In August, we took a family vacation to Aruba and it was paradise! Well…it was paradise for me. Rob, on the other hand, wasn’t Aruba’s biggest fan. He didn’t quite understand why I was so ready to put a Monopoly-money down payment on a vacation home there. I can understand his point of view though. The island terrain is not very appealing. Aruba is essentially a dessert, covered in cacti and dirt. But who cares? The weather is basically perfect there all year long and I would spend all my time on it’s pristine beaches with the clearest water I have ever seen!   
 You see, I have a very intense fear of sharks and I almost never go in the water. I have to be able to see my feet in any body of water or else there is no way I am stepping in. And even then, I am usually filled with anxiety. Constantly looking around, waiting to see that iconic dorsal fin appear, heading in my direction. Jumping out of my bathing suit every time a piece of seaweed brushes past my leg. Ridiculous, right? I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s probably not going to change. I have gone to so many beach locales, but I could never truly enjoy the ocean because I would be overcome by my fear and anxiety. Until Aruba!

We spent most of our beach time at Arashi Beach. The water was crystal clear and I could see everything around me in the water, in all directions. The ocean floor was soft white sand without a single piece of seaweed in site. It was glorious! I could actually play with Ella in the water without worrying what might be lurking nearby. I could actually lounge on a raft, enjoy a beer, and even close my eyes and still not feel an ounce of anxiety! Well, that is until the kids playing in the water start yelling SHARK, SHARK!!! I almost spill my beer as I heave myself off my raft to make my escape to shore, only to realize the kids are playing a game with one another. Seriously though….that shit should be illegal. You should not be allowed to yell shark in open waters! Doesn’t that fall into the yelling FIRE in a movie theater category? No? Well, it should.