memories

I need the beach! I have been thinking a lot recently about my life on the east coast. Not so much my entire life on the east coast, or missing it necessarily, but mostly just about the summers I spent at the beach. Myrtle Beach, in particular. Here's a little background (for those of you who aren't my mom).

My Aunt Carolyn's BFF lives in Myrtle Beach. Jacqui. Her son is Jake. My friend Jake. When I was younger, in my single digits, my aunt would take my cousin and I with her down there (it was about a 5 or so hour drive from Richmond) and we'd stay with Jacqui. She lives about 4 blocks off the beach in what I would consider a very South Carolinian home. Not huge, but beautiful. The entire back yard is basically a deck. There's a pool, a fish pond that she built herself (she's crafty), trees (palm trees, I think), and a covered porch that's perfect for sitting and chatting on hot summer days. I would call it divine. I have memories of sitting outside by the pool with my cousin Holly in the morning and Jacqui would serve us homemade biscuits and then we would spend the day swimming in the pool. So much fun! They also own an Italian restaurant and all of us would get together and go there for fancy dinners. I love those memories. Once Jake was old enough to drive, I would hang out with him while my aunt and Jacqui did whatever it is that they did. You know, like go to movies, or to the beach or whatever. At the time, I was like 12 and Jake was 16 so we weren't necessarily buddies. It was more like, "Jake, you take Carolyn's niece out and show her around so she's not bored!" Eventually, my aunt bought a beachfront condo so we started going down there a lot more. I'd go down with my parents. We'd play putt-putt during the day and lay on the beach, and go out to dinner in the evening. You know, typical summer beach activities. I spent time with Jake during those trips too, but it wasn't until I was a little older that we really became friends. By the time I was 17 I would take off and drive down there on a moment's notice just to hang out with Jake (and his at-the-time girlfriend Kourtney). I could go into more detail, but since I'm leaving in about twenty minutes to go to yoga I'll spare you. Maybe I'll write more later? But anyway, the point of this story is simply to say that Jake is one of my dearest and oldest friends. Even though we've never lived in the same state, we've always been good friends. He's the only male that I've ever had a long term, genuinely platonic friendship with. He's great! The first time I went back to Virginia after moving to Portland, he and his girlfriend and baby came up and we had a big dinner at Hondo's, just like old times at Umberto's. The drinks were a-flowin' and I got ripped and made a speech about how much I loved everyone at the table. Tapped a utensil on my wine glass to get everyone's attention and everything. That was 1 year and 10 months ago, and I haven't seen Jake since. When I go back to Virginia next month, I'm going to Myrtle Beach for two nights and I can't wait! It will be interesting to be there again, since it's been over two years and I used to go there as often as once a month, never going more than a few months without making a trip. To say I'm looking forward to it would be an understatement.

Yesterday Julia and I went shopping and I bought some cute summer things to take on my trip, because Lord knows I don't need them here in Portland. I bought two skirts, a dress and a top. All adorable. I feel like going to Bath and Body Works, for old time's sake since I used to go there all the time, and buying a coconut scented lotion. Reminds me of the beach!

I am so grateful for my childhood memories. I had a great childhood and I have my mom and dad to thank for that.

Off to the yoga!