This week is a special treat. I combined two photo challenges I am passionate about. The first is the Weekly Photo Challenge called Sea and the other the Image Of Life called Dream Vacation.
We often hear, “Home is where your heart is,” and my heart definitely feels that it is home when I am by the sea. It is one place where I can easily go back in time to relive the many happy childhood memories I was blessed to have. When I long for those I love, all I have to do is close my eyes and together with the sound of the waves, I could once again hear my laughter and that of my sisters as we ran and play inside our parent’s house so many years ago.
This Summer, home never felt so close as me and my family spent an unforgettable Summer in Clearwater, one of the top beaches in Florida. It was my dream vacation. I often imagined waking up each day watching the sunrise by the beach. Just walking, drifting, no worries, at peace. This Summer, my wish came true. I told my wife that weekend, “This is the best Summer and Father’s Day gift ever. Thank you.” She gave me a big smile and said, “I know how much you and our son love the sea and I want you guys to have a great Summer.”
We had so many adventures at Clearwater Beach from swimming, body boarding to fresh oyster feasting but the most magical was our dolphin encounter riding a tugboat called Little Toot. We arrived just in time to catch the sunset boat trip. We thought we were just going to see one or two dolphins but instead we saw lots of them. I was cheering excitedly like my 7-year old. The louder we screamed and clapped our hands, the more dolphins jumped out of the water. Sometimes, two dolphins simultaneously take a big leap. It was amazing!
It was hard to leave. Part of me wanted to stay but just like most dream vacations, it had to end. I whispered to my wife, “Why can’t we just live here forever? We are so happy here.” She looked at me and said, “I want to stay here forever too.” We agreed to always open our door to such a beautiful possibility. As our car left the hotel, our son said sadly, “Is Summer over.” I told him, “No, Summer is not over. Summer has just began.”
Dream vacation for me is having to watch a sunset, by the sea with the two most important people in my life. The very people who reminds me everyday that home is where you feel most love. A love that inspires me to keep searching for happiness that last. Happiness that I can take with me inside my little own home, my heart.
Thank you for sharing your many dreams with me day after day. Wishing everyone many dream vacations ahead that are full of wonderful, joyful memories.
Images taken using an iPhone 4 camera with Camera + App and Nikon 1 J1. My friends, have fun discovering and creating the most beautiful images everyday. They are a part of the unforgettable memories and events we make in this lifetime.
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Filed under: Life, photography, Post A Week, Summer Adventures, Travels, Weekly Image Of Life Tagged: Beach, Best Beaches, Bodyboarding, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dolphin, dream vacation, Family, father's day, Florida, Home, island traveler, Islands, Little Toot, love, Photography, Places, Post A Week, sea, summer, Sunrise, Sunset, Travel, weekly image of life, Weekly Photo Challenge
