SD, Day 2: The Beach and The Kids

June 30, 2008

A breakfast of toast, cereal, orange juice, hot tea, and coffee at the hotel buffet, filled us up as our second day began.

Fueled up and ready for the big day -- and by "big day" I mean the day Joe sees his kids again, and the day I meet my future stepkids -- we drove out to Imperial Beach. Just 4 miles from the Mexican border, IB is popular for surfing, and is home to the annual US Open Sandcastle Competition. It wasn’t quite 11:00 yet, so we wandered around the small town, sightseeing and soaking up the sun in the salty air.

Wow, man! What is that? Why, that’s Surfhenge! This totally wicked sculpture, dedicated on July 18, 1999, welcomes all visitors at the IB Pier Plaza. And look at these radical benches! They look like real surfboards, dude.

At the beach we waded the shallows, searched for pretty shells, and watched morning surfers ride the waves. As I reached down to pick up a sand dollar, the waves teasingly splashed up onto my capris!! I was soaked up to my waist.

(right: At Bibbey's Shell Shop. Read this cool article about it: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/jan/17/1sz17bibbeys2079-shell-sales-seashore-suit-owner/ )

I love the beach; it brings back memories of family vacations to the Florida Panhandle and the Gulf of Mexico. I love the sand, the ocean, the seashells, the sun… I can almost hear Jimmy Buffett now:

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard your call.
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was 3 feet tall.
You’ve seen it all….

We strolled out on the pier, between fishermen to the left and right, fishing for their morning catch. At the end of the pier we stopped in at The Tin Fish for an early lunch.

******

We met John and Jodie at their Grandma’s house. I was nervous about how the family would receive me. Joe was apprehensive about seeing his kids again. He was happy but didn’t know what to expect. He hadn’t seen them in 2 years, and was worried about what they’d been through as their mother lived her last days.

But we were met with open arms. “How are you? How was your trip? Good to see you again, Joe! It’s so nice to meet you, Melanie.” John was friendly. Jodie was bashful. Hesitantly I sat on the couch, my jeans still wet from waves splashing up on them. I met Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, even the dog.

“John, Jodie, have you met your new brother Nathan?” Grandma introduced the kids. Nathan bonded with them immediately.

My eyes teared up when I saw the box of their mother’s ashes, displayed sentimentally upon a shelf. “I’m so sorry for your daughter,” I said to Grandma. I was so sad for her, and her mother, even if she was my fiance’s ex.

I could see what a close family they were, and I hated the thoughts of tearing the kids away from them, their home, even their beloved dog Eddie. San Diego was all they’d ever known. “The kids will be well-taken care of,” I assured them, before we left. I tried to put myself in their place, and I knew they must be sad to lose the children, but were putting up a strong front for their sake.

******

Leaving Imperial Beach, we spent a few hours at the Chula Vista Mall where we picked up an early dinner of tacos, burritos, and nachos at Jose’s Mexican Grill (not me; I was still full from The Tin Fish). That’s where I heard of horchata for the first time. It’s a Mexican drink, made with rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Tastes like a milkshake to me.

Joe’s plan for the week is for everybody to have FUN! He took us to Mission Beach. Clumps of seaweed dotted the beach, and the air was a bit too breezy and cool for me. It was nothing like Imperial Beach; it’s too busy and commercialized to really relax.

Mission Beach is much more than just a beach; it’s home to Belmont Park, billed as San Diego’s Beachfront Amusement Park and Entertainment Center. Besides that, you can browse rows and rows of shops selling everything from beachwear to postcards to souvenir shirts to ice cream.

What a day! Back at the hotel room it’s almost bedtime. The kids swam in the pool, played computer games, and in general had a great time. Things are getting off to a good start!