I remember, as a child, walking to the beach on the sizzling asphalt, hearing the whoosh of the waves getting louder. Sometimes I could hear laughter shimmering up from the hidden beach.

The lake is so immense that it is almost always visible on the horizon, and I would walk toward it. past beautiful homes and landscaped gardens. There was an enormous wooded dune where I would first feel sand. In the deep shade I would take off my shoes and delight in the feel of damp, cool sand between my toes.

After the orgy of toe wiggling (Were you able to wiggle your toes while walking, or was it one of my many rare talents?), I would trudge up the slight incline, still under the shade and then burst forth into the sun, onto the top of the hill, above the most beautiful, sparkling, inviting beach in the world.

At that moment I knew that this was going to be the best day of my life and that I would always remember this summer.

It's still like that here. Even if you're not a kid anymore.
back

next