Reached the beach

The wind eventually subsided. Crabs ducked for cover. Sands shifted, erasing our footprints. But memories remain.



Claire and her cousins spent four nights on the coast, parents and grandparents in tow. We shacked up in a neat beach house, ate loads of good food, gazed at seabirds, trapsed over tidepools, toured a lighthouse, watched DVDs and played lots of air hockey.

Sure, we sometimes tested each other's nerves. Just look at the expression on Eric's face:



But those moments were as rare as spotting a giant squid. The skies were big. Our enthusiasm childlike.



Gracie and Claire ran and jumped on our third-floor deck while the adults marveled at the balcony's expansive view.



The weather greeted us with bluster and rain, driving us to play indoors, where Raquel beat everyone at everything, much to her husband's chagrin.




The beach comes with certain predictable doings. We made the obligatory stop at Tillamook Creamery for marionberry pie ice cream and pepper jack cheese. We dressed in layers and wore hats. We compared clam chowders. The great weather arrived just as we left.


Hailey got her first taste of the `saltwater breeze within the caring arms of her parents.


On our last full day, we treked to a light house. Gracie and her mom stood watch in front of the giant lens ...



... beckoning Eric to join them. He declined. The view from where he stood was good enough.



Later we hit a restaurant for fish & chips. Gracie took a rare nap tableside. Most of the time, she kept the beach house filled with excitement. She even taught her younger cousin how to yell from one floor to the next.



This vacation will go down as one to cherish for its relaxation, simplicity, good movies, stunning scenery, Grateful Bread and steamed clams.



All good things must wash out to sea. The air on the air hockey table is off; the starfish right where we spotted them. We left the beach with sun shining and a pocketful of whole sand dollars.