August 1958, the hottest time of the year, we took our family vacation to the coast. I remember the drive as if it were yesterday. The dry desert faded away, as trees -- big green forests -- replaced the arid land. As we approached the Long Beach Peninsula, the weather became cooler and the damp, dusty smell of saltwater and fresh aroma of evergreen trees permeated the air.
We stayed at a cabin court that was right on the beach approach. That week we played in the sand, jumped waves at the water's edge, roasted hot dogs, beach-combed and bought saltwater taffy in town.