Toady, we took off to the beach, lunch, children and dog in tow. I burned my neck thinking my hat had a larger brim. I enjoyed taking the dog for a walk along the water’s edge, exploring to the limit of the sand, where beach ran into forest, and trees that once stood had toppled over, their roots like a great big diner-table top, stood vertical. Some of their dried tangle still held captive boulders.

Then we came back to find everyone else in the water, and, after chasing waves, I sat under our umbrella and took in the view.