Spring Break or "Hail yes!" (it's an Oregon story)

So I decided to make time for a brief family retreat during Spring Break. There is an amazing inn that I stayed at, while at the coast in Fall doing a residency, that i fell in love with. I figured this would be a great excuse to return to my home away from home spot on the coast. (see my post "Inspired by my trip to the oregon coast" from October 07).

I knew the weather wouldn't be great, it is Oregon after all, but the day we were leaving it was snowing in Portland. Then all the days we have been here there have been bouts of hail. Piles of little icy balls covering the ground, pelting folks on the head, scratching paint on cars. When I think of Spring and the beach and vacation- I don't usually include ice chunks falling from the sky in that vision. But I cannot control the weather, I can only choose to go outside or stay in. Fortunately with our very cozy lodgings, staying in isn't too bad.

Now, a great amount of my youth, I lived walking distance from central california beaches. So my love and appreciation for the ocean is vast, however since Oregon beaches are much colder I don't go jumping in the water. My children on the other hand are a whole other story- their crazy selves not only jumped in the water the 1st and 2nd day we were here... they insisted on going again this evening while storm clouds covered the daylight with gray and the wind howled. Watching the ominous clouds grow nearer, I wondered how long the 15 minutes I had promised them would last. Wearing jeans, leg warmers hidden underneath, a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt, a coat, and a hat pulled down to cover my ears, I could feel the cold ripping through me. Meanwhile my two teens were frolicking in the surf as if the sun hadn't disappeared, as if the temperature reflected summer not winter giddily laughing and chasing each other. I watched the clouds come in closer and darken.

Reluctantly they left the waves after 15 minutes, and finally admitted that yes, they were cold. As we climbed the beach access stairs to return to the car, the rain came along with hail. Hail hurts. But we did get out of town for a hot minute, my children got to be at the beach, we've eaten well and had good moments, and for that I am truly thankful.