Scenes from Summer Vacation
by Jennifer Cooper, posted on July 30th, 2012 in Features, Style
photos © Dave K Cooper
The family and I recently took a week-long vacation to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Initially, I had hoped for a more adventurous vacation, but when I started looking at airfare, Dave and I agreed a trip to the beach made more sense. At the time, I was a bit sullen thinking it wasn’t going to be a very exciting trip. Goes to show how little I know.
We kicked around a soccer ball, read books, put together the most complicated puzzle I’d ever seen, jumped over waves, watched Rocky & Bullwinkle, built sandcastles, went on a boat ride in search of dolphins, walked along a pier and gazed out at the never ending stretch of ocean. We played round after round of Uno. I lost nearly every hand. We played Scrabble. I lost at that too.
At night, we looked at the stars and marveled over how many you could see when there were no city lights. Dave introduced the kids to music of his youth (TMBG); the kids introduced Dave to the music of theirs (One Direction).
We walked in puddles, ran down sand dunes, rode our bikes and ate frozen yogurt way past our bedtimes. After the kids went to bed, Dave and I sat on our rooftop deck and listened to the ocean. We talked. We laughed. We shared what was happening in our lives and dreamed of the future.
I do not remember a time when I was more at peace, relaxed or whole. It was exactly the type of excitement I needed.
Jennifer Cooper Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Thanks Sandra! Honestly, I am so thankful for that week. I wish it didn’t come around just once a year.
[Reply]