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| Sunset over the sound at Emerald Isle |
As the temperature rises, so does the desire for beach goers to find salt air. A coastal experience can be the perfect remedy for a long work week. In fact it can be the perfect remedy for almost anything. As a youngster I spent many summers on the North Carolina coast at Surf City. A small vacation home provided serenity for my family and for me the perfect childhood ambiance. I can recall learning to swim in the salty water clinging to Levi “my Dad’s loyal Golden Retriever”. My first strides in the water mocked the infamous doggy paddle strokes that Levi made, but eventually enabled me to reach the deeper water where my older cousins would swim. My Dad often took responsibility for my aquatic abilities, but truthfully man’s best friend was my first real instructor.
The white sands of the coastline were always my playground. A shovel and bucket could entertain me for hours. Whether I was digging a hole to bury my pirate treasure “that usually consisted of sea shells and shark teeth” or building a castle fit for a king, the sand provided a wonderland for my imagination. I love watching children today as they experience the sights, sounds, and taste of the sandy shoreline. During a recent beach trip I watched a young girl darting back and forth from the wet sand to her mother in effort to escape the rolling waves. Her success was short lived when she tripped and was hit by the foam of an incoming wave. Tears quickly turned to laughter as she felt the cool water and wet sand beneath her. The rest of her day was spent lounging at the water’s edge and occasionally daring to venture past the waves, only to be called back by her concerned mother.
Now that I am “all grown up”, I still have a deep love for the Carolina coast. The land where our family beach home once stood, now houses a two story hotel. Like many families our home lost the fight to nature and was turned to splinters by hurricane Floyd. Although my family never bought another beach house, we make it a point to vacation one week at of every year in the salty air. We often joke that we have stayed in almost every rental property in Emerald Isle and Atlantic beach. However one week a year usually isn’t enough for me. Luckily my great-uncle owns a house at Atlantic beach and is gracious enough to let me visit throughout the year. So during the summer if I disappear on a Friday, my family and friends know to look no farther than the Carolina coast. I’ll be feeding my childhood addiction to the salty air and sandy beaches.
~ J. Alex Lewis
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