Playing California Girl
Last vacation of the summer...and I got to swim in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. It was almost my last time too, considering I was getting absolutely mauled by the waves and caught in a riptide.
California is truly beautiful.
Queue California Girls by the Beach Boys for the rest of this post...
I flew from Oklahoma and met my family at Long Beach Airport, and we spent the day in Seal Beach. By that night, we were settled in at Dad's cousin's house in Huntington Beach. The next day was spent by the water, acquiring some gnarly sunburns. The sand is different than it is in the South. It's less powdery and more grainy. I liked the way it stuck to my skin.
My roommate, Abby, drove about an hour from her hometown to spend the day at the beach with us. It was really sweet getting to see her home state through her eyes. After knowing her for three years and finally seeing California...well, it all makes sense.
At one point, Elsie started flipping around in the sand, and I got the strongest sense of déjà vu. I haven't done any sort of cheerleading in about three years, but I kept thinking, I feel like I can still do it. Mom said you would've thought I'd been drinking because there was no way I was voluntarily throwing my body backward sober. I landed the back handspring...to my complete surprise. My elbows definitely paid the price, though. Cheerleading dies hard.
We spent a few more days on the beach, which is my family's happy place. Us girls lay in the sand until we get too hot, swim for about thirty minutes, then come back to dry off before doing it all over again. It never gets old. Kade and Jalen spend practically the entire day in the water practicing their boogie boarding. It's also nice seeing Dad actually get to relax and enjoy a vacation.
Speaking of Dad...
A good-lookin' shortboard surfer competing in the U.S. Open of Surfing walked up to him and said that his daughter in the Rip Curl tank top was "very, very beautiful" and that I should come watch him compete the next day. Unfortunately, Mom and I had already wandered off to the beach bar, so we completely missed the interaction. Apparently happy hour comes at a cost.
When Dad told me later, I immediately asked if he'd given him my number...my Instagram...something.
His response?
"Ahhh...that would've been a good idea."
Are. You. Kidding???
Worst wingman ever.
We did end up going to the tournament, and it was so cool. I'd never seen anything like it outside of movies. Watching everyone compete made me want to dust off my longboard when I get home. I'm definitely no pro surfer...but I can sure try.
One day we rented kayaks and snorkel gear to paddle out past the sandbar and look for some West Coast ocean life. Mom and I shared a kayak.
Mom and I also flipped the kayak.
You can imagine how the rest of that escapade went.
The second half of our trip was spent in Palm Springs with the Clarkson cousins. We swam, hiked, played games, shopped, ate, and then swam some more. The temperature reached 117°, which was absolutely insane.
I'm really grateful I got to experience this part of the country with my family. The United States is such a beautiful place, and getting to play California girl for a week was verrryyyy fun.
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