Narrative Essay

Writing and Rhetoric

Nate Billitier
Prof. Bain-Conkin
Time, perhaps the most valuable commodity we have. Some days we feel as if we have
all of the time in the world, and other days we dont have enough of it. We can always
reminisce on the cherished, memorable moments of time weve shared in our past. But
nobody knows what future times will bring, or how much time we have. Everyone has a
place in time where they have never been happier, and more self fulflled. For me,
nothing compares to the time I embrace at the beach.
Ever since I was young, my family and I have traveled yearly to Myrtle Beach. All of us
look forward to that one time of year where we can escape reality and come together in
paradise. Driving down the winding Southern roads when we near this
wonderful place makes my heart race, because I know that every mile we
pass in the rear view mirror is one mile closer to the sun and sand. Nothing
puts a bigger smile on my face than seeing all of the tall, tropical palm trees
nearing the coastline of South Carolina. When we nally reach this marvelous
location on the map, it seems as if time free!es, and my soul has been set
free.
"ost of the time we don#t even check into our room, we $ust go straight to
the beach where the good times lie. It truly is an indescribable feeling being
on the beach, and you have to take the time to soak everything in to really
get the most out of it, for your time is limited. We spend most of our long hot
days there on the warm, white sand looking o% at the colossal &tlantic ocean.
&s the waves crash down and the tide rolls in we sit in our beach chairs with
our toes in the sand and soak up the hot sun. &ll of us usually come to regret
this later when we look like lobsters that belong in the ocean' When it starts
to get too hot we run to the shore line where the waves hit the sand and
$ump right into the cool, refreshing water. (ne of my favorite things I en$oy
doing at the beach is boogie boarding. )sually my family members are too
scared to participate in this because they have an unveiling fear of sharks.
*ut that doesn#t bother me at all. I love the ocean and I believe that sharks
are among the most magnicent creatures in the world. So I lay on my board
and paddle on out to what seems to be a never ending body of water,
searching for the perfect wave. When I see a large wave in the distance
about to come crashing down, I +uickly paddle and ride the powerful current
of water all the way to shore, and after, Well I $ust hop on my board to go out
and do it again'
When our daily time at the beach is nished, we all retreat back into our
frigid air conditioned condo to cool o% and get ready for the e-citing food
and nightlife in downtown "yrtle *each. .he area is lled with gourmet all
you can eat seafood bu%ets and delicious food $oints. "y family and I usually
go all out on the eating, because hey, why not, Were on vacation' &s a
developed family tradition over the years, we always pay a visit to the
famous Crabby "ike#s seafood bu%et. When I say this place is good, I mean
it. .he atmosphere they have at the restaurant is second to none, and with a
/01 item bu%et with foods like prime rib, crab legs, lobster, and tasty
homemade desserts, it can be really easy to over eat. .he only downside to
this place is the price to eat there. It#s very e-pensive to get in, however
we#re always pretty satised that we got our moneys worth, especially my
dad. 2e usually eats for another hour after my sister, my mom and I are
done. .hey bring you buckets to put your crab leg scraps in and my dad
never fails to ll up fteen or more of them. When our bellies are full and
were ready to leave, we make our way to many of the e-citing nightlife
locations of coastal South Carolina. (ur favorite place to go at night is called
*roadway at the *each. 2ere you can nd hundreds of shops, live
entertainment, several of the beaches most popular attractions and of
course to cap the night o% there#s always a spectacular showing of reworks.
.he large, colorful reworks glimmer in the night and sparkle over the sand
and sea in one of the beach#s greatest hits.
&s the days went by, so did the week. &fter all the en$oyment and e-citement
of a beautiful vacation, it had come to an end. I often ask myself at the
conclusion of the week, where did the time go, 2ow did it go by so fast, Well
I guess time really does 3y when your having fun. Nothing makes my heart
sink more when everyone begins to pack their things up, and we talk about
leaving in the morning for home. .hose nights I lay in my bed, listening to
the tide roll in and re3ect upon my life. I always tell myself that one day, it
won#t be $ust a week. It will be my life. I use this inspiration to carry me on
and pursue my challenging goals so that I can accomplish what my heart
solely yearns for, the beach. When the morning comes, I mope out onto my
balcony to get one last look and take it all in. "y mother and father slide the
door open to drag me out of there, and if it wasn#t for them I probably
wouldn#t leave. So then I sit in the car staring out the window, wishing I $ust
had more time. *ut I have come to the reali!ation that it#s that short glimpse
of time, e-perience, and memory that makes the week at the beach so
special. So now I sit here in structured study, in the dark, uncomfortable
room with four walls and no view, writing about this precious time I have $ust
once per year. &s happy as I am to be at such a prestigious university with
opportunities to e-cel in all aspects of my life, nothing will ever make me
happier, than my time at the beach.