Same Place Different Story

They say “variety is the spice of life”, but not for the Loughrey Family. Almost every summer in July we pack our suitcases, load up the car and take the nine hour drive out to Ocean City, New Jersey. Most of my relatives live in Philadelphia so it’s the easiest place for us to meet up and usually my family’s only chance to see everyone during the year. Even though we always vacation in the same place, no two years are the same. The only thing better than the new memories we make there every summer are the embellished stories that get told about years before.
So many important moments in my brother and my childhood occurred while we were on vacation. Whether it was when he lost his first tooth or the time I got lost on the boardwalk, everything that happens get remembered and retold and elaborated each year to the point where nobody is sure the real details of what happened. One example is when my Uncle Bill helped a child up who had been choking on a little water in the ocean only to get swept off his feet himself by a wave and injure his neck on a sandbar. Eventually, the story turned into him running into the water to save a child from drowning and a colossal wave crashed down on him.
In the end, things like details can be sacrificed for bonding and laughter among family. While the destination can get redundant, the time spent with my relatives never is.

David L
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