Thirty-six years ago, we rented half of a duplex on West Dennis Beach, Cape Cod. Our daughters were 5, 3 and a newborn.
Over the next ten years, their summer vacations were filled with sandcastles, kite flying, ice cream, splashing in the waves and playing with the grandkids of the woman who owned the duplex.
Twelve years ago, we bought a house on West Dennis Beach, a house located 200 yards down the beach from the now demolished duplex. During the summers, our daughters, their spouses and their kids have spent many days at our house.
Their kids’ days have been willed with sandcastles, kite flying, ice cream, splashing in the waves and playing with the kids of our beach neighbors.
For my wife and I, those days decades ago were full of fun, constant motion (except for naps) and teaching our kids how to fly kites and that vanilla is the best ice cream flavor. With our grandkids, the days of this summer are no different.
Emma, who is 6, asked me, “When you and grandma are spirits, can we still come to the beach house?”
Of course. Because Emma, we want you, your children and your grandchildren, to have the same great times at the beach and the truly wonderful memories that your grandparents have had.
I wanted to tell her about the circle of life, but she had moved on to asking if she could have a popsicle.
