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To the Editor:

For the past ten years my family and I have traveled south on a trip that is always my favorite week of the year. We drive 514 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Corolla, North Carolina — and every mile of that trip is worth it. There isn’t much room in our car because we pack bathing suits, boogie boards and anything else that might be necessary for a week in paradise. And believe me, that’s exactly what that week is: paradise. The people in the Outer Banks are friendly and inviting. The shop owners, their employees and fellow travelers help make this a welcoming environment. And this year, more than ever, I appreciated that community. My experiences were memorable. Neighbors asked if I was enjoying my trip, the lifeguard explained what sea lice was and the July 4 fireworks show illuminated the sky while silencing all of us seated below.

The Outer Banks hold a special place in my heart. I love how each house has a unique character. I love the way the roads are safe and the beach is clean. A piece of me will always long for the taste of the creamy delicious ice cream that we get every year, or the feeling of the salt that tingles my lips while I’m diving through an ocean wave.

I spend all year waiting to come back. This past year I wasn’t sure that chance would arrive. The pandemic caused me to stay at-home for what felt like months on end. Much of my schoolwork transitioned online. The clubs that I normally participated in were cancelled. It wasn’t the greatest time to be a teen. But I was always looking forward to the Outer Banks.

I just returned to Pittsburgh after a week at the beach. I have a few seashells, a lot of photos and a desire to count down the days until I can come back again.

Tahara Reinherz

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Age 15

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