The Ocean

One thing I love about Jacksonville...I can get to the ocean in less than 15 minutes.

Last weekend Greg and I decided to go to the beach in the evening. It was a little overcast, but not bad. We got on the highway and after just a few minutes, we were just hit by this wall of water. Pounding rain comes out of nowhere here. The windshield wipers were on full speed and we could hardly see for the storm. We considered turning back, but it looked like the rain let up in the east. So we kept driving, and in just a few minutes, the thrash of water was just gone. We had out-chased the clouds. 

Here I find the opportunity to wax metaphorical. Is that even a thing people say? No, I don't think so. But anyway...we are getting good at handling storms. 

There was no rain at all on the ocean, and there wasn't anybody there, either. A full beach crawling with people can be fun. There's a kind of friendly hype in the crowds that I truly find enjoyable. But an empty beach is gorgeous. The water is large and the world is big. However, it wasn't too long until the sheet of rain caught up to us. We got a lovely picture showing the way the storms are out here, the way they just roll on over you out of nowhere: 

Amazing, right? One second, clear. The next second, storm. 

Here is us when there was still sunshine. Greg's eyes are so freaky blue. Cute, right? 

This is what rain looks like on an ocean. Before we moved here I had always wondered: 

As the clouds come: 

As cool as lightning and ocean are together, Greg thought it probably wasn't all that safe, so we ran back to the car getting soaked. I will never forget how pretty it was. 

This week Greg is out of town doing training in New Jersey. He's having fun, but I'm lonely. So I've been going to the beach more often than usual. Look what I came across the other day: 

It didn't really look like a nest to me, but I wish I could be there when the turtles hatch. Apparently you are not actually supposed to take pictures of these things for some reason, but I didn't realize that until it was too late. Whoops. 

I really love the ocean. Not because it's fun to get tan and not because I love to swim, although those things are great. Lately I've been going there to think. I'm still trying to figure out what's up with my life...what kind of job I should be looking for, what I want to do with my time here in Jacksonville, what's going to help Greg and I be happy and busy as we try to remain cheerful even when things with our family don't always turn out the way we wish they would. Need a place to think? Move to Jacksonville and settle yourself right down on the sand. I'm not saying you'll find an answer, but at least it's a pretty place to be confused.

One day I'm going to take a surfing class with all these pre-teens: 

Me and Greg can be the creepy old people in the class who have no clue what they are doing. It will be epic. 

And that is all.