Sweet, Sweet Vacation

I can almost smell the ocean at this point. Sure, I'm actually in my 27th floor, air-conditioned office, but if I close my eyes long enough....Unfortunately if I close my eyes long enough I will likely find myself sans-travail pretty quickly.

This is the first year since I was 12 that I'm vacationing with my mother's side of the family. We used to have a house down in Sunset Beach, NC that belonged to my grandmother's best friend, and which my mother helped build. Mrs. Legget has since passed and the house was given to her alma mater as per her will. In recent years (at least the past 5), my mother's older brother, one of her younger brothers, and her youngest sister (my mom is one of 7) have been renting houses in the Outer Banks. Mom and Dad went down a few years ago and said they had a blast (I went to Maine to visit my godmother. Another trip that I must do again soon). The ocean is not nearly as gentle as it was at Sunset Beach and, since it is the Atlantic, can be quite chilly, but a day at the beach is still better than a day anywhere else.

Since I'm an incredibly pale, Irish lass I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible (my mother likens us to cows, always searching for the shady spot). Thus, I started to compile a list of activities other than lounging on the sand that I could do during the 4 short days I'll be there. Of course I want to run, preferably on the beach, but as I'll be staying with little kids I'll be up quite early and the days are long.

So far on my list I have:

• A national wildlife refuge where you can hike and/or kayak
• Hang-gliding
• Parasailing
• Rock climbing
• Shipwreck diving
• Dolphin watch boating

Now, you may be thinking, "Wow! That Faye sure is a get-up-and-go daredevil type!" My friend, you couldn't be further from the truth. I'm a wuss. I'm one of those nerdy kids who liked to hole up with a good book during summer vacation. Yes, I'm that person. But, as of late, I'm tired of being that person. So I've been trying to make an effort to become a bit more interesting. I figure if I'm going to go on vacation I may as well come back with a good story or two. I have absolutely no intention of doing all the things on my list, but if I can come back and say I went parasailing or snorkeling for the first time, why, my chest swells up with pride just thinking about it!

Stay tuned to find out if I actually go through with it...(and cross your fingers that I do!)