I think I maybe could get used to having an entourage. Today I took my two nieces and my two daughters to the Jersey Shore, where they frolicked in the waves, collected seashells galore, and walked the boardwalk taking it all in. For my nieces, it was their first time ever swimming in the ocean.  What a great thing to get to do for and with them. I am no longer Cranky, and I don’t even feel too tired either. The sea kind of heals you, in a funny way.

One on-looker noticed me with my gaggle of girls (ages 11, 8, 7, and 4) and commented: Now there goes a brave person! Yes, I guess some people might find it a little nerve-wracking keeping track of four youngsters at a crowded beach, but in fact I was pretty laid back about it.  The two older girls both know how to swim (but also know that they are not life-guard material yet) and the two younger ones know damn well that they cannot.   Plus a lifeguard was very doggedly keeping an eye on everyone (though it was so crowded it seemed near impossible) and punctuating our swim time with blasts from the whistle.

After we got something to eat for dinner from the cooler bag I’d packed (pasta with home-made pesto and sand; peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sand; fresh Jersey peaches and sand; juice boxes and sand…) we then got some kick-ass frozen custard on the boardwalk. My eyes kind of popped when I handed over a twenty to pay for the icecream and all I got back for change was fifty cents. Given that, I was darn glad I’d thought to bring food!

Being like many children, the kids were not inclined to eat the crusts of their sandwiches, so we tossed the crumbles to greedy seagulls who would swoop down and catch the treat midair.  After that, we strolled the beach for seashells, and finally headed back to our car, and drove home, listening to the book Heidi on CD in the car.

As days go, this was a good one.