One of the great things about living where we live -- and having a sister who works for the state parks system -- is that we get to drop by Beach Play Day every summer at the end of July.

Beach Play Day is put on by the Police Activities League. The PAL brings kids from all over California to the beach to spend a day and a night having fun, playing sports, swimming, eating...and did I mention having fun? Some of these kids saw the beach for the first time in their lives today.

My sister is second in command where Beach Play Day is concerned. (Ranger Michelle Deboer is first.) She and her team plan the whole thing, from what activities to provide, down to the food. This usually means talking to lots of sponsors, as well as planning logistics involving kids, volunteers and staff.

There are about 600 kids plus an indefinite number of staff and volunteers at the beach for this thing as I write this. This is no small event.

So today Grant and I got up around 8:00 a.m. to go down to the beach by about 8:30 and see the water rescue demonstration that traditionally opens the event. It's quite dramatic and I always wonder how many kids see the jet skis, the helicopters and boats and decide right then and there they want to be lifeguards or police officers or fire fighters. It's really a sight to see.

First a handful of lifeguards swim out into the ocean to act as victims. Then a lifeguard or two run to the water and swim like crazy out to the victim and pull him back to shore. Next, lifeguards on a jet ski zoom out and "save" another "victim." After that, a bright yellow lifeguard boat tears out there and hooks a sharp left as a lifeguard jumps off the back of the boat. The reason for the sharp turn is to help fling the lifeguard farther than he would've been able to go on just his own power. That lifeguard then hooks up the "victim" to the sled on the back of the jet ski, which has returned in the meantime. The biggest (and noisiest) attraction, though, is the helicopter water rescue.

Ranger Michelle Deboer's husband, Dick, is always one of the guys who jumps off the helicopter. This year he estimated the helicopter hovered about 25 feet above the water before he and his partner made their jump. The lifeguards jump backward off the helicopter, then swim to the last "victim" and fasten him to the line on the helicopter. This is the type of rescue they call a "short haul," usually reserved for rescuing someone they need to get to shore fast. The "victim" dangles on the line as the helicopter flies low and deposits him on shore where other lifeguards are waiting. In the meantime, the guys who jumped off the helicopter are picked up by the jet ski.

It's way cool.

My sister is usually busy while the demo is going on, but this year she was able to get away to watch it with us. It had started to rain, so I held an umbrella over Sis and Grant as we watched the demo with the 600 kids. Afterward, the helicopter usually flies over the crowd and turns on the siren, but for some reason they didn't do that immediately this year. I think they needed to check something on the helicopter. Anyway, they finally came back over the crowd later and it was just as cool and dramatic as it always is.

Needless to say, Grant was mesmerized by all the vehicular activity. ;^) If he'd had his way we would've stayed there all day.

After the demo was over, the rain let up and the sun started to show. Phew! The show would've gone on one way or another, but it was great to have the nice weather back. The L.A. Kings had sent people to set up a street hockey activity in the beach parking lot, and some folks were setting up a climbing wall for later. I saw a water slide being set up, and I know there's a guy who brings a "touch tank" full of sea urchins, starfish and other critters for kids to examine. And that's not even all of it.

The National Guard had set up tents all over the beach for the kids to sleep in that night. Krispy Kreme had donated tons of donuts for the kids that morning. Domino's Pizza provided lunch. And more...so much more...

It's amazing to see people all come together to make such a wonderful event for kids.

Grant and I finally took off around 11:00 or so, when the sun was just starting to come out. I was tired from not having slept well the night before, so by 1:00 I was curled up with him in bed, having a nap. Man, I needed that, but I also have a lot of freelance work and packing to do before Saturday. With any luck, I'll be able to get the freelance stuff done tonight and tomorrow morning, leaving the rest of the time for packing.

*sigh* I can't wait to get settled in our new place, but I'll miss living in the area where I grew up. Mixed feelings about it all right now.

But today was brilliant.

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