you don't want to be at the beach with me

Oh, I won't bother you with a loud radio, or sand throwing kids.
I'll sit quietly staring out to sea - or at you.
And I will judge you - not really...but I will critique your outfit (not that I care, and, in fact, I applaud the idea of wearing whatever you are comfortable wearing on the beach - truly), comment quietly on your child rearing techniques or take mental notes regarding your hair.
So - if you are sensitive, click away...if not, join me for my day at the ocean.

Some of the things I'll mention I wasn't able to photograph - you'll have to trust me.

The setting:



Gorgeous beach. Low tide...
There were signs for a children's olympics set for that day -
and lo and behold, just after Youngest found his spot for playing in the surf, the games began.
It was great fun to watch -
there were races and feats of strength and digging!
(There are strong laws, you see, on the digging of holes on the beach as about 8 years ago two small boys were killed when a hole they had dug was washed over by the sea and they were drowned.)
So yes! Holes must be knee deep only and so there was a contest to dig a hole, put your leg in it and bury yourself up to your knee.
Medals were given to all who participated and it was truly adorable.
BUT.

The crowd, of varying sizes, made it slightly difficult to keep an eye on my surf loving boy...
(he is the smaller figure in the wetsuit - to the left of the arrow)
and, you see, I must keep an eye on him as he is fearless and I need to be able to spring into action at any moment to save him from the obviously raging sea.



I have no clue where Youngest is in this photo.
I was very distracted.
And that nice lifeguard there in the red trunks? I could ask him to save Youngest from the big waves, couldn't I?



The view to my left.
Really.
Necessary?
I was there first.



Tattooed family.
Tattooed family? I get your whole tattoo thing, your whole, oh we're so european that we can just let our children wander the beach speaking Dutch and getting lost and we will just sit and read and smile and nod thing -
but Tattoo family?
Why? Why must you put your toddler in the blow up boat and bring him out into the crashing surf and ignore his pleas to return shore?
It was a pitiful sight to witness and it made me hate you, Tattoo family.

Perhaps they had taken a cue from the chap who dragged his tiny one on a boogie board through the tidal pools - which was sweet, but then had the bright idea to fling the boogie board around by it's cord thereby flinging her not once but three times into the sand and puddles. She wasn't too happy either.



Don't show off too much around me.
I'll talk about you - and it may not be the way you want me to.
This ain't Venice Beach, buddy.


Oh Large Format Camera Guy -
no good can come of this.
Sand in a Hasselblad?
Not good.
And I am not impressed with your equipment - you are no Patrick Demarchlier.
Also, you are wearing shorts and a tee shirt in the water and you look dumb.

We had an epic day -
the water was warm and clear and we sat and talked or played for several hours.

Today we head to town.

Oldest has survived the crawl -
there are hysterical pictures to prove it.
Your birthday wishes were well appreciated -
oh, and Middle? is home with his dad and brother.