.....it takes a week

Yogis,
Today I am pouring through the pictures I took in the Outer Banks this past week. Snapshots of the individual moments that make up our 35^th annual gathering of families that fill five houses to their brim with adults, children, infants, dogs and memories. Every one of us grateful for this amazing tradition.

Day one is always long. Car rides that begin for some as early as 4:30 am. Stops for gas, sandwiches and the traditional meet up at the farm stand. Feeling successful when making it over the bridge to the island by 10:30 but then sitting in what we call the ‘congo line’ as you literally inch your way up route 12 through Duck. So close……yet so far.

Arrival and unpacking with dozens of climbs up and down the two flights of steps. Everyone giddy. Beach time followed by a delicious salmon and steak dinner to cap off the day.

We all comment how quickly we settle in.

The next couple of days we live hard. Wanting to experience it all! Long afternoons in the sun followed by appetizers and great conversation in the hot tub. Music playing. Lots of laughter. Around eight deciding we better cook dinner even though we don’t feel ready. Later evenings lead to naps on the beach and the eagerness to do it all again.

We all comment how quickly we settle in.

By Wednesday we have found our rhythm. All starting to unwind from whatever life has strung on. Slow mornings. Quieter. Noticing how we haven’t turned on the tv, read a newspaper or listened to the news in five days. Floating in the pool while my grand dog performs belly flops. Detaching from the noise of our world while we watch the sky turn shades of coral as the sun begins her descent.

We all comment how quickly we have settled into vacation.

Friday is our last day. Another glorious weather day. Pelicans glide in formation overhead against the blue sky. Dragonflies dot the dunes. The temperature of the water sits in stark contrast to the hot air. I dunk under for the head rush that follows. Every skin cell awakens and tingles. The breeze picks up. With sandy feet we settle in under the umbrellas. 

Suddenly everything is so clear.

I look around and realize only now have we truly settled. The whole group woven together as one and leaning back in beach chairs looking at peace. Even the kids playing quietly in the hole that was dug earlier in the day which is now being slowly filled by the approaching tide. The moon sits high in the daytime sky and watches over us. Life looks beautiful and we notice.

I always think it will be quicker. It takes a week…...

By stepping back we actually step in,
SARAH