Enough negativity, y’all said. We want to read positive stories that make us smile, y’all reiterated.
Well, folks, I tried. And you did not live up to your end of the bargain.
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Last Thursday, I made an effort to shift attention away from the worst people to be around on the beach toward the best people to be around on the beach.
I even invited you to participate, as I did with a one-off column that turned into three pieces on account of your passionate responses.
Don’t get me wrong: I love to hear from you. But do get me right: I’d have loved to hear from happy you as well.
Over the weekend, I continued to field dozens of emails fueled by hate of your fellow beachgoers (they primarily zeroed in on smokers, Chris Christie and loud-music listeners, for what it’s worth, and they're all bad, too).
You know how many I got celebrating those with whom you share sand? One. I repeat: ONE. No responses on Facebook. No responses on Twitter. Just one email.
I mean, I was able to get some on-scene reporting in.
As in, the ladies whom I overheard swoon-discussing the beefcake lifeguards working out at their shack in between shifts. And the voices I heard breaking down various bikini fashions. (No, this isn't the creepy sexualization of strangers; it's appreciating the beauty that nature offers.)
But now, with little more to report, I cede the floor to "KemNom," who should be thanked for restoring my faith in humanity. We all can learn a lot from her.
1) Surfers
2) Boogie boarders
3) Frisbee-catching dogs (where allowed)
4) Cute kids
5) Seashell collectors
All five deserve our appreciation on the beaches, folks.
Here comes the ask: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me some more suggestions about things that make the beach a glorious place to be in the summer and shoulder seasons.
I’d rather not do a fourth “worst people to be around on the beach” installment, but I certainly have enough content to do so, including an email that arrived just as I was about to submit this story to the editors.