Spring Break: the Beach

For the past few years, we've spent Spring Break down in Florida with my grandparents. It's wonderful watching them bond with Anna, and the sun break is always welcome (although this year it was lovely in Portland in February!).

But despite the fact that we're only miles from the beach, we'd never made it there with Anna on our previous visits. That changed this time, and it was an ideal day. The beach was fantastic, with gentle waves, a slight breeze, and shells. Lots and lots of shells.

You see, I have a weird thing about shells. I can't not look for them. When I'm on a good shelling beach I get so distracted that I really have to make myself lift my head and notice the rest of my surroundings. Because David has some anxiety that, if left to my own devices, I will singularly remove all the shells from the beaches of the world, I take lots of photos and then throw most of them back into the ocean. Because, heaven knows, I don't want to be responsible for creating a housing shortage for the hermit crabs of South Florida!

In any case, shells were admired (and smuggled), sand castles were built, waves were jumped, and memories were made.

Wilbur

There is very little stuff that remains from my childhood. This stems partly from my previously-mentioned tendency to purge when I feel overwhelmed by clutter, and partly because I've moved a lot. David and have moved 8 times (in 4 states) in the 16 (gasp!) years that we've lived together.

But lately I've become more sentimental. It's due in large part to the death of my dad, but I also think being a mom and hitting the 40-milestone both tie in as well.

When I was a kid, Wilbur sat on the passthrough between our postage-stamp-sized kitchen and our dining room, always there as a visible reminder that there just might be cookies to be had. Frankly, there usually weren't (a result of nonexistent baking skills and frequent calorie-counting on my mother's part).

On our most recent trip to Florida, I finally brought Wilbur home to Portland. Anna was so excited when the UPS truck arrived with the box he was in. As soon as I unpacked him, she was hugging and kissing him (despite the fact that he most certainly needed a bath!).

Wilbur was washed and filled the following day. For now, he's got some little, kid-friendly cookies from Trader Joe's in his belly, but soon he will be filled with yummy, homemade delights that Anna will grow up both loving and taking totally for granted. Wilbur and his belly of love and plenty will just be there throughout her childhood.

And many years from now, when Anna has a child of her own, I'll give her Wilbur and he will mean to her then what he means to me now. Home.