To My Favorite Place in the Universe,

For as long as I can remember, I've been in love with you. As I reminisce on my childhood, I am reminded of long summer days spent with you and the oasis you were to me. My three-year-old self was mesmerized by you from the second I set foot on your golden sand. Gazing at the horizon, I felt like I could see to the ends of the Earth. And at eight years old, I would stand on your rocky shore feeling like the queen of the world. Sandcastles, sea dollars, seagull chasing — you held the magic of them all. You captured the heart of a young girl who broke out in a Jack-o-lantern toothed smile the moment she spotted the ocean from her carseat.

As I grew up, the summers spent with you were few and far between. I was a typical pre-teen girl who was more interested in spending her weekends at the mall than with you and my family. I was caught up in the idea of "growing up" and thought that being held spellbound by you was juvenile. None of the memories we shared were as magical as they once appeared to be.

Then, when I grew into my teenage self, life took a turn. That's what you realize as you mature: things change and life gets messy. In the face of divorce, death, and tragedy, I desired something that brings normalcy. You, the beach, became my safe haven. Through life's battles, I realized that you were always there for me. You listened while I screamed angrily at the top of my lungs. You brought peace and quiet that comforted me as I cried. You reminded me of happier times when everything started to cave in.

Today, I have come to love everything that you stand for. Serenity, calmness, and comfort are the first things that come to mind when I think of you. Thank you for bringing me these when I needed it most, for providing me the most magical childhood I could ever imagine, and for being the first true love of my life.

Sincerely,

The Beach Body Who Rediscovered Her Love for You