Book One

 "They did not complain that God had allowed bad things to happen to them; rather, they counted it as an HONOR to suffer for Christ's sake.  --- Emmittee Cornelius"

Did anyone look forward to summer vacation that summer of 1980, than Chantal Wrobleski! - - - 

                    last summer, she'd been in a body cast and she had so much to offer up! as it was NOT

                    velvety-soft but hot and itchy - and the dogs didn't even want to cuddle-up with her!

Ahhh, but now!

A stampede on the sand, as soon as the lifeguard chair uprighted, of herself and siblings Quinn, Kolbe, and Avila, with Mom lagging behind, from there summer house on the boardwalk.  Mom lugged in a BIG tote what she hoped were "award-winning lesson plans" she was developing for the 80-81 school year.  This was Mom's "summer project": she did so for herself and for Dad, also a teacher, as he worked summers as a lifeguard.  Mom was the lady in the one-piece navy suit with white piping, that had a vintage feeling to it - well, naturally! Mom had worn it every summer since - well - forever!  Her four children were in the coolest new suits, of course!!!!  17 year old Chantal wore a one-piece with those giant pink cabbage roses that were so popular.  Spunky 8 year old Avila was in a patriotic 2-piece, with a ruffle.  13 year old Quinn - who had taken to calling himself "the lucky dog in the family" - was wearing long swim trunks in ocean blues.  2 year old Kolbe - still a baby dumpling! - wore a toddler version of that - and, boy! could he RUN! to get his sausage toes in the surf!