One Shovel. One Pail.

We recently had young families come to the beach to visit and I simply smiled to myself while I watched them trudge through the sand laden down with the same things I used to bring to the beach.  So many memories came flooding back.

Yes, when my children were little, we lugged beach bags filled with different sized pails, shovels, trucks, balls and sand castle molds.  Not to mention beach umbrellas, enough snacks to last for days and yes, those miniature chairs our children never sat in.  All of this way before the beach buggy carts were a staple on the beach.

Most of the varying sizes of pails and shovels went right back into our beach bags as we left the beach.  Our children chose their one favorite pail and shovel to use all day long.  And the miniature chairs . . . never to be brought back to the beach again.  Not to mention the sand castle molds.  Seashells and seaweed adorned their creations.

Now it's every person for themselves.  My beach bag has my towel, my book, sunglasses and one water.  My now adult children bring what makes them happy whether it's a book, football or a bocci ball set.  

And, yes, when the grandchildren arrive, we will come full circle.  My beach bag will be filled with countless sand toys.  And, yes, I will be buying more of those miniature chairs.