Everyone Should Have A Road

This is a road.
But this is not just any road.

This road is my childhood.
This road is my summer.
This road is laughter.

This road is 1st cousins.
2nd cousins.
3rd cousins.
Uncles.
Aunts.

This road is freedom.
The only place to roam safely without adults.

This road is swings.
And card games.
Cherry picking.
And cherry seed spitting contests.
And hoping that maybe, just maybe...
you will one day be old enough and cool enough to spit those seeds farther than the big cousins.
And you will be part of the human cousin pyramid one day.
And that you will just be...big, just like everyone else.

This road is walks down the steep stairs to the lake.
Looking for beach glass.
And brachiopods.
Showers in the lake.
Learning to water ski.
Learning to drive a boat.

This road is staying up late, until the sun sets at 10:30 p.m.
And catching fireflies.
And lying on our backs in the grass, watching shooting stars in the most amazing starry sky above.
And this road is sandy sheets and whispers and giggles when it's finally time to go to bed.

This road has watched us grow.
It has felt the pitter patter of little feet.
And the slow movement of those who have aged. 
It has heard our laughter.
And it has felt our tears as we have had to say goodbye to those who will never leave our hearts and minds. 

Thank goodness for this road.
Thank goodness for this place.
It means so much to every single one of us.
And it will forever keep us connected, even though we all live so far apart.  

My family has a road. 
My family has a place.
It is Gallimere Beach.
And I am beyond grateful for it.