The sun blinds me as I soon realize I forgot my thick framed, black sunglasses.

I reach for an aerosol can of sunscreen that leaves my hands greasy;

causing smudged fingerprints on my phone as I check the time.

What seemed to have been a sweltering day, soon turns a bit cooler as I get close to the water, and find it to pierce my skin with a cold, needle-like pain.

Hair scattered with microscopic specs of beige that stay in for a weeks on end.

Kids running with laughter past you,

alongside their woolly white dog that kicks sand over your wet, tan legs.

The desire to wrap yourself in a warm, welcoming, hot pink flower towel.

Noticing the towel sticky from the beverage you had spilled earlier;

leaving the inside of your elbow with a gooey residue that magnetizes loose sand.

The beach reminisants blowing from my towel when I snap it to get the last granulates out.

I step into the car with my foot soles coated in brown sugar-like sand.

Loading up the car with our favorite toys; volleyballs, frisbees, and kites.

The excitement rumbles as the cooler is the last to be packed into the van.

The view of the beach getting closer and closer, knowing what the day beholds

I rapidly throw the door open, as the water’s breath glides across my skin;

the moment my small pale feet hit the cool crisp sand, awaking the small bumps from beneath my skin.

Awaiting to welcome the tan lines the day brings on,

as I plan to spend hours in the sun.

As the sun slowly begins it’s decent, and the songs of the ocean come to an end,

we know that the day has almost ceased.

Memories from today illustrate themselves on the nationwide canvas,

hues of orange and pink reflecting off the calming oceanside.

The anticipation and the reality. Beach days give an expectation that is rarely reached.

The scorching sun beams that reach your shoulders, and travel down your body to extinguish the droplets off your skin, soon causing you to sweat.

However, the situation you are given is what you make of it.

Given any position you can still run with messy lake-soaked hair,

and sand in just about every crevice of your body yet I somehow manage to have the time of my life.

Knowing that finding the sand will not only remind you of the day spent, but the memories made with the people you shared it with.

The reality could somehow be the unknown anticipation.

Waiting until you get to experience the bright hues representing such an amazing day, from either ends of the beach.