Darby Hinkley

Ah, the summer sunshine beating down on my face.

I absolutely love it.

I’m a summer-loving gal, heat and all. Bring it on!

When we were having that 90-degree stretch, I was happily glistening in my tanktop and jean shorts, trying to be outside as much as possible, because my house does not have air conditioning. I can deal with a hot breeze, but being stuck inside the house, even with five fans blowing, doesn’t exactly interest me.

I’d rather soak up as many rays as possible.

I’d rather be laying on an oversized blanket at the beach, either reading a fun summer novel or just half-dozing off as I work on my tan. I have those lucky genetics that let me tan quickly and easily without burning. I mean, if I don’t put any sunscreen on and sit out in the sun for five hours, I’ll definitely burn. But an hour or two and I’m fine.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about the beach. I said it was awesome, and she said it wasn’t too great. We were not talking about a specific beach, but beaches in general.

I love the free and easy vibe of the beach. It’s like the opposite of work. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. Because I’m lazy? Not necessarily. I work hard, but I like to relax hard, too, so the beach is my weekend pal. You might even find me there on a weekday afternoon, if it’s sunny enough and I have already accomplished my workday duties.

I love sand in my toes (and in my car, of course) and on everything you brought to the beach — the cooler, the towels, the water bottles. All sandy. It doesn’t bother me, for some reason. It’s not like dirt, although I enjoy getting my hands dirty in the garden, too.

Maybe I’m just a dirty person? Or maybe I’m just beachy. Let’s go with that.

I know some people enjoy pools much more than the beach, but I’d take the sand between my toes any day. Watching kids splash and play, people walking their cute dogs, playing catch, or just reading under an umbrella, that is totally my scene.

My ideal day would be to wake up in a luxury hotel or vacation rental located directly on the beach, which could be the ocean, although sharks… just no. So, maybe a beach on one of the Great Lakes. Sorry, Lake Huron, but Lake Superior is, well, superior to all the other Great Lakes, because of how pristine it still is, and the water is so clear and beautiful. Cold, but gorgeous. It’s even more special to swim in Lake Superior because you don’t get to do that very often.

We will have a chance to do so this weekend, as we are headed up to the Pictured Rocks, a place very dear to my heart, since my late dad took us there many times during my childhood.

Now, my husband and I will introduce the natural treasure to our 16-year-old son. We are even planning to take the Pictured Rocks Boat Tour, which I’m sure will be a fun and memorable family experience. My favorite part about the Pictured Rocks is all the hidden waterfalls and sights to see as you explore by hiking the paths to create your own adventure.

The only thing, looking back, that I didn’t enjoy on our Pictured Rocks trips was camping on the hard ground in the middle of a (probably) bear-laden forest. All I know is the outdoors are super, but give me a bed and four walls at the end of the day. I’m no rustic camper anymore. Never really have been. I tried to be like my dad in his off-the-grid style camping, but, as an adult, I’ve come to accept that I need more comfort than that, and that’s OK.

So, on our Upper Peninsula trip, we will definitely go to a beach on Lake Superior and I will require myself to go into the water, fully under, just because that’s what we did when we were kids. We dared each other to swim in Lake Superior, even if the weather wasn’t sunny.

I may be an odd duck beach lover living in Northeast Michigan. Why don’t I just move to a sunnier state? I also love the seasons, as they remind me that time marches on, and every day is a gift to enjoy, whether it be sunny, rainy, windy, chilly, or even, dare I say, snowy.

Each changing season gives us an opportunity to use our time wisely, not just in the office, but as we go about our days.

I truly believe sunshine and sandy toes are essential to summer, and I hope you get some beach time this season.

Enjoy every moment of summer, and focus on the carefree feeling you get when you’re winding down for the day, be it at the beach, on the water, or just in your own yard.

I hope to see you all at the News’ Sandcastle Contest on July 4 at Starlite Beach! That will be the perfect day to get your toes sandy and check out the community’s creative creations.

Darby Hinkley can be found at the beach reading a book by Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, or Mindy Kaling, but if you don’t see her there, she might be sunning in her own backyard. Reach her at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5691.