Hi Friends! Here's an excerpt from the book I'm working on titled "What the Hell Do I Know, But Here's What I Think (For Now)." It's a reflection on my recent travels to Anna Maria Island, Florida with my daughter and great-niece. Patreon subscribers can read the full post. To support me there for as little as $1/month, click HERE!
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I went down hard. I tumbled so much I didn’t know which way was up, but the sound of the crashing water above gave me a clue after several seconds. The crushed shells in the sand scraped my skin and my wrist already ached because of the instinct to try to catch myself, but clearly I was no match for the ocean. I had to move fast to get on my feet. The waves would not pause for me to brace myself or catch my breath. Another one was already seconds away. Crash. Again, I was down, but this time I knew it was coming and my head remained above my feet. Progress. I needed to get past the breaking point. My kids were out there and a mother’s instinct will rival the ocean, yet here was another one of the biggest waves I’d ever experienced in my 47 years of beaching (yes, “beaching” is a verb meaning to actively seek out, chill out and soak in the vastness of the ocean by way of getting yourself to the beach.) I bent my knees and got low, trying to find my balance and footing in moving sand. It crashed upon me full-force as I stumbled backwards, desperately trying to stay on my feet. Another one. This time I turned my back on it, like that would give me some kind of greater leverage. Yeah, no. Eventually, a couple of slightly smaller waves gave me some grace and I was able to sneak past them and meet my family beyond the crashing and thrashing of the water. We fought against the current in the water for an hour or so then tired and admitted defeat before it was demanded of us.
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July 27, 2026
Website: KaseyRausch.com
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Bean Point Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida just after sunset on July 23, 2026. No filter.