Guest editorial: The beach

BY MADELINE HOPPLE - A  place that is very special to me is the beach at Boca Grande. My family and I fly down there every year for Spring Break. My grandparents have a house right off the beach. I have been going to Boca Grande with my family ever since I was very little. The weather is always nice, so we walk out to the beach about every day. The beach is my special place that I can go away and get into a whole different world.

Right when I step off the walkway leading to the beach, it is like stepping into a completely new world. I can hear the waves crashing like huge mountains tumbling down. I can feel my toes sinking into the warm sand. I can smell the salt coming from the ocean. Every step closer I take to the ocean, the wind blows harder. I know that walking into this beautiful world with my family, that this day is going to be perfect.

I run to the tall dunes and find my way to the top. I can see everything happening. It is like being queen of the world, sitting on top of my beautiful castle.

I run down the dune and start walking closer to the ocean. Every step closer I take to the water, the noise gets louder and louder. It is like watching a marching band slowly walk out and onto the field. As they come closer, the instruments getting louder, I can feel the excitement building up in everyone around me.

Then, suddenly, you’re there, in a world of excitement. I now feel like I am truly at the beach. The view is amazing. I look way out into the ocean, and I catch a glimpse of two dolphins playing together. I sit down on the shore with my mom and feel the waves slowly roll up to our feet. I look around and I see my sisters playing in the sand, and swimming with my dad.

When we see the sun coming from the tip of the sky down towards the edge of the ocean, we know our day is coming to an end. My family and I sit down on the shore and talk about the fantastic day we have had.

When I look up to the sky, I can see a bunch of different. colors. I can see some red, pink, yellow and even some orange. Now I can only see the tip of the sun’s head peeking out over the edge of the water. All of the colors are slowly disappearing with the sun. Finally, we can no longer see it.

Although I am very disappointed to leave, I think of all the memories I have made, all the fun I have had. The best thing is that tomorrow the beach will be waiting for me, right where it is now. It will be ready to welcome me into it’s beautiful world of joy, so that I can make ever more memories that will make the beach much more special to me and my family.

Madeline Hopple is a seventh grade student and the granddaughter of John and Lynn Hopple, residents of Seawatch.