Terry McMahon's Awesome Blog

In honor of my first refreshing dip in the ocean of the season today (and my second, and the third if the day continues to develop as planned), I will reveal some prior comments on my opinion of the beach.

From The Email, 8/25/03:

so going to RI this past weekend was a total blast... I really needed some perspective too after leading the same routine basically nonstop for five months, so going back home, where not everybody cares deeply what adam nagourney wrote today, really helped a lot. I have some good adam nagourney stories by the way if the name rings a bell. anyway, the weather was perfect and I got a killer tan. well, a killer sunburn anyway. the water was the warmest I remember it either. the beach for me is like my rock, and thankfully not literally. I keep these pictures of it on my desk so I can always remind myself that no matter how shitty my day goes, the beach will always be there. assuming we elect a democrat next time.

From The Email, 12/14/03:

also in the office I put up a couple photos of the beach I go to in RI; I'm not sure if I've ever shown you these pictures but believe me, on a great day there I literally stand there in the water and wonder how on earth I could ever want to be someplace else. anyway, I have the pictures up there as a reminder that no matter what may happen to me down here, I will always have that to go back to. helps a lot actually on the bad days.

From The Email, 4/24/04:

by the way, I am the guy to talk about the ocean. I did grow up on it, but by the time I reached around 18 I didn't particularly care anymore and I was going maybe 5 times a year, despite the beach being literally about four miles from my house. then I spent a summer in the humidity at haverford during the summer - we have no air conditioning here at home, and growing up I never once noticed - and now every time I'm here during the summer I go to the beach, sunny day or not. I remember one summer during college I was back for 13 days and went to the beach 15 times. I totally love it, it revitalizes my spirit every time I go on a sunny day, and every time I go for a walk down the beach I realize how truly lucky I've been to have grown up in such a beautiful place. new england is not renowned as a summer vacation destination, but the water in the summer is fine (about 68 degrees, cold for only the first minute or so) and the beach, the water, and even the town is staggeringly beautiful. every time I'm in the water on a sunny summer day I consciously wonder why I would ever want to be someplace else. the sand is smooth, and there's barely any seaweed or jellyfish too, and nothing in the way of human pollutants. it's really a treat; if I'm ever here during the summer you really should make a visit. also I read my grandfather's one book of fiction a couple years ago, a short novel about a country club tennis pro's assistant learning to grow up or something, and the protagonist would walk the golf course when he needed time to think, and the book talked a little bit about having a place to go to just walk around when you need that time to think. and I thought that was great that my grandfather thought that way, because I walk up and down the beach (about a mile or so between a river - "Look, Michael - a river" "... or a fjord..." - and where the rocky part starts up) whenever I want to be by myself. the ocean, of course, is beautiful at night. and not everyone is so lucky, but the beach club I go to is right on the shore, and having a dinner on a warm summer night, with the ocean right out there, is really pleasant in a way I can't describe. if I don't have a cool summer breeze around me during those months, I really miss it. forgive how much of this is repeated but it's a delight to think about.

From The Email, 8/24/04:

and in fact this trip was exactly what I was looking for, I assume yours was the same. I have already gone on and on about the beach at least twice, this time I'll limit my ramblings to just say that my stress level didn't go down until I finally went in the water. I don't think there's anywhere I'm happier. my grandfather says now, "I've known a lot of people who have left rhode island. they've all come back." also the water temperature was a thrilling discussion this weekend, the club said it was 62 degrees, which was preposterous (I'd say around 66-67) and also we believe this year's ocean set the record for greatest disparity between how it feels when you first step in and how it feels after you've been in for a few minutes. also the waves were solid, not great, and everyone went in at one point or another so it was a good family experience. finally, while friday and saturday were a little cloudy and unfortunate, sunday was terrific. I was in the water on sunday and I honestly thought to myself, "this is the best possible use of my time." I didn't go to the beach today (working and then the flight) but it was another fabulous day, and I got to enjoy it for the brief hour or so I had to just sit around at home. at that point (around 2) the family was all at the beach, except for my grandparents and an aunt who came back early, so we just sat around on our porch. it may be a little unfair, but my grandparents actually built their house on an eight-acre expanse of slowly rolling hills surrounded by lush green trees. I am right that rhode island is boring in winter, but in the summer it is truly beautiful. add to that the complete lack of humidity, and all in all sitting outside on the porch (screened in) is just about the best thing you can do.

It takes a special kind of audacity to repeat the same thoughts over and over with the conviction each time that it's an original remark. I guess that, along with our shared love of baloney and cheese with mayonnaise sandwiches, is something else I have in common with George W. Bush. Anyway, I hope you enjoy these pretty beach pictures I put up occasionally; trust me when I tell you that these pictures are just as good as experiencing the beach itself. Ah, no, I can't even pretend that's true. I may be underemployed with no social life here, but the beach still puts me ahead. (And for the record, today the temperature was 63 and it felt cold for about 15 seconds. There is nothing better than bodysurfing.)