I too enjoyed Carp this year. It wasn't the same with some family not there, and others coming and going, but it was beautiful and relaxing. Cristie got some pictures back yesterday, and I was reminded again of how perfect the weather was. The following is a memory of Carp I wrote awhile back. I thought you might enjoy it:

When I was a child, most every summer we spent at least a week at Carpinteria. Our record was three straight weeks there, until the rangers got wise to my mothers camp switching and kicked us out.

One summer when I was about ten, I became a lifeguard. Well, a pretend lifeguard. I always thought the lifeguards at the beach looked so great in their tans, bleached hair (especially the hair on their arms and legs), and in their faded red shorts. So when the state beach built newer, higher, and fancier guard towers, I took over one of the old, smaller, abandoned ones, which was about 25 yards from the newer one.

I'd get there first thing in the morning, ready for a day of saving, even ahead of my authentic neighbors. I'd stay all day too, not daring to leave my post for fear I'd miss an opportunity to be a hero, or worse, that some other kid would take over my stand. My brother Tom joined me for the first couple of days, but he never had the staying power I did, so he wandered off to other less glorious persuits, and I was left to scan the beach by myself (which I preferred anyway). My ever concerned mother would send either my brother or one of my cousins with my lunch so I didn't starve and would have the needed reserves should my services be required.

Alas, during my weeks employ, as far as I could see there never was a need for a rescue, either by me or by my neighbors. Not even a riptide warning or anything. But I was faithful to my duty nonetheless, talked shop with the other lifeguards, got a little tanner, and my red trunks got a little more faded. And I even enjoyed the admiration of a couple of younger girls who came and hung around my tower for awhile. For a ten-year-old, what could really be better than that?