Just Beachy

Yesterday I was so not a fashionista. Rather, a wet mismatched mess. But a mismatched mess prepared for the beach -- in the rain! The Burberry umbrelly and quilted coat were tucked away in my closet. Ok, in they were in the back of the car which I have let go despite my initial claim to never keep anything in it. Instead I was quite the sight in my sneakers, black leggings, black sweater that I wore under Rebecca's orange anorak. That in itself would have been cute and sporty but June in New England can be chilly... I guess, so I had to toss on my old blue Columbia ski shell. I looked like a paint palette that Alexander had smeared with his brush. But I didn't care. I was actually enjoying the rain and the cold air. The children (2nd graders and the PreK-3 class) were out tagging Horse Shoe Crabs which are becoming extinct. The tags will mark whether the crab is a male (with sharp thorns on its claws) or female. The tags will let researchers know where they are. It was a valuable science lesson for everyone there. Why do male crabs have spikes on their claws? To prevent the female from escaping as they mate (of course!) Makes ya glad you're not a female crab! The ocean was warmer than the chilly air. The children and my camera loved the weather. Some of the moms did not. Nor did Alexander who spent most of the time in the car, watching Strawberry Shortcake and eating his lunch. (Yes, I let him eat his lunch in there just this once... I mean it wouldn't be as bad as all the wet sand that could potentially find its way in. And thankfully I had remembered to bring some old ratty towels that I spread out over the floor of the car and the second and third rows!)

I was happy to see that Alexander fell asleep in the car after I dropped his brother and two friends off back at school. I was able to transfer Alexander onto the couch and bundle him up in blankets so that I could get out of my cold wet clothes and hop into the Jacuzzi. I soaked in the hot tub (has to be hot!) and read my copy of Social Climbers that arrived in the mail a couple of days early. Overhead the rain was pelting down on the skylight and I was glad to be where I was... able to enjoy the peace and serenity that accompanies a nice spring rain without actually being in it!