Welcome back to the Midwest!

I have officially been away from Hilton Head for a week. Wow.

It seems very strange that just one week ago, I was dropping off my whistle and key off at the office, packing up the car and house, and saying goodbye to the people I didn't want to leave. I remember Ali telling me during the summer that when she got back from Luxembourg, it didn't seem like it really happened; rather it was some dream or fond memory, but definitely not reality. And now after a week of being home, I know exactly how she feels.

A summer in Hilton Head life guarding on the beach? Come on. Too good to be true, right? It had to be a dream, no one can have it that good! But no, it really did happen. Perhaps what makes it seem so very much like a dream is that I am no longer surrounded by the people I shared the summer with. Sure, I can tell my friends from school and my family all about my experiences and friends, but they weren't there for those three months, they didn't experience exactly what we all experienced. I can share stories about the Canada Day, pants party, the funny little things that would happen on the beach, but who really gets it other than my fellow lifeguards? I feel like I have two different lives: my summer life, and then my school life. Right now, I'm caught in between, and it is sort of lonely! Only four more days, and then I can spend nine months in that reality of school, greek life, extracurriculars. And then after those nine months, I can return to my dream.

ending of a sweet sweet summer...

Wow, its hard to believe I only have one more week left in hilton head. While I can't wait to get home and see my family and get back to school and see all my friends again, there is an undeniable sadness at the thought of leaving.

This summer has really been one of the best of my life. I have met some of the greatest, down to earth people and have had a blast spending time with them. This job has taught me a lot, and not just how to dig an 18 inch hole in the sand or spot sharks. I have grown up a lot and found out much more about myself (sitting in high chair gives a lot of thinnking time). At the beginning of the summer I was caught up in many of the little things that don't really matter but as the summer began, I was able to relax and see what really is important! I said at the beginning of summer I wouldn't come back next summer but that's changed! I definitely plan on it now.