Day 1115 Champagne & Sunsets

Labor Day tradition means champagne on the beach—everyone brings bottles to share, and we group our chairs together for one last hurrah. After each bottle is finished, it’s proudly lined up along the fence, each year trying to beat the previous year's record. I’m not exactly sure what last year’s count was, but with the temps being a bit cooler this time, we didn’t quite make it—despite our best efforts.

The sky put on a show all day, shifting from misty clouds to a breathtaking sunset full of reds and oranges. There really isn’t anything better than a beach sunset—well, maybe a sunrise, but it’s not easy getting a group together that early!

I loved seeing Tim reconnect with old friends—high school buddies who only make it to the beach a few times a year. We arrived just after noon and stayed long after the sun dipped below the horizon, chatting under the moonlight like a bunch of teenagers.

Labor Day might mark the official end of summer, which honestly makes it one of my least favorite days of the year. September 1st rolls in, and I find myself wondering: where did my summer go?! But when I think back—on all the beach nights, music, laughter, friends, and family—I realize I really did make the most of it. Still, I can’t help but wish it lasted just a bit longer.

I'm definitely not ready for pumpkins, Halloween, or Thanksgiving just yet (even if the stores are already bursting with fall decor—boo to that!).

As the saying goes, "Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened." Summer may be winding down, but the memories we made will carry me through the colder days ahead. Here's to holding on to a little sunshine, even as the seasons change.