For an event so dramatic in my life, I still find it strange that I only vaguely remember it, especially because I could have lost my life that day. But I do recall that it was a clear, sunny day in one of the warmer months of 2011, and that I was still an energetic, ever-enthusiastic 10-year-old, much like an obnoxious, but adorable puppy. That day, I ventured to the beach at the aptly-named city of Oceanside, California with Carleigh, my 5-year-old little sister, and our dear old mother. She and I had been psyching ourselves up all week long before we left. What excited my sister was merely the chance to play with the family friends we were destined to meet up with, but I couldn’t wait to catch a ride the waves with my brand-new boogie board.
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Now, between me and the beach, there was a two-and-a-half hour roadblock. Driving, or, more accurately, riding was often a terribly monotonous task for me to endure. Thankfully, however, our route had a myriad of Southern California scenery to admire as we traveled, like the persistent haze over Moreno Valley and the charming concrete off-ramps I had seen countless times before. However, there were some beautiful sights en route to the beach. The occasional hillsides covered with luscious green trees always made me feel at home no matter where we were. All throughout the drive, I dreamt of finally getting out into the cold, invigorating waters of the Pacific Ocean on my “gnarly” board. Soon, I’d be out among the waves of the Pacific Ocean like many millions of Americans who came before …show more content…
From above, the beach probably gave the impression of being a desert garden. That sand, I knew, would grow hot as the sun rose higher over the course of the day. While we got set up, I saw my mother’s friends: Becky, Patty, and Trina. Becky and her kids had been around for as long as I could remember. It’s safe to say that I’d grown up with them. She and her kids were all tall, tan, and athletic, none of which I was, but they were some of my best friends at the time. In order from oldest to youngest, they were Zena, Luke, Kade, and Anya. I was younger than Zena, and older than Luke, but he was still taller than me. They were the ones who got me hooked on
Now, between me and the beach, there was a two-and-a-half hour roadblock. Driving, or, more accurately, riding was often a terribly monotonous task for me to endure. Thankfully, however, our route had a myriad of Southern California scenery to admire as we traveled, like the persistent haze over Moreno Valley and the charming concrete off-ramps I had seen countless times before. However, there were some beautiful sights en route to the beach. The occasional hillsides covered with luscious green trees always made me feel at home no matter where we were. All throughout the drive, I dreamt of finally getting out into the cold, invigorating waters of the Pacific Ocean on my “gnarly” board. Soon, I’d be out among the waves of the Pacific Ocean like many millions of Americans who came before …show more content…
From above, the beach probably gave the impression of being a desert garden. That sand, I knew, would grow hot as the sun rose higher over the course of the day. While we got set up, I saw my mother’s friends: Becky, Patty, and Trina. Becky and her kids had been around for as long as I could remember. It’s safe to say that I’d grown up with them. She and her kids were all tall, tan, and athletic, none of which I was, but they were some of my best friends at the time. In order from oldest to youngest, they were Zena, Luke, Kade, and Anya. I was younger than Zena, and older than Luke, but he was still taller than me. They were the ones who got me hooked on