the beach

there is something about the beach - i could run for miles. on friday morning, i ran and ran and ran and when we drove the length of it before dinner, we discovered that it was 6.6 miles. i think that's the farthest i've ever run. it's nice to know that my arms and legs still work in my old age. it is strange though, because this morning i ran around a park in nyc and even though i only did about 3 miles, i was d r a g g i n g. i'm telling you, it's the breezy beach and the salty air. maybe it has electrolytes in it.

julie left a day earlier than i did for a wedding in d.c., so at dinner on friday night, it was just me and my parents and my aunt and uncle. i asked my mom what she liked most about turning 60. this led to a discussion about everyone's happiest day(s) and decade(s). although the baby boomer's spoke fondly about certain periods in their lives (having babies, going abroad, etc.), none of them wished they could go back to a different time. my mom said turning 60 last month was the best. "you really know who you are and you're much easier on yourself." she said the same thing when she turned 50. my dad's happiest moments are all about surprises. surprise parties, surprise gifts, etc.

and i can relate to that. not to the surprise part - i kind of hate surprises. but i guess i like the unexpected positive turnaround, like when i found out i got my job. it was almost two years ago, and i was at a career low point. i was picking up a frame in the west village, and when i found out i got the job, i was so shocked that i turned around and hugged the store owner. also, i don't think i'd ever want to go back in time. who wants to be a teenager again? who wants to go through heartache and loss? of course, i'd love the clear skin and bright eyes of a kid, but i do believe in moving forward.

other vacation highlights:

sitting on the beach with my dad and watching the sky turn purple
walking on the sand
millions of clear jellyfish
marathon games of boggle
bowls of manhattan clam chowder
eggplant rollatini
eggplant parmesan
spicy seafood jumbalaya
this isn't all about food
i promise
sleeping in a bunk-bed for the first time since i was 12
long beach island in october - empty beaches for miles
long beach island, period.
it's only 2 hours from nyc.
and i'm not mad at that.

i hope we can do another trip soon. maybe next year we'll go back to sandbridge beach in virginia, like old times.

*photos by howie