Meg Dowell Writes

The bonfire last night was pretty awesome. At least we weren’t cold! And I mean this fire was huge. Like massive. Like probably the biggest bonfire I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I’d ever been to a bonfire on the beach before last night. Well I guess I can check that off of my list of things I want to do before I die. Excpet I never put it on there. So I guess I don’t have to cross something off that was never there. That would be like destroying a dream that doesn’t exist. Did I just try to come up with an analogy? Forgive me. I won’t try again any time soon.

Anyway, my mom and I got up early this morning (as in six o’clock at home, seven o’clock here) and ran a 5K. That’s 3.1 miles, if you didn’t know. All I remember throughout the entire thing was how much I wanted to give up. I wanted to stop running and just to walk. But I kept thinking, “You’re never going to be able to start running again if you stop now.” So I just kept on running, keeping up pretty well with my mom for the most part. By the end, I didn’t feel very well. But once I got some food and a hot shower, all was well again. And then I was able to reflect on the experience. I’m glad I agreed to do it.

We spent pretty much the rest of the day on the beach, or near the beach. I’m almost done with the book I’m reading. Robin Jones Gunn isn’t the best writer in the world, but I really like her stories. They keep me on my toes. And they’re good at teaching me things I probably need to learn how to apply in my life. Honestly, not all stories have to be magnificently written to be good reads. That’s my opinion, of course.

We took a really long walk on the beach this afternoon, sometime after lunch. It was so much fun! You forget how fascinating shells are. My mom and I like to hunt for them as we walk. We have a whole pile of them on the desk in our hotel room now. She says we still have a box of shells from eleven years ago when my family went to North Carolina. Coming here really makes me want to look at those again.

There was this really cute guy in the water as we were walking. My mom insisted on taking a picture with him in the background, and she got her wish. I’ve named him Mysterious Beach Boy Who I Don’t Know. MBBWIDK. I’m sure the whole thing was pretty awkward for him. But it could have been worse; my mom could have pulled a “my daughter wants a picture with you” on me. Now that would have been interesting. Awkward. Interestingly awkward.

We came back here this evening, ordered room service (pizza!), and watched The Princess Diaries. It was pretty much amazing, and still is.

Oh! Did I mention that the guy who was playing the bagpipes yesterday returned? Well he did! I had a feeling he would come back. Anyway, I think I’m done here. Time to take a nice hot shower! One thing I know for sure is, I can never wash away the memories I’m making here. Have a great night, everybody!