Magical Wellfleet

Michael and I first visited Cahoon Hollow on the Outer Cape on our honeymoon. He grew up in the Upper Cape and I loved taking him somewhere he had never been. We were going to go on his birthday but decided to go our first night on the Cape.

We had dinner at The Beachcomber which is a raucous seafood shack that plays bad eighties music but has amazing lobster rolls and unparalleled views of the ocean. It is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore and was grandfathered into this protected, historical area so it really is one-of-a kind (there are no other beach restaurants in this area.)

Bringing the girls to a place that we had visited almost ten years ago exactly was one of those lifetime moments. Thinking about how we have changed together, individually, and marveling at the creation of our two wonderful daughters gives me goosebumps.

We visited twice on our trip. The first night was extra special as it was the eve of Michael's 40th birthday and we had just met up with some old friends who had traveled there from Seattle to celebrate with us.

After dinner, we walked down to watch the beautiful sunset. The light changing from bright milky pastels to bolder colors with every ticking moment. There was a little fire that someone had built but the beach was deserted other than two surfers and a lone seal making it's way down the coastline. The children ran down the dune to the beach with abandon, watching the seal and gathering tinder to keep our little fire burning. It is wonderful, as we go along in this life, to collect these magical places. To close our eyes and imagine every last detail and feeling of it. I have a few and this is one I cherish.

During our trip, I came across a trove of old photos at an antique store. Many moments came and went after that but I found myself lying in bed one night in the hotel thinking of those photos. The family stories behind them and how they were left in a wooden box under the care of someone they never knew and would maybe make there way into the narrative of a whole new family. I couldn't help but think of our family photos ending up in a box years down the road. At some point our stories will have been told here on earth even though we never believe that could possibly be true. Placed in this context, it was easy to remind myself that I might never again find myself on this lovely beach. And if I did, the girls would be older, I would be older and we will have certainly changed. There are many ways to lengthen your moments and savor them when you realize that they are singular and won't happen again.

Thanks to our friend Shannon Roddy for these two photos of our family. They capture the spirit of our family in a way that I can see so clearly.