A year without scoring ocean time is an incomplete year. I say ocean time, as opposed to beach time because the beach to me is overrated, at least the concept where one vegetates for several hours getting burnt to a crisp. I sit under umbrellas. It's not a fear of sunburns, because I inherited a brown, Mediterranean skin that serves me well. It's because I hate being over-heated and bored. 

The ocean though? The ocean I love. Cool, blue dawns, and fire sunsets over magnificent water is intoxicating. The playing in waves far bigger than I leave me breathless and overwhelmed in joy. Never do I discard the dignified cloak of adulthood so well as in water. 

The weather was a bit iffy when we started out because there was a hurricane predicted, which was exciting to me. I love storms, have lived through two tornadoes (one I remember, one I don't) and adore rainy days. However moderate amounts of sunshine sounded grand to brown the skin somewhat, and as the weekend didn't end up being half as stormy as they said, it was perfect.  

Myrtle Beach was prettier than I'd imagined though not as empty as the Outer Banks. Since people watching is also fun the reasonably populated beaches weren't as bothersome to us. 

They were empty sometimes. And sometimes, when a friend steps out looking like a magazine cover, one feels the compulsion to take a photo. 

Piers are always good backdrops. 

Ocean and storm. Our rental had a back porch overlooking an inlet a few hundred yards from the ocean, and I have good memories of sitting back there talking until all hours of the night with a bit of rain and wind. There is nothing more cozy, yes? Snuggled in a good hoodie, a glass of wine nearby, and good friends to talk over all manner of things. To be honest several of us were a bit low that weekend, but there is little the ocean can't soothe. 

The beach was too wet after the rain to sit down, so Abby read as she walked. 

The beach picnic is a tradition we had to keep. Doesn't this look deluxe? 

Happy, happy days. 

#hazelsurf girls. What a grand group.