of floating. Nothing but pink toenails peeking out of the water. Bill and his Dad swim out to the sandbar, while we stay behind and hope they make it. Grace not ready to touch the ocean but content in a kid-sized make shift mote with other children. My happy girl. Beach community.
Bike: Pedal through a short stretch of wilderness– no people, except runners, bikers. Sounds: your bike pedals, cicadas' whirr, and wind at your ears. An iPod seems a silly accessory. Wind outnumbers everything, adds good resistance.
Grace: Telling four-year-old jokes with odd punchlines. Putting the dog's leash on a stuffed fish or a toy pony. Still happiest in her pretend-world. So content with toys and two dogs to boss around. "Maggie! Jackson! No!" Her curly hair has so much blond in it. I want her hair. So does everyone.
Swan Cove Trail: pedal through a flatland, and then up a hill, and then the beach spreads out before you. Life-guard free, no boardwalk, just beach. Water as warm as a bathtub, waves wild, wind-torn. Cautious floaters, smiling.
Pack up a week's worth of life, and then head home, thankful for the respite.
