Long Relationships

I’ve mentioned before that JG’s family takes an annual vacation to Ocean City, New Jersey, and last summer was my first opportunity to join them. I was nervous. Don’t get me wrong - I was grateful for the excuse to take time off from work and I enjoy spending time with his family, but the brutual truth was (and still is) that I didn’t like the beach. The rocky New England shorelines of my childhood made for beaches that were scenic, but not comfortable. I was content to look but not touch.

I should explain that everyone who goes on this trip loves the beach. They play tons of games in their Beach Olympics, they can all body surf like champs, and they count on doing the same things on the boardwalk that they have always done. The trip is a tradition that goes back to before any of the grandchildren were born and I was stepping into it for the very first time. And I didn’t like the beach.

JG prepped me, saying, “It’s okay if you just sit on your beach chair. My mom and the aunts do it all day and no one bothers them. (Oh, great. I’m in the Moms category.) Just bring lots of books and you can read the whole week long. It would be nice if you got in the water, but there’s no pressure, really. (Mm hmm.) I’d love to teach you how to body surf, but it’s up to you. (So not happening.) I’m just glad that I finally get to share this with you.” Oh, boy. Deep breath.

I wasn’t anxious only because of my dislike for all things beach. I really wanted to have a good time. I didn’t want to take anything away from the memories JG had of this trip that so defined his childhood summers. What if I didn’t fit in with the idyllic vacation of his youth? What if his family thought I was boring because I didn’t want to swim? This trip wasn’t merely a vacation; it was a rite of passage.

Sure enough, I read books for the entire week. I joined right in for board games, but I stayed out of the water, except for one fateful outing that left me with salt water in my eyes, up my nose, and burning my throat. I had yummy salt-water taffy from the boardwalk and I managed to get six holes in one in the mini-golf tournament! All in all, it was a fine vacation. It wasn’t what I would have chosen, but sometimes, that’s how things are. I got to spend a week with JG’s family and have a window into their traditions. I’m just glad to report that they didn’t think I was boring. Even so, I would have preferred to avoid getting salt water up my nose, but I can not explain the ocean’s vendetta against me.

couples, in-laws, vacations, family, Ocean City

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