Dave and I were born in North Carolina. My father and mother had both served in the U.S. Navy and were stationed at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland where they met and were married. Soon after leaving the military, dad got a job outside Elizabeth City, NC and Dave and I arrived in the following two years.  We didn’t stay there long as dad was laid off shortly after Dave was born. During that time, we lived in apartments in the little town of Hertford, NC about 10 miles from where Dad worked.

I had just turned one when we moved to Missouri so I have no recollection of living in North Carolina. Mother and dad always talked about taking a trip back there with us so we could see the place, but sadly it never happened before dad passed away. Still wanting to do this, mother made a plan to use some money and treat us all to a week at the Outer Banks and spend a day showing me & Dave our roots.

Dave and I did some research and found a great house to rent called “Dancy’n by the Sea.”  It was in the town of Avon. Had I known how far down the island it would turn out to be, I might have chosen a different place. But this house had it all; a short walk to the beach, a pool, hot tub, mini-theater, pool table, 6 bedrooms, and most importantly an elevator for mother.

Dave, Jenn, Devyn, Gracyn, Mother, Erik, Amanda, Elizabeth, and Amelia all flew in to Norfolk on Saturday afternoon. Janet and I chose to drive to Delaware the first night, and arrive in Norfolk around noon to provide an extra car for the group. Our plan was great until we got into a traffic jam in Newark, NJ. It took three hours to travel 10 miles. We made it to our hotel around midnight, though and proceeded to Norfolk the next day. Our final leg in to Norfolk included crossing the 23 mile Chesapeake Bay bridge-tunnel, something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time!

Huge storms had left the Outer Banks, partially under water and our drive to Avon took us through many pools of standing water. We arrived, got unpacked, and went to explore the beach. The surf was really high and there were cautions about the strong undertow, but Dave and the girls braved it anyway. Elizabeth was excited to stand in the water till a wave knocked her down. After that it was hard to get her to go back. Mother enjoyed sitting in her chair watching as everyone enjoyed having a great time.

Mother’s sister, Aunt Shirley, and her friend, Redmond, arrived later in the day to spend a couple of nights. I admire them both for their get up and go attitude. Together, they’ve seen more of the world than they haven’t. Her condo outside Philadelphia is a little museum filled with memorabilia from around the world. I’m not sure anyone in my family doesn’t have strong opinions on many sides of the issues. That being said, our evenings were filled with lively discussions regarding current events. Before heading back to Philly, they treated the whole gang to a great seafood dinner in town

On Monday, Mother, Dave and I headed back north for our trip down memory lane. She was thrilled to take us by the hospital at which we were both born. We drove through town so she could see the places she used to shop. We stopped for lunch at a BBQ place just on the edge of town where we learned that North Carolina BBQ and Kansas City BBQ are very different! At least the hush puppies were good. We continued our journey to the blimp hangar where dad worked, and then on to Hertford to see the two apartments where we’d lived.  We spent the remainder of the time trying to find a beach on Albemarle Sound where they’d taken pictures of us as babies. We think we found it, but after 53 years who knows?

On the return trip, we stopped in Norfolk to pick up Adee, Dave’s oldest, at the airport. She would be spending the night in Norfolk to join our daughter, Autumn who was flying in later that evening. We rented another vehicle and left my car for Adee and Autumn to bring down the next day. The two cousins are like sisters and we knew they’d have a great time rooming and driving together.

The remainder of the week was spent dodging rain storms, spending time at the beach, making puzzles, and enjoying the little girls as they watched countless episodes of Daniel Tiger.

Partway through the week we went on adventures to the Hatteras Light house and Kitty Hawk, home of the Wright brothers’ first flight.  Dave’s family climbed the lighthouse, and also took surfing lessons. It was a great week together, and my mother was pleased to no end to share this adventure with everyone. With us in New England and Autumn and Jim in New Jersey, it’s not often that everyone can get together. Thanks mother, for a wonderful week! I love that our family loves as adventures as much as I do!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller