P&Q

Sometimes there is joy in the stillness. I don't get to experience stillness or silence very frequently: there's always some buzz of motion; present, impending or just zoomed past. But today, at the beach, just me camping with Josh and Sean, there have been moments of purely blissful peace & quiet.

Josh fell asleep in his mini-swing. After the tinkling electronic merry tunes shut off, the only sound was the rhythmic tempo as the mini-motor leveraged itself against his almost 17 lbs of sleeping chub. The unusual compounding of this and Sean's unscheduled nap in the blanket fort made for a noticeable quiet. I smiled to myself as my thoughts came creeping out, coaxed by their natural curiosity.

I remembered Things in the quiet. Things I wanted to do: write, take some great pictures of the kids, resolve my ongoing eBay dispute, promote recycling. Not a Have To Do list, just some Want To Do's that needed P&Q to see sunlight.

The day went on; the kids woke up and crying, laughing, whining, singing, giggling ensued. but it's quiet again now in the nighttime, and I'm thinking how much I enjoy the daily noise with just a dash of P&Q thrown in.

Summer of the Beach: The How's, Why's & Where's

This is it. Money has exchanged hands. Supplies have started stockpiling. Word has reached certain relatives' ears: we purchased a camper and it waits at a scenic campsite AT THE BEACH. I have unfettered access to a beach retreat anytime from now through October. While I am nervous (as I am with any large purchase), I am giddy at the idea of being able to spend time with my family at the closest beach venue anytime we want. 

I look at it this way: 

1) Have I mentioned I LOVE the beach? As Sean says, "Are you going to marry it?"; I would if polygamy to a natural scenic location were an option.

2) It was a g-r-e-a-t deal. Even for a frugal, penny-pincher like myself - it didn't take more than 2 minutes for me to say "Yes." 

3) Who knows if I will ever have an uncommitted summer and an opportunity like this coincide again?!? No formal job. Two children schedule-free until late August (save a few soccer games and 2 weeks of summer camp, yet to be booked.) A husband blessed with fruitful self-employment. Family who will gladly visit & assist as needed (trading late night feedings for afternoon naps on the sand - not such a bad deal.)

We parked the camper at Castaway's campground about 3 weeks ago, spent the night, but didn't hook-up any utilities. We are 50 ft from a very clean bath house/laundry/shower facility, so we weren't really 'roughing it'.

My parents spent the weekend away together at Ocean City, so, seeing a weather forecast with 4 days of 80+ degree weather, I decided to drive down with the kids & meet them. They did not know about the camper. I called around noon - thinking I'd catch them well before they headed back north. NO! At noon, they were not only packed, but on the road! We planned to meet in Cambridge at they Wendy's. Thankfully, the kids slept and I sped down to meet them.

To be continued...