THE BEACHES ARE OPEN

I live in the state of New Jersey so, when our Governor got on the television the other day and said we could finally go to the beach I was estatic.

“The beaches are open! The beaches are open!” I cried out as I ran to my son Alex’s room and began knocking on his door. “The beaches are going to be opened for Memorial Day!” I called through his door.

Alex opened his door and laughed. “I can see you’re pretty excited about that.”

“I know!” I was grinning from ear to ear. “First the parks open and now the beaches.” I began walking towards the kitchen and Alex followed. I grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and looked out the kitchen window. “It’s beautiful out.” I began filled my glass with water. “Do you want to go sit on the back porch?”

Alex grabbed a glass and filled it with water too. “Sure.”

We were sitting on the porch watching the birds at the feeders when I couldn’t help but take in a slow deep breath. “I can’t wait until everything gets back to normal.”

Alex laughed. “You mean the ‘new’ normal?”

I shook my head. “I refuse to use that phase. I’m not going to be gluing pool noodles on a hat and wearing it so I can be a safe distance from someone else.” I was still shaking my head. “Nope. Not going to happen.”

Alex leaned back in his chair and looked over at me. “So why won’t you go to the parks? You were just as excited when they opened up.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Because I live here.” I pointed to our wooded yard as a black capped chickadee flew from our feeder right into the bird house that was across the yard. “I’ve got plenty of nature to enjoy. But for people living in tiny apartments, who don’t have a yard, I thought it was great that they could go and enjoy nature too.” I looked over at him. “That’s why I was so excited that they opened the parks.”

Alex nodded. “So, are you going to the beach this weekend?”

“Not in a million years!” I shook my head. “That would be way to stressful for me. I’m still getting used to going to the grocery store.”

Alex laughed. “Then why do you care if they open the beaches or not?”

“Because the people who aren’t afriad should have some choices too.”

Alex laughed. “So what do you hope they open next that you won’t be going to?”

“Restaurants!” I cried.