Dear Margate,
Although our time together this week was short, we certainly
made the most of it. Thanks to you, a wonderfully
gracious hostess, and her lovely, welcoming home, I relaxed enough that the stress-induced
crick in my neck and shoulder nearly disappeared, my face got sun-kissed, and I
spent time in a part of my home state that I don’t visit often enough.
You’re a beautiful place, and you accommodated my friends
and me well, serving up generous portions of warm sunshine, gentle breezes, and
soft sand. Mesmerized by the waves and
their rhythm as they curled and dove into bubbly white foam that lapped at our
feet, I could have walked your beach endlessly – north to Ventnor and Atlantic City,
south past historic
Lucy and on to Longport.
In fact, when we weren’t sitting in sand chairs on the beach
– talking, laughing, and watching the passing scene – we did lots of walking,
strolling the boardwalks in Ventnor, Atlantic City, and Ocean City.
In that last spot, we sampled a few summer favorites, including popcorn,
fudge, and Kohr Brothers frozen custard. Needless to say, that wasn’t all we ate. Seafood at Mike’s in Sea Isle
City, pasta at Gaspare’s in Egg Harbor,
and freshly prepared Asian fare at Little Saigon
in Atlantic City – all washed down with Kim
Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (my new favorite wine!) – made for wonderful
dinners. Plentiful breakfasts and
lunches – fruit, yogurt, and salads, deli, sticky buns, and other sweet treats
– generously prepared by our hostess, rounded out our meals.
Alas, all too soon, our rendezvous was over, and I found
myself back in Manhattan. I’m doing my
best, though, to hold on to the ease you inspired and the relaxation you encouraged,
as well as to appreciate fully the priceless gift you gave me – good times and
good friends with whom to share them. Thanks again for everything,
Margate. I’m grateful to have spent time
with you.
xoxo,
~ JanetheWriter.
