The Prank

Hi Everyone,

This week is my winter break. Instead of soaking up the sun and lying on a beach chair somewhere warm, I’m on Cape Cod. Yeah… not the most conventional destination for WINTER break. 

Just last night, I was at Paine’s Creek, a beach in Brewster. I was hoping to get some beautiful sunset pictures for this post. However, I was greeted with a mini blizzard – a squall. This probably would have upset or even pissed off a few people, especially if they drove over 250 miles to get a gorgeous sunset. 

I had to laugh. 

My grandparents (dad’s parents) chose to settle down on the Cape shortly after they retired. Many things attracted them to this place: the iconic beach house design, friendly community (the Nauset track team for grandpa), and the possibility that their home would become THE getaway destination for the extended family, especially the grandkids. 

And they were right. We all feel the pull of Cape Cod. It’s like there’s an invisible string attaching all of us in the family to this place. 

Dad always talked about the Brewster tidal flats. As a kid, he loved walking and playing on the ocean floor for hours during low tide, searching for hermit crabs and digging up clams. This is clearly a kid’s paradise, but dad felt the same excitement even as an adult experiencing the same beaches through his young kids. 

I remember grandpa telling me a story when he, grandma, uncle Matt, Mike, and dad were traveling and camping cross country. At one of their beach stops, they decided to make a fire to combat the chilling evening breeze. All was going well – three rambunctious boys enjoying marshmallows while their parents soaked up a brief moment of calm. That was until the smell of burning rubber filled the air. After a panicked inspection, they all burst out laughing. My dad – skinny as hell and always freezing – had melted the soles of his shoes off trying to get as close to the fire as possible.

After dad died, there was only one answer as to where we should spread his ashes. Paine’s Creek. It felt like he belonged there and everyone agreed.  

So why did I laugh when a sudden blizzard engulfed me at Paine’s Creek last night? I really do think it was dad’s way of playing a joke on me to say hi. I mean, driving to the beach, the sun was shining and everything was promising a picturesque sunset. Is it just a coincidence that the weather changed this fast and the very second I set foot on the sand? I don’t think so. A million tiny ice crystals whipping across your face may not be everyone’s idea of a pleasant experience, but to me they brought comfort and reassurance that dad is here, looking at me and pulling the occasional prank just to see if I’m paying attention. 

Until next Sunday!