Last Beach Day (Maybe)

The other day, I picked Nina up at school and headed to the beach with her.  It was in the low 80's- a crystal clear September day.  I decided that it might be the last decent beach day of the year, so it was now or never.

We got there around 1:30. The parking lot was about 1/4 full. Everyone was extra-friendly, like they knew it was our last day there for awhile- we were the lucky ones.  The sky was clear and blue- the water was clear and green.  The tide was heading out to sea, so we got to walk way out on the sandbars and chase little schools of fish and look for sand dollars.

 We got slushes- she had watermelon and I had lemon. She dug in the sand and played with her mermaids, I looked at catalogs. We talked about lots of things.  I gave her a piggyback when she got tired of walking- we sat on giant rocks and looked at boats going by.

I didn't want to leave.

Finally, around 4, I suggested that we start packing up. She helped, in her 3 year old way.  We were heading off the beach to the car when a man approached me- he was probably in his mid 60's.  He said. "My wife and I have been watching you since you got here."
I didn't know how to reply to this, so I just said, "Really?"
He said, "Yes, and I just have to ask you one question: Does it get any better than this?"
I suddenly thought I would cry. Because he got it. It was a simple day, with a little girl, but I treasured every minute. You do that with your grandchildren, and as you get older, when you are in a place that makes you so happy- you don't take anything for granted. You realize how precious every moment is.
I said, "People who don't have this don't get it. You can try to explain it, but until they have it for themselves, they don't understand." And, turns out, he was a grandfather. That's why he got it.

It was a beautiful day.