March 11,

2002

Sandcastles, believe it or not, are not so easy to make by hand. The first and only tower I tried crumbled over and over again, and I didn't have the patience to make a dragon, or even a daisy, out of shells in the sand.

Eventually, of course, I started making letters with them, half-burying the shells sideways in the sand so the tide wouldn't wash them away immediately-- which meant their broken edges were exposed to cut the feet of whoever came down the beach.

I love you : in case you wandered by later that evening.