throwback summer vacation thursday

We are now in our first full week of summer vacation, which has me thinking about summers of the past ...

No castle this, the kid helps make a sand fortress

Three generations on the beach

Loving cousins

At the Avon Inn

careful where you step

The man o' war jellyfish have been everywhere, all over our beach lately. I have gotten some minor stings on my feet, on the tops of my toes, but that hasn't stopped me from wanting to take a morning walk there. A little white vinegar does the trick to take away the sting.

this winter's erosion ...

... can also be beautiful.

the birds

During the week I try to fit in a walk on the beach after I drop the kid off at school. I can't be sure, but a few of the gulls seem to be treating me like a regular lately, not skittering off as soon as I get in their vicinity.

earthing

I mentioned to my chiropractor the other day that as part of my regular health regime/workout I have been trying to walk on the beach every morning, even if it's just walking down to the water's edge and wading in the ocean. He replied, "Oh, that's called earthing, That's great for you." I hadn't heard that term before, but was intrigued.

Walking on the sand, wet or dry, is supposed to benefit one's overall health

Earthing, or grounding as it is often called, simply means connecting to the Earth’s natural, negative surface charge by being barefoot outside or in bare skin contact with conductive systems indoors while you sleep, relax, or work. 

A simple concept, yes. But one with profound impact on the physiology. 

Connection with the Earth restores a lost electrical signal to the body that seems to stabilize the complicated circuitry of our essentially-electrical body. Our built-in self-regulating and self-healing mechanisms become more effective. There are head-to-toe improvements. Better blood flow. Less pain and inflammation. More energy. Deeper sleep.

For many people the effect is dramatic, like charging a failing battery. For others, the effect is gradual and subtle. — from The Earthing Institute

Sounds good to me. There are, of course, all sorts of "earthing products" available on the internet, for folks who want to connect their beds or homes to the outside world via copper coils or some such tool. But if weather permits, I think it would be far easier, and cheaper, and more profound just to make a personal, physical connection. Remind oneself that we are connected to the earth. At least that is my plan.

Related articles

• The Healing Benefits of Going Barefoot With Reiki.

calm seas

Trying to start the week off with a peaceful, calm sea ...






... Goodbye summer. Well, at least technically. It's still in the 90s around here.

jersey girl

Although it's been over three weeks since we returned from our Jersey Shore vacation, I haven't had a lot of time to process it all yet. We've been adjusting to going back to school, and getting our first colds of the school year (I seemed to get it worse than the kid, go figure).

I grew up at the Shore, and there is always an element of nostalgia in coming back. I was afraid that might be the only thing pulling me there, and was presently surprised that wasn't the case. Yes, it is always fun to drive around and see what has survived since my childhood days and be disappointed in what hasn't (this year's big heartbreak — Freedman's Bakery is no more.) But there is something else going on, too. Going home isn't just about memories, it's also about physically connecting to a place. I live by the ocean in Florida, but it is still renewing and refreshing to dip my toes in the cold Atlantic of New Jersey, the ocean of my childhood. Maybe it's in my DNA.








There is also something about the pace that I love. I grew up in a vacation spot. I seem to have always wanted to live where everyone, i.e., tourists, want to come and visit, whether it be the beach, or a major city like New York or Washington, D.C.

As much as I enjoyed my time in those urban metropolises, the other thing that seemed crystal clear to me on this recent vacation was how much I love the beach lifestyle. Ron Jon's anyone? I may never have learned to surf, but I completely connect with a slower, more relaxed vibe. Like the "salt life" stickers you see on cars everywhere down here, I connect to the ocean, the salt air, the sand in my toes.

Where we live now, Palm Beach, can be a bit fancy sometimes, but that's not what I'm about, and it's not why I'm here. It's the ocean, across the road, that calls me. And I can't help but answer, "Hello, old friend."

throwback thursday: country mouse, city mouse

At Parsons, taking a break. I'm wearing boat shoes (!)

At Jones Beach, with Steven and Eduardo and bomb pops

In New Jersey, knitting - I was around 8 at the time.

At MoMA, frolicking with the kid.

On the beach, in Spring Lake, NJ.

With BFFs at Vero Beach

throwback thursday: what exit?

This week as we continue to enjoy our Jersey Shore vacation, here's a look back at an earlier trip to the beach.






By the way, we took exit 7A on the Turnpike.

throwback thursday: jer-sey!

We are off for a Jersey Shore vacation today. Yes, we may live by the beach year-round, but there's something about Jersey and going home. Plus, the kid and I haven't had a long break in a really long time. Really looking forward ...

scanning the horizon

Trying to keep things in perspective ...

throwback thursday: jersey shore vacations

I grew up at the Jersey Shore, so every childhood summer was usually spent there, with family and friends coming to visit us. Later years in NY and DC had me a bit land-locked, so I was happy to be able to drive to Jersey for the occasional vacation. I have taken the kid a few times over the past few years, but last year was the one she really remembered, and now she wants us to start our own tradition. So in honor of my booking an August vacation at the Shore, here are some pics from past beachy times.

I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for mom (left) and her girlfriends thinking that the Shore was a great  place for a summer vacation from the city

Hanging out poolside at the Avon Inn, where my grandmother always stayed when she would visit us

One of my mom's effortless pastels, of me trying to fly a kite on the boardwalk

The kid checking out a jetty

Having fun on the rides at Jenkinson's pavilion

Related articles

• Jenkinsons in Point Pleasant to Reopen This Weekend

cutie on the beach

fun in vero beach

Yes we live in Florida. But no, you can never get too much of the beach. And every beach we visit, at least so far, is a bit different. The latest beach we have checked out — Vero Beach. We have been able to get there on two occasions recently, to meet up with some friends and also family. Vero Beach has a much narrower strip of sand than our home beach, and a very relaxed vibe. Fun was most definitely had by all.


The beach

The love bugs were out in full force (and freaking out the kid)

Checking out the downtown shopping scene with the fam

Strolling on the skinny beach

The homemade orange and vanilla swirled soft serve comes highly recommended

'night all