Beach Cruiser

Balls deep into summer. Well maybe only mid-thigh. It's still June, for one more day.

Seems all we've accomplished is so far no tires have blown out while driving to the beach. This is major. And also the tall teenager is driving us to the beach. I get to look at the scenery while also being occasionally terrified every time he's not braking the way I would when coming to stopped traffic. But years of driving a golf cart have made him a pretty confident and careful driver. Also his aspirations of becoming a shuttle van driver for Universal Studios helps - he already has the teamster quality of taking his time, enjoying the use of a walkie talkie, ease behind the wheel and really digging any opportunity to back the car into a parking space. He's got all the qualities for successful driving of actors and crew members from base camp to set, and back again. Potential career secured. Copy that.

Middle daughter battling 14 year old things. War on face skin. Lack of interesting friends. Still flinging herself around as a tumbler. Difficult time limiting her phone addiction. But a great kid. A beautiful and strong and honest and funny and loving kid. Future as anything is possible secured.

Littlest daughter doing basketball like she's a jungle beast. Tearing through the jungle chasing prey. She is someone who will tear the guts out of anything, spread it all out on a table, and then go to the movies, skipping. Do not get in her way. Unless you have candy.

Beach has been good. Frisbee is a place you can feel your smile cracking your cheeks. Dog loves to catch the Frisbee in the water, or at least get in your way while you're trying to catch it. Water is freezing.

Kids, surrounded by kids. Tall ones mostly now. The sand is still the same, and the tacos taste the best in Ventura. The van gets us there and back, dripping surfboards and neighbor kids and cousins. I wouldn't want to be anyone else's family.