This I Believe
Think of your favorite memory. Was it on a vacation you took with your family? I know mine was. I believe in taking family vacations because I have grown up in a family that takes vacations at least once a year. As I have gotten older, I have traveled many places, mainly in the tropics because my parents and I all share a love for the ocean. When you go on vacation, you are normally doing something out of the ordinary, seeing something that you can’t see at home. I have many memories from when I was on vacation, even when I was younger. I remember the smells, the temperature, and even the sounds from that particular moment. I have a lot of great memories at home as well but it just isn’t the same. At home there is always something going on, always something to do. I’m always worried about what is due for school the next day or what work I need to do around the house. Vacations give you time to wind down. Growing up in a big city is amazing but sometimes I feel like I need to get away and just relax.
Most of my favorite memories are in Florida. I have a passion for the ocean and for boats. I love being on the water because I have no worries and feel totally relaxed. There is a restaurant called Cabbage Key that we like to go to with friends because it is rustic and you can only get there by boat. One day while we were traveling to this restaurant, we spotted a pod of dolphins. We killed the engine and just sat and enjoyed the warm weather for a while. I was on the front of the boat with my friend. The water was a brownish green from all of the rain and there was sea grass floating on the surface. It was a hot day, probably 95 degrees, and we were just watching the dolphins play. While we were sitting there we noticed a particular dolphin playing behind the boat. This was no ordinary dolphin though. It started jumping out of the water, doing tricks, and slapping its tail on top of the water. This is amazing because, normally, wild animals are afraid of humans. This dolphin seemed like it came straight out of an amusement park. We just sat on the back of the boat for a while, watching and taking pictures. Nobody was worried about where we had to be next or what we were doing later that night, we were just there.
That is just one thing that I remember, probably a ten minute ordeal, which I recall like it was yesterday. I was in a special place, doing something that I can’t do at home. It was a time to share with friends and family and everyone was having a good time just being there, nothing else really mattered. I believe in family vacations because it is a time to relax, get away from your normal life, and make memories with the people you love.