Ocean City MD

Frank

When we were kids, my grandparents had a timeshare in Ocean City, MD. Every single time we were able to go, I was excited. I've always loved Ocean City and enjoy it no matter when I go.

In a way, I love it because it's familiar to me. Even with shops closing and opening every now and then, it changes just a little bit every time I go and there's usually something new or fun to explore there.

We always did a few things particularly when I was a kid. I remember in the mornings I'd walk out on the balcony with my grandfather and watch him smoke as the sun rose over the ocean in the east. We'd sometimes end up doing the same thing in the afternoon too, watching the sun set in the west. We'd obviously go to the beach, but we'd also go to Trimpers rides and either the day before or the night we left, we'd find a mini golf course and play a round. There was one in particular we would go to, one of the "Old Pro" golf places that was across the street from my grandparents condo and near a KFC. We also go to the boardwalk and rent the bikes early in the mornings. We also went on one of those ocean speedboats once. It was fun feeling the boat skip across the waves! I almost looked over the edge a few times, but I was afraid I was going to lose my glasses if we hit a wave too hard. I think the boat was called the "Patriot" while the other one they had was the "Sea Rocket". Never went on the Rocket, but I remember seeing it a few times. There also was a pool that the place ran that we'd swim in at night time and sometimes in the morning. It was memorable because even though it was lit inside, we could see the night sky.

I remember going up in an airplane with my father and flying over OC and Assateague Island. The pilot let me fly for most of that trip. The view facing the ocean was amazing and to be able to see the people below all doing so many different things from that angle has stayed with me as one of my most memorable moments. I can still remember the huge smile on my face as we flew down the beach line and looking at the waves where they started, crested, and ended. All the brightly colored swimsuits and the cars calmly rolling back and forth made everything look as if I were watching a slide show that few ever got to capture.

There was another time that I went two weeks after I got my license. It was during the middle of November. Me and a friend basically got on 32 and started heading East, not knowing at the time where we'd end up. We rolled into OC that night around 9 or 10 and cruised the empty streets in amazement at how quiet everything was. We drove up to the boardwalk and found a perfect space, because who's really going to be there in November? We got out and walked the boardwalk in the slight drizzle and constant chilly breeze. I remember one of the hotels had a massive light on the top that didn't really point to the beach. In fact, I don't know what they were intending to light with it, but it was bright enough to give plenty of ambient light. We could see the light rain falling. A few people were coming and going as we walked the board walk and they all seemed to be happy for the quiet night as they passed the shuttered up stores and buildings with signs wishing everyone well for the winter and the promise that they'd be back in spring. We stopped and got a hotel room for the night at $35! The next morning, we got up and went to the boardwalk again and wandered around until we found one of the few places that was still open. The clouds hadn't blown off yet and it was gray outside, but the darkened yellow signs of Polock Johnny's invited us in for breakfast in a dim-lit place full of older folks having coffee, reading the paper, and just chatting. They gave us some strange looks, but eased after we ordered some food and sat down to eat. We left shortly after that, much to my chagrin. I remember getting home to my parents house and they seemed surprised when I told them where I had been and asked that I make sure to call next time.

I do remember another trip that I was on with the folks. It was during Bike Week and seeing all the bikes riding around OC while we spent time there for a few days was an amazing sight and feeling.

There was another time I went when I was "suspended" from a job. It sounds bad, but I actually went further above what was expected to try to amend the mistake the driver I was working with had made by driving back to DC late at night and going into the hospital to retrieve the lost package. Anyways, Deb and I decided that we were going to take advantage of my day off in the middle of April after looking at the web and seeing that it was going to be a decent day. It was about 75 out and the water was about 55 or 60. Water that temperature is MUCH colder than the air temperature would have you believe, but I still jumped into the water anyways. We cruised the streets for a little while and we'd brought her laptop with us. We decided to sit out on the beach for a while and took a bunch of video and cut it together into a funny little DVD that we sent to her mother and showed my folks. We walked around for a while on the bright clear day and were amazed that so few people were out. Then we started reading the signs on some of the closed buildings, saying that NEXT WEEK would be the start of their season. We laughed at our good fortune to have been able to enjoy the quieter time there, even if it was during a time of questionable income. I'm not sure, but I think we even went back the next day too.

I loved spending that time with her and I can't wait to share with her the kind of love I have for that place in better terms and circumstances. I haven't really been able to go back to OC unless it was for a day or so and coming in on the coattails of my folks own trips. I always loved driving out that way for Anthony Sylvan when I worked there and I always felt kind of sad when I got back to the bay bridge, crossing it back for the west.

I've always wanted to live out that way and I still think Salisbury is a place I may end up if I don't get tired of Maryland's wacky laws. I know Deb is edgy about that, but I really do like how even though we'd have our own little place out of the way, we'd still be near civilization. I'm not sure, but Deb tells me we should check out Galviston in Texas and says it's similar to OC. Who knows.

If you want to, you can check out a webcam that streams images at http://www.ococean.com/webcam.html

That's all for now.