My impending birthday has me thinking about a lot of things. I look in the mirror and don’t see a 44-year-old-to-be. Most people who meet me say I appear 10-15 years younger. Perhaps it’s the Lyme pounds that have smoothed out most of the wrinkles. Or the stellar push up bras that keep “the girls” from not dangling just above my waist. Or my sparkling personality. Or my unwillingness to “dress my age”…ugg. Hey, I keep it reasonably clean, but I still enjoy a sexy pair of heels and saucy v-neck top. 

One of the things on my mind (and heart) is Cape Hatteras Island, a place I’ve vacationed nearly every year of my life. One might think I’d have something other than that on my mind but I’m vacationing there next month and am so very excited! Much more exciting to focus on a fun, much-loved place than being one year closer to death. Cape Hatteras Island. My heart. I love the sun, sand and sea. The tranquility. Cape Hatteras is a place where time doesn’t exist. Unless you have a tight schedule. Or a strict kayak rental. Or a Type A personality. 

Having vacationed there frequently, I have 40+ years of endless memories wrapped up in that place. Here are some that I imagine you beach-lovers can relate to:

• Playing in the waves. 
• Hiking to the pier in the deep sand but doing it anyway because the experts say it’s good for strengthening muscle tone. 
• Taking my camera everywhere, capturing moments in time...waves, birds, landmarks, landscapes, etc.  
• Horseback riding. 
• Grilled cheeses at The Froggy Dog. Yummy.
• French-Canadian surfers. Yummy-looking.
• Playing the earliest version of Leprechaun at the local arcade (now a bait & tackle shop). 
• Waiting patiently at the original Avon Theater for the latest movie reels to be transported from Nags Head to Avon. Then taking 3 hours to watch a 90-minute movie because the reels kept falling off. 
• Wishing on falling stars. 
• Drawing.
• Reading books at the top of the tower.
• Playing with Daisey (yes, that's spelled correctly)...best Golden Retriever ever. 
• Writing a story to lantern light (with a pen not a typewriter or computer—I was in junior high). That particular story (it was about vampires) was what started me on the pathway to wanting to be a novelist. Had I pursued it...an education and career in writing from the beginning...I would've preceded Stephanie Meyer and perhaps landed a few movie deals of my own. Haven't given up on writing, just wish I'd started sooner. Who know's where I'd be now career-wise?
• Bonfires with friends. 
• S’mores. 
• Catching sea urchins. 
• Making sand castles with cool-looking “drizzle” turrets and shells.
• Fishing with grandpa. 
• Sunning while listening to 80’s music on cassette tape…it was a cool thing to do back then, people.
• Buxton Woods. 
• The old Water Park, full of fun.
• Island Spice and Wine. Some of my family friends own it. While they're known for their wine, I love their coffee blends. My favorite might be Pirate's Blend because it has the perfect amount of caramel. Snickerdoodle is pretty cool, too.
• Climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse's 257 steps to peer at the ant-sized people and take in the breathtaking views. The blue green sea was and still is beautiful.
• Finding the highest beach dune and pretending to be Queen with my sea oat staff and makeshift crown. 
• Decorating for the Christmas and New Year’s renters. NOTE: This will be the first time returning to this beach house since my parents sold it. While the new owners have changed it already, at heart, it will always be the place where I made many fond memories. 
• Riding the ferry and almost falling into the water while feeding the seagulls or taking scenic photos on my tip toes.
• Family reunions.
• The first ever Starbucks in Nags Head.
• The first ever successful internet cafe/craft/pottery shop in Avon. This kind of small business has historically had a difficult time staying open due to the island's demand for it, but this one seems to be doing very well. They have excellent customer service (it's refreshing and fun chatting with the locals) and the espresso is pretty good, too. The owner has a surprising sense of humor...the place is called "Ugly Mugs" (due to its key product). I have one of the mugs...it's 100% unique (and cute).
• The first ever stoplight in Avon…I believe there are now two. :-)
• The three seasons of treasures. One year, there were thousands of starfish scattered along the shore. The next year, there were thousands of tiny sea horses. Soon after, all kinds of fish sprung from the ocean (after being chased out by an angry school of blues). 
• Then there’s the time I got a tick where the sun don’t shine…oh wait, that’s not a happy memory. :-)

Those awesome memories will continue, because I love Cape Hatteras Island and no one can take that place from me. Except a wicked Hurricane. 

But even then, it’ll remain in my heart.

Do you have a favorite go-to vacation spot? If so, please feel free to share in the comment section.

Updated 11 November 2019.

It's getting to be that time of year again: Halloween. 

I've always liked Halloween. 

When I was a kid, my mom made my costumes every year. The store-bought ones were plastic and cheesy and way too expensive anyway. And even worse, they weren't original. LOL....NO ONE wanted to be THAT kid, e.g., the one who had the same costume as one or more other kids. 

That's why I loved that my mom made mine because they were unique. One of my favorite costumes was Batgirl (see picture below). Another year, I was an angel in a white dress with white wings (wings plastered in colorful Crayola polka dots) and a ring of silver garland as a halo. There were so many fun Halloweens...

I went to a private Christian elementary school where every Halloween all the kids would dress up and get to play games and have a safe Halloween. My favorite event was the cake walk (a musical game). A very kind man named Fred Frank who adored all us kids as we adored him used to lead that activity. One year I even won a cake! Actually, it was a pie. Coconut creme pie. Yummy.

Back in the day, neighbors knew each other, so trick o' treating was additionally fun. The older ladies ALWAYS pinched my cheeks because I had a round doll face (insert eyeroll here) but they were very sweet and most of them had the primo candy. Primo candy = anything chocolate. 

As I aged, Halloween wasn't a big deal anymore. I stopped dressing up...and perhaps that was for the better because my costumes had evolved from innocent and sweet to sexy vampires and other outfits that could've landed me in a lot of trouble if I wasn't careful. There were parties, but it still wasn't as fun as my childhood. Being a grown up is sad sometimes.

After a long lull of inactivity on Halloween, this year I decided to reinstate the costume tradition and give candy to the neighborhood kids. I bought an adult onesie cosplay costume (way oversized but comfy)...see picture below. Basically, a cool pair of pajamas that make me look like a small black and orange whale. But I guess the size part doesn't matter. Having fun with it is.

​If you can't tell, it's a Red Panda. Fun (and not scary for kids), right?

​Why a Red Panda? Because I love the little animals. There was one that escaped from the local zoo a few years ago and ran through the city. I really cheered him on hoping he wouldn't get caught and that he'd enjoy being out of captivity. I think he zipped in and out of a few bars and Starbucks and crowds before the zookeepers nabbed him. I hope he had a lot of fun on his city-wide expedition. 

Goal for next year? I'd love to dress up like a princess and attend a Halloween Ball. That would be so awesome.

Stay amazing,

Jen