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Claudine M Jalajas

Writer, Web Developer, Decorative Painter

I'm a tired, worn-out mother of three young children. I never really fully appreciated what being sleep deprived was like before my children--and I now believe it is a valid form of torture. I live on Long Island with my husband (who I rant about frequently) and three little angels. ;)...

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Why Is The Beach So Easy?

Claudine M. Jalajas

We went to the beach last weekend.  We live on Long Island and are literally surrounded by water.  The north shore is about 1/4 mile away from our house (totally walk-able) and the south shore is about 20ish miles from our house.  LI, at its widest point is about 25 miles.  The north shore borders the Long Island Sound--it's really beautiful but the beach itself is pretty rocky.  My understanding is that it has something to do with a glacier that landed here.  As Kramer would say, it sounds like kooky-talk to me.

The South Shore borders the Atlantic Ocean.  Our waves are not huge here, but they are decent and provide a lot of fun for the kids.  While it's very cool to belong to a private beach club on the north shore, there are not as many kids there to play with--and that can make it boring for the kids.  (And if they're bored, I don't get to sit in my chair).

We went to Smith Point last weekend.  Smith Point is also known for the TWA flight 800 memorial.  If you go Smith Point, you should take a few minutes to see the memorial--it's beautiful.

It was the most relaxing time I had had in a very long time.  The most work I had was walking my sons up to the bathrooms. And even the water wasn't cold. Before we left, I bought a season pass and proclaimed that we would be there all summer.  The kids thought it sounded like a plan too. 

I recently sent a photo to a writer, Jen A. Miller, I know through a professional writer's group called, Freelance Success.  Jen latest book is, “The Jersey Shore, Atlantic City to Cape May: Great Destinations: A Complete Guide.”  She asked for retro-photos of people on the jersey shore.  My mother was a total beach bum so I knew I had photos (we even have photos from the winter time too).  I sent her one to share on her blog of me at the age of 2 or 3 on Long Branch beach in NJ.   My older brother saw it and told me that he remembered the time that photo was taken.  It was the summer we spent two weeks in a small beach rental above a shoe store.  He said that my mother and aunt would take us to the beach by 9am and we were the last to leave each day.

That must be why I'm against putting a pool in my yard.  I'm not saying I could write a check and do it--but I have no desire to do it.  (But  don't mind using my friend's pools from time to time).  ;)  My kids should be at the beach--it would be wrong to not go to the beach.  They should experience what I did--everything except for the sun burn.  Making friends for the day with strangers, digging deep holes with your bare hands,  the fun of finding sand crabs, jumping in waves, sand in your lunch, and the feeling of utter fatigue on the ride home. THAT is a good childhood memory.