[KathieI]

Since I was very prone to sunburn when I was very young, being light skinned and freckled (do you believe I am full-blooded Italian?), my parents very rarely took me to Jones beach after the first event where I developed severe sun poisoning. So I don't have good memories of the Atlantic but I was totally overwhelmed the first time I saw the majestic Pacific.

After almost 35 years of living in LA, and the last five living 1 mile from the Pacific, I never took it for granted. On bad days, I would park on a high road and watch the waves crashing on the rocks and feel so serene and tranquil and so little compared to the magnificence of this ocean. I would also drive the "long way" to get somewhere if it meant I could ride along the ocean road (PCH). Of course, with my skin problems, I never did enjoy going to the beach and sitting in the sun that was definitely my enemy but I learned to enjoy the ocean in my own way. I sure do miss seeing it.