It’s been an odd summer, hasn’t it? 

After so many cancellations, I feel like I need to celebrate the things we can do, the things that do happen, the things that remind us of normalcy.

My daughter and I have decided to have one last summer hurrah.  I have tried to do this with the kids over the years.  It’s often been a day at the amusement park (closed), or a day at our local fair (canceled).  

We have an idea to head south to my sister’s, where we can go to the ocean.   We have gone back and forth on this a few times this week.  The weather looks perfect.  But is it safe?  My sister reminds me of the weekly COVID-19 testing her job at a college campus requires; our son’s university requires twice weekly testing.  It seems like we are following the guidelines. 

We wear our masks to the beach, winding our way to find a spot on the beach where no one is within about 50 yards.  We have successfully far surpassed the guidelines of at least six feet.  We keep to ourselves, mindful of all the rules. 

The water is warm (especially for New England) and the sun is brilliant.  Soon the oldest is throwing the rest of them into the water, the youngest is on her boogie board, the middle two are riding the waves.

For just a bit, I even forget about COVID-19.  We’re just a family sitting together on the sand… collecting shells… splashing in the waves… watching the sunset.

The last of summer 2020 is more peaceful than other years—which is a definite silver lining for us all.