The Trip We Waited All Year For

The Trip We Waited All Year For.

This is a space for quiet reflection and shared experiences

June 22, 2026

Dear Friend:

We talked about summer vacation for weeks before we ever left. We remembered favorite moments from years gone by and talked about how we would do it all over again. But this year would be different...

We planned what we would wear and what jewelry to take. Then there was the trip to the store for new summer shoes. We always included a dress for church. It may have been vacation but we still went to church, thanking God for another summer adventure.  My sisters and I counted the days. The closer vacation came, the harder it was to think about anything else.

Then the suitcases came out. The packing had to be done the night before we left. It was so hard to fall asleep that night. The next morning was a flurry of activity. Eating a light breakfast and bringing our suitcases out to the car. I always felt bad for my Dad having to pack 6 suitcases, a cooler and the miscellaneous essentials into the car. We had a car carrier to hold some of the suitcases but it was still a jigsaw puzzle. Inevitably one of us girls or maybe a couple of us girls would come down to the car with an add-on.

My Dad's plans for the packing and departure time never seemed to quite work out. He managed to always have a smile for us despite his ruined plans. I don’t know if He just gave up or he was just happy to be going on vacation. Then after all was squeezed into the car, it was our turn. My brother would ride up front between my parents and us girls would ride in the back with the dog. In those days cars had bench seats in the front. It was a two hour drive to our destination, that was a long time so us girls shared holding the dog. There was no air conditioning so we opened the window to cool us off. There were bathroom stops and snacks for the ride.

We were going to the beach.

The ride out of Lancaster always was an adventure for me. I should be honest, I probably could turn anything into an adventure. I loved seeing all the sights, the buildings the people and all the stores along the way. I also loved going over the Delaware Memorial bridge. My mother did not share my enthusiasm, she was afraid of bridges. The Delaware Memorial bridge connected Delaware to New Jersey. Coming off that Bridge was a milestone of our trip. As we got closer to the beach, we could smell the salt air drifting through the open car windows. That was always the sign we were almost there. Our excitement grew with every mile.

Finally we were navigating our way off the bridge and arrived at Stone Harbor, NJ. Another flurry of activity to unpack, we were finally there and could relax. Especially my Dad, he was always relieved to be done with the driving.   

We could not wait to go down to the beach. The walk to the beach involved a lot of lugging, the beach umbrella, beach chairs, a blanket, sand shovels and buckets and sun screen. Finally we were there. Sand between our toes, the waves crashing on shore. And the seagulls flying over head. When my brother was very young he would try to catch the seagulls.

Next to adventure I always loved the beach, building sand castles and splashing in the waves. My parents were on duty making sure we did not “go out too far”. There was always someone who liked to push the envelope - we won’t mention any names.

I remember one particular summer that was not very pleasant for me. I was doing something I shouldn’t, being a monkey,  and broke my arm. I could not get in the pool, ride my bike or skate. It was a miserable summer. The time to take the cast off my arm fell on our vacation. The doctor agreed to remove it a few days earlier but the agreement was I needed to keep my arm in the sling. That beach vacation I was only allowed to go to the edge of the water. Bummer. The story goes that when I thought my parents weren’t looking I would pull the sling off my arm and dip my arm in the water and then immediately back in the sling. My personal rebellion.

At night we would go shopping in town. The shops were filled with beautiful things, clothes and there was lots of delicious snacks. One of our favorite places to go was Donna’s. They had all sorts of delicious food, crab cakes, baked goods and delicious ice cream. All year coins would go in the penny jar and would be split between us kids to buy penny candy on vacation. Every vacation we would go to either Ocean City or Wildwood and walk the boardwalk, eat lots of delicious snacks and ride the rides.

My Dad’s favorite place to stay at the beach was a house on the bay.  He would sit on the dock and fish. The man lived in a house with four women. He was surrounded by all the hair potions, drying stockings and of course the arguments.  Vacation was a break from all of that besides just being a break from work. We would leave my dad in peace and go shopping or exploring.

We waited all year for the beach.

Yet what I treasure most now are the memories of the people I shared it with.

My Dad getting a much needed break and rest.

My Mom loved the beach, seeing her enjoy that was so gratifying.

Shopping with my sisters.

My brother chasing the seagulls.

What mattered wasn't the place, it was the people. Memories are made up of people, and memories of family are often the ones we cherish most.

What are your memories of summer trips?

I loved to hear those memories

Until next time, stay well, stay safe, and stay connected to those you love.

Be well,

Emma

Emma is the voice behind Sharing with Seniors, a blog dedicated to honest conversations about life in later years. She writes about everyday challenges, meaningful decisions, and the importance of staying connected.