Originally written August 2015, updated for 2022
As Labor Day quickly approaches each summer, I begin the process of cleaning out my beach bag. Each piece removed brings back a fond memory of a day at the beach- the green piece of seaglass my youngest daughter found, the beautiful scallop shell with the perfectly placed hole that could be made into a beautiful necklace pendant. The memories attached to the articles in my beach bag have changed vastly over the past 20 years~ just as my family has. My beach bag is truly a metaphor of my life at the time.
The earlier days of my beach bag represent the baby years- sunblock for sensitive skin, swim diapers, large seashells, broken seashells, sippy cups, baby bottles, scattered snacks and Cheerios. Anything to keep little ones occupied and happy for a long day at the beach.
Fast forward to this summer- my girls are now 24, 22 and 17. My beach bag mostly contains my things- sunblock, the latest Elin Hildebrand summer beach read, a water bottle and my hat. There are still a few pieces of sea glass and shells, found by my husband and I now. Those tiny shells and pieces of seaglass remind me of days gone by, with my girls, searching for treasures from the ocean. Memories all contained in my summer beach bag.~ Carrie
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