A Scene Of The Summer

     My hometown is on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. This sea is usually calm and beautiful. Today was really fine and I went out for a change on my scooter. The picture shows Futami Beach, one hour's ride from my house, which is famous for its beautiful sunsets.
     It was just starting to get crowded and I saw some families with little kids on the edge of the surf. The scene reminded me of my daughters' younger days. When my daughters were little kids, I sometimes went there and stayed almost half a day. It took a lot out of me, but it was fun.
     Some of, or all of my daughters, would leave home with their partners in at least 10 years. I'm thinking about family trips that all the family could enjoy. One would be in winter and the other in summer.

(Vocabulary)
on the edge of the surf     波打ち際に

　僕の街は瀬戸内海に面している。この海はいつも静かで美しい。今日は快晴だったので気分転換にスクーターで少し走ってみた。写真はうちから１時間ほど走ったところにある双海海岸で、夕日が美しいことで有名な場所だ。

　ちょうど海が混み始めた時間だった。何組かの家族が子供を連れて波打ち際にいる。この家族を見ていて娘達がまだ幼い頃を思い出した。娘達が小さい頃、よくこの海岸へ来て半日を過ごした。かなり疲れることだったが楽しかった。

　娘達の何人か、あるいは皆がそれぞれパートナーを見つけてこの１０年以内に家を出ることになるだろう。今、みんなで行ける家族旅行を考えている。冬に一度、夏に一度。