The Events of Monday, January 3, 2011

            At times this trip is mind boggling. Last week we were walking through 10 inches of snow, breaking off icicles and throwing snowballs and now we are walking in sand, wading in the Atlantic Ocean and picking up seashells. What a difference a week and one state south can make. We continue to enjoy staying at the Pea Patch on Holden Beach in North Carolina. Years ago my late Aunt Linda had a vision of providing a haven for family and friends. Her daughters, my cousins, Laura and Cathy, have continued on with her generosity.  I had wanted a safe, sane place for us to spend New Year’s Eve and Day, off the roads and where we could continue our family tradition of ushering the New Year with the Tournament of Roses Parade. Then we found that Stanford was going to be playing in the Orange Bowl and my parameters of our place to stay changed. We needed to be somewhere on January 3rd that had ESPN. In addition to its great location, wonderful spacious living arrangement, and lovely décor, the Pea Patch offered these additional “required” amenities.

            So today’s agenda was set. Prepare to watch Stanford win the Orange Bowl. Surprised to learn that the game wouldn’t start until 8:30pm, the kids prepared for a late night. Everyone slept in, which meant different things for the different members of my family. (I think Jim stayed in bed until 6:45am and Caitlin lasted until 9:30.) We enjoyed a slow morning of quiet times, waffles for breakfast, catching up on blogs, reading, and some school work. After lunch we headed down to the beach to experience low tide.

            We have visited the beach several times a day every day that we have been here. Each time it is different. The tide is at a different point, the lighting has changed, different wildlife is present. It is like each time we are on a new beach. Jim and I walked along while the kids waded and searched – their mission to find an intact sand dollar or complete conch shell. While they managed to find several conch shells, an intact sand dollar eluded them. So Lindsey and Abby contented themselves with finding pieces and trying to see what they could fit together.

            After the beach it was time for haircuts and showers. Lindsey is getting fairly independent cutting Jim and Ben’s hair and I need to only show up at the end to check her work. It was nice enough that we were able to do the haircuts outside on the deck which made clean up easy. Next she tackled my bangs and did a good job there as well. Then it was time for the kids to do math with Dad and for me to prep dinner. In the RV, the oven barely fits one 9x13 pan. Therefore it is a luxury to have a full-sized oven with two shelves and I was able to prepare several dinners at the same time.  

            After dinner, I took the kids for a night walk on the beach. It had been cloudy or foggy the past few nights, but today it was amazingly clear. The moon had not yet risen and, with no lights around, the stars just dazzled. There was even one low in the sky that was reflecting on the ocean, but my children said that star was blinking red and blue and moving.  Upon reaching the beach we created an arrow in the sand so we would be able to find our way back to the public access boardwalk upon our return. The evening was beautiful and the crashing edge of the waves was visible. The only challenge was that it was high tide so we had the choice of walking on the soft sand that gave at every step or on a very steep slope of hardening sand. I soon felt like one leg was longer than the other and we turned back when my back began to hurt.

            Now the real fun of the day began - Stanford at the Orange Bowl‼ While the game started off well, the Virginia Tech Hokies were beginning to come back and Stanford led by a mere point at half time. However, the second half, Stanford started strong and never looked back. Lindsey only lasted until midway through the second quarter. Caitlin, professing to be only interested in the commercials, headed to bed after halftime. But Ben and Abby, our diehard Stanford fans, lasted until midnight and rejoiced with Stanford’s awesome win. A great end to another great day.