Emerald Isle
We recently cherished our seventh
vacation on the island.
The children were young on our first
visit, now they study in high school and college. Our entourage has grown over the years, how
can one not share the beauty and delight of the island? Parents, siblings, and cousins now converge,anxious to spend a week together.
Emerald Isle is a little piece of
heaven…where the morning walk on the beach allows you to feel like the island
belongs only to you.
Where the morning mug of coffee never
tasted better, sitting on the deck, overlooking the sea, watching the sun shimmer on the warm water and anticipating all of the laughter and new
experiences that the day will bring.
Where the routine is to scan the
horizon, in search of a glimpse of the silver-gray dolphins as they make their
way parallel to the shore.
Teen-agers have been known to say, “Wake me up if you see dolphins!”
Lazy mornings are spent on the beach;
time is measured not by the clock, but by the mood.“I’m hungry” means it’s time to go in for
lunch.“I’m thirsty” means it’s time to
come out of the saltwater and drink some fresh water, “Just one more wave,
please..?” means childhood will not last forever, and one more wave (or two…or
three) is easily granted.
At times, it’s difficult to leave the
beach to enjoy the other activities…a trip to the aquarium, miniature golf
followed by ice cream, shopping in Beaufort, a pirate adventure and stories of
Blackbeard, kayaking in the sound, and visits to Cape Lookout, or marveling at
the horses on Shackleford Island.
Emerald Isle vacations, a much
needed break from the routine, where the usual computer games and electronic
gadgets hold little interest, the house phone only rings if it’s Grandma from
the condo below, wanting to know if the kids want to come down for freshly
baked cookies and milk, and where the biggest decision the adults make is
whether to relax with a glass of red wine or white wine as they watch the
ever-changing colors of the sunset.
In today’s economy, a yearly vacation
is not a sure thing. Over the years jobs
have been lost, family illnesses occur, work requirements threaten time
off. Maybe it helps to make one
appreciate being able to return…through fall, winter and spring, the family
speaks of “hoping” to be able to “go back” and when the vacation is finally
booked, a sigh of relief is felt, and hope once again rises in anticipation of
another week of family togetherness.
The Westrick Family ~ Chuck, Sue,
Elisha & Matthew