Memories

That was a long time ago.

Vacations weren’t for us. I’m not sure if it was a money thing or if it was about their personalities, but I only really remember two vacations before my parents split. I don’t know if I missed anything or not. Other kids seemed to enjoy them.

Instead, we would go a state park that was about 30 minutes from home. It had a reservoir and a little beach area with sand. It was the perfect place for a group of kids in elementary school to run out the seemingly enless supply of energy they accumulated on a bright summer day.

Today, I’m older than my mom was when she took us to the beach. To be fair, my kids are older than I was back then. It doesn’t line up.

When I go to that park, I sit on an outcropping and I can see the beach from my spot. If there are people there (when I go, there usually aren’t) I can hear them playing and screaming as they run into the cold water. It takes me back in an instant. I can almost taste the chocolate covered rice crispie treats our neighbor made every time we went. It was a special occasion food reserved for the beach in the summer.

I wandered a lot. I roamed. I saw other places and met other people. I’ve lost track or lost a lot of the people I was close to when my life started. It’s still strange to me that I’m back here where it all began. A very different person. Lifetimes have passed.

The park is still peaceful. A joyful place. Though I will admit, I prefer it in the winter when it is mostly abandoned.