Body painted with white sunscreen streaks from head to toe.

Trying to prevent the dry sand from clinging to my ocean-wet feet, choosing my

steps carefully.

Fla-vor-ice melting, leaving sticky colored streaks down my arms all day.

Sandy, wet hair.

The never-ending quest to find a perfect shell.

Playing Butts up against the walls with signs saying “NO BALL PLAYING.”

Lifeguards zinc covered faces.

Unloading mounds of sand from my bikini bottom.

Red eyes stung with salt water.

Unveiling a half intact sandcastle from its neon plastic mold.

Aloe Vera.

The crunch of sand between teeth, mid ham and bologna sandwich bite.

Coconut scent floating off the middle aged woman lathered in tanning oil to my

right.

Boogie Board burns from when I thought I didn’t need a rash guard.

Avoiding the splinters and nails on the boardwalk to the ocean.

Green oceans, full of seaweed.

Being swallowed whole by the ocean, tossed around in circles.

The hiss of beer and soda cans being opened.

Writing my name in the wet sand, only to be washed away by the next wave.

Cabana row parties.

Pretending to be mermaids with my cousin, while the other was our pet seahorse.

Sunglasses covered in rhinestone peace signs.

Girls that sold string bracelets for $1.

Falling asleep with a towel draped over my head.

Feeling the warmth of my own urine in the pool, blaming someone in my immediate

area.

Burning my feet on the hot sand, after telling Mom I didn’t need to wear flip-flops.

The “Closed” sign on the pool after someone pooped in it.

Wet, sandy band-aids.

High-pitched lifeguard whistles squealing.

The puddle that gathered around my clean wet hair at the top of my shirt.

The burning in my eyes when I rubbed them, forgetting my sunscreen covered

hands.

The sunburn outline, reminding me where my bikini once sat.

Renting board games from the game room.

Reading books off the summer reading list.

My Mom’s newest beach hat that kept her hair in place.

Bocce Ball.

Swim lessons in the beach club pool.

Being wrapped in a towel by Mom or Dad fresh out of the water.

Catching frogs when they came out at night.

The smell of burning charcoal on endless portable grills.