This is a true tale.
A tale of ocean brawling.
Oh, and also of ocean snatching.
But we’ll get back to that in a moment.
It all started ten years ago, on a family vacation to Legoland California.
No trip to a coastal destination is ever complete without visiting the ocean.
At least, not in my opinion.
My then-2 year old son was thoroughly enjoying his second trip ever to the Pacific Ocean, collecting seashells and enjoying the feel of sand beneath his feet.
Until a temperamental wave crashed and leveled him onto the shore like a beached whale.
A few minutes later, he sat deep in thought on his ocean-themed beach towel with his plastic sand pail and shovel in hand, vengefully crafting his revenge.
Half an hour later, he left the Pacific Ocean with an ominous declaration:
I’ll get you, water!
Fast forward 10 years.
We had the privilege of visiting the Atlantic Ocean on our most recent road trip a few weeks ago.
And it was obviously time for payback.
Come at me!
My revenge-seeking child took a huge step backward, away from the shore, before continuing his tirade.
Come on! Show me what you’ve got!
Ah.
Coast to coast ocean brawling at its finest.
Then he stooped down to admire a cluster of seashells that had washed onto the shore.
Fortunately, he managed to escape the wrath of the Atlantic Ocean…
This time around.
Now, back to that whole ocean snatching incident…
My husband and I had set out with the intention of capturing an incredible sunrise on the beach.
And capture a sunrise we did.
Along with half the Atlantic Ocean.
Armed with our makeshift ocean snatching kit consisting of a freshly guzzled glacier cherry Gatorade bottle that I’d forced upon my husband…
Along with a Ziplock freezer bag that we’d been using as our travel toiletry bag and an R2D2 tote bag that held just the right amount of ocean loot.
Meanwhile, our trusty getaway mobile, a nondescript rental mini van with Oklahoma license plates, sat in the shadows of the parking lot.
It was a chilly 40-something degrees out that morning.
I couldn’t feel my toes.
But it was absolutely worth it.
For witnessing a majestic sunrise on the beach.
And feeling the lush sand beneath my feet.
And taking home the best souvenir money can’t buy.
Determined to make my very own authentic mini beach replica upon returning home, I needed to make the most of the opportunity.
And so we left the beach with bulging pockets full of seashells, a bottle full of Atlantic Ocean water, and a bag of Atlantic Ocean sand.
I absolutely love the ocean.
I love the melodious waves.
I love the paradoxical peaceful calm that dissipates with the intense crash of waves to the shore.
And I especially love majestic sunrises and sunsets.
Sunsets on the Pacific.
Sunrises on the Atlantic.
We had sacrificed precious sleep time to rise early on our vacation, just to witness a sunrise over the ocean.
But it was a sacrifice I was happy to make.
Did I mention I also love dolphins?
Unfortunately, we didn’t encounter any on this trip.
Which was probably just as well.
I might’ve been tempted to capture one and give it new life in my bathtub.
Wow.
I’m not just quirky, I’m apparently full-on crazy too.
Oh well.
I could happily live on the ocean forever.
But for now, I’m still working on creating my mini beach masterpiece.
I could really use my very own at-home oasis.
In the meantime, I’ve evidently become an ocean kleptomaniac.
I’m not sure what this says about my sanity…
But I’m okay with it.
More or less.
Now, I just need to devise a way to snatch a baby palm tree…
~Happy Saturday, friends! Can you tell I love the beach? The ocean is the most therapeutic place on earth, and I would totally live there if I could. One day…~
My prized ocean loot collection…
comically quirky 
I *love* the beach too! I always have. I just came back from Destin, Florida a few weeks ago. I’ve been to the beach a few times now but I’m forever awed at it’s beauty and power. You got a good load of pretty shells there, I’m jealous! Nothing was washing up shore the past time I went.
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The beach is simply incredible. ♥️
I went there several times on a recent trip with the intention of bringing home as much of the beach as humanly possible. I think I did a decent job. 😂
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One of your beautiful shells looks like one I keep on a wooden tray among a heap that I’ve collected over the years…each one tells a story, some I’ve even returned back to the beach after their stories faded away and I often wonder, who picked them up?! I love the image of your son and his battle with the roaring Pacific Ocean!
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What an interesting though! It never occurred to me to return unused seashells back to the ocean, but that may be because I don’t live near enough to any oceans. Or more likely because I’m so determined to bring the beach home in any shape or form that I always find a way to use them for something decorative. If I keep it up, maybe I’ll one day end up recreating the beach in my own backyard. 😛
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Sunrise and sunsets are worth loosing your beauty sleep. Never thought of ocean capturing, , its a great idea to save a bottle of ocean water and some precious sand. Memories in a bottle and a Ziplock!
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They are absolutely worth the loss of sleep! 😀
I’m trying to figure out how to make something special with my ocean loot. It’s still a work in progress… 😀
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I used mine – a few shells, that have been colorfully painted and now has become an artistic (albeit a pathetic artist) addition to my children’s bedroom wall. I suppose they will stay until one of them grow enough to notice of my skills.
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I love pretty painted seashells.
I think I’ve pretty well finished my beachy creations. I plan to do a post about it next week. Hopefully… 😉
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Sure will look into your space for that.
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I love your collection! And I agree, the ocean is absolutely therapeutic! 🙂
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Thank you! The ocean is one of my very favorite places to be. I guess that’s why I felt the need to bring some small part of it back home with me. 😀
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I’m more of a boardwalk person than a beach person…but then again, ya gotta have a beach in order to have a legit boardwalk. I’m not a sand guy…and I’ve documented previously my “adventures” in the ocean…but I do love the smells and mist from the salt water…and the sounds from the waves and the gulls. Maybe I should qualify this to say I’m a beach person…who just doesn’t need to visit the beach!
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So, you do like some aspects of a beach… Just from a bit of a distance, away from the sand. 😆 For me, the sand is the icing on the cake! I love beach sand. 😁
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Sounds like a blast! I love walking the beach and hunting for treasure. 💗
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It’s the best! I think I’d be out there watching the sun rise, collecting seashells, and listening to the crashing of waves every single day if I lived close enough. One day… 😊
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Awesome, Quirky. I’m not a beach person, but we can’t all be, right? At least you got to see the sunrise and take a little piece of beach home with you. Maybe you could reassemble it all in a goldfish bowl? Good luck. 🙂
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Thanks! There’s just so many possibilities for what I can do with my ocean loot, but all pale in comparison to capturing the beach in its entirety and hauling THAT back home with me. Hmmm. That just gave me an idea…😜
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I have never seen an ocean before. I’m sure they actually exist, and the land doesn’t really go on forever and ever as it seems here in the Midwest… but I can’t actually verify there’s actually bodies of water a bridge can’t go over.
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It’s true; oceans are less mythical than unicorns! They do exist! (Obviously, I’m referring to both oceans and unicorns in that last statement…) 😂
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Hope you ocean installation goes well 🙂
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Thanks! It’s still a work in progress at the moment, but I’m excited to see what I manage to create with all that oceany goodness. 😁
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Me too – don’t forget photos.
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Will be sure to share a few once it’s all done! 😁
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My sister would completely agree with you. She, too, loves the beach.
Sand and I don’t get along well. I like the warmth of a beach setting and will ride bikes on the beach, but prefer to lounge poolside. Both environments, however, help relax the body and mind; something we can all use every now and then!
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Isn’t that the truth! 😁
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