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My One Little Word for 2018 is Explore! I’ve decided to thoroughly embrace this word this summer. I am currently on an exploratory adventure at the beach. My daughter is an account executive for an advertising agency, so she had some meetings here and invited me to tag along. What a treat! Our first day we ventured out to an inlet lake that is surrounded by sand dunes. We did stand up paddleboarding. The day was hot and sunny, but we did it. I felt a sense of pride that I was actually able to make the paddleboard move in a somewhat straight line. On Wednesday, I’m going to try paddleboard yoga.
This morning while she was in meetings, I ventured out to Grayton Beach State Park. Even in the rain, this was a beautiful area. I was alone on the trail of crystal sand dunes, of bending sand live oaks, and of tall pines that look like tall umbrellas. The dunes set off a lake (Western Lake where we went paddleboarding.) that is a unique salt water/ fresh water ecosystem. The dunes themselves are preserved. Here are a few of my pictures.
Grayton Beach sand dunes
Sand live oaks grow in sculpted shapes.
The sky itself looks like an ocean.
Hanging out with women in the advertising business has taught me some new terms to add to my lexicon:
- cranking: This is another word for getting on the computer and getting work done. Best done when it’s raining and you can’t go “content gathering.”
- content gathering: This is a term for going out and taking pictures so that you can post them on social media to show others how fun it is to be here.
- content: a picture that could be used to promote a place. One of my pictures was used on Instagram as “content.” Follow @Southwalton
And the best way to have a team meeting is when everyone is in PJs and passing around a bottle of wine. (I think I may have gotten into the wrong profession.) In addition to being a relaxing trip to the beach, I have enjoyed time alone with daughter number 2 and learning about the work she does everyday. It’s not always at the beach, though.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love those majestic southern oaks! Your pictures are fabulous and I’m delighted you got to spend time with your daughter and learn about her job. That wine bottle passing sounds like a great addition to a staff meeting!
It’s great to see our adult daughters through their work and see that part of their lives. My daughter just changed jobs, so I’ve been hearing all about her first days in the new position.
I love the photos that you posted with this. It was fun to imagine where you were doing your exploring.
I’m swooning over your photos! How beautiful! Yes, passing along the wine bottle sounds like great…sigh!
I love your photos, too – the live oaks, the sky, the gazing ball (which has a different name). And I like the new vocabulary – and, of course, the meetings in pjs with wine. Now that sounds like the life!
What fun! And to be there with a daughter just doubles the fun factor. Enjoy every moment.
What wonderful photos! I also love the new vocabulary. I think a life spent “content gathering” sounds perfect!
And so you continue to explore, Margaret. Thanks for the new vocabulary. Grayton Beach sand dunes look inviting.
What a lovely trip to the beach! Glad to share it with you. Loved your photos so I had to look it up to see where it’s located…what with live oaks in the sand and all! 🙂