Virginia Beach or Gatlinburg, TN? My boss was on the other side of the phone asking me where I wanted to get my next work assignment. I blurted out “Beach” before even weighing your choices. I already lived in Beckley, West Virginia and I would not like residing in the mountains, so a summer working and spending my amusement by the ocean was the straightforward winner certainly!
My husband, an elementary school teacher was fine with my choice. Our three children were excited too. I quickly began trying to find a summer rental and located a furnished condo several blocks in the oceanfront. Quickly, we settled into our “work – play” routine. Of course, we did the common tourist things such as para sailing, cruising the board walk, experiencing the entertainment top to bottom Atlantic Avenue, which, was free. On Wednesday and Sunday nights the town provided a fireworks show at 10:00 PM that drew “ooohs” and “ahhhs” and applause from all of who viewed it.
As summer time days melted away, I found my routine changing from “accidental tourist” to “local resident.” I was in a position to help the befuddled tourist find their way around and suggest the most beneficial restaurants the spot that the local residents ate. I became friends with all the employees in the fresh seafood market along with the post office employees greeted me by name. As the time drew much better pack up and return to the lake and another cold, grey and snowy winter, I tried to fill every moment with my newfound beach lifestyle.
The following summer I requested to be effective in Virginia Beach again. This summer I talked my partner into a yearly rental of an small beach house only two blocks on the ocean. It was one in the original beach cottages, stuffed with charm and also a quirky character. My husband has not been keen on the yearly agreement, but my determination won in the end. We arrived, our van loaded together with the basic household necessities, a little black “pound puppy” named Buddy and three excited kids. Quickly, we roamed the thrift shops searching for basic furnishings to have us by with the coming year.
I was a student in my element! After a day of working, I would walk through the entranceway and immediately put on shorts, t-shirt and also a matching two of flip flops purchased in Old Navy. My flip flop collection was far bigger than my dress shoes, and a lot more comfortable! I learned new solutions to prepare the various varieties of seafood from your clerks on the seafood market. Spreading out newspaper and dumping freshly steamed crab legs throughout the table was obviously a feast irresistible! A few small bowls of melted butter with Old Bay, an icy cold beer and sweet iced tea plus a roll or a pair of paper towels competed the setting. We would all sit about the table, cracking crab legs, butter dripping from your chins and share stories in our day.
My husband was nearing where he could retire from teaching and our youngest was near starting senior high school. By the end from the summer the choice was made he would enroll with the Middle school so that you can prepare him with the transition to senior high school. My husband would finish his year teaching in WV and hubby, our son and I would take turns driving to and on the beach to West Virginia and or viceversa every other weekend. Every vacation to West Virginia I would wrap up a few small pieces of furniture as well as a few more of the belongings to consider residency in “our little beach house” as I lovingly named it.
That was decade ago. My husband is retired. It took him longer to finish out his retirement, thus it was just our son and myself with his long distance visits. Our house in West Virginia is listed on the market, but rented to the time being. We have moved from 27th street to 5th street and reside in a condo that has a lot more room just throughout the street through the ocean! We are preparing to move everything residing in storage towards the beach. Just the other weekend our grand children were visiting and I woke them as much as go watch the “sun get up.” I threw on my small t-shirt and shorts not to mention, matching shoes, and stuck two sippy cups within the pockets of my shorts and holding both small hands of the 2 and 3 year-old clad of their character pajamas and somehow a Woody doll and also a little panda bear, we crossed the highway and sat inside the sand altogether awe since the sun rose in the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. Gulls flew overhead and many large fishing boats cut from the waves carrying tourist in the market to spend the afternoon making memories. Joggers were out, along with cyclist, getting inside their exercise. I watched the ocean front “get up” throughout the eyes of my grand children. A memory I will forever cherish.