Crabs In The Dark 4/22/25
When I was a kid we had big family vacations on the beach. We would rent a house with extended family members and all pile in together. Our favorite was Folly Beach in SC. Every family had to cook one night so that we were just at the beach 24/7 and only went out to a restaurant one of those nights.
There were bologna sandwiches on white bread and hot dogs for lunch with various chips and sides so you just ate whenever. Everyone would float in and out of the house onto the sand.
We were hard core. Never needing a Shibumi shade or umbrella, just lots of sunscreen when I was little and aloe for the sunburns. In my teenage years I wanted a tan so it was baby oil but still aloe for the sunburns.
We did stuff like trying to catch crabs with a trap or with my hand. Seashell hunting in the early hours of dawn. Body surfing in the waves and swimming out past the breakers. We played board games and card games like Rook and Bible Trivia at night.
So many memories rush back now every time I find my way back to the sea.
Like tonight, our first night of a four night vacation to Wrightsville Beach, NC. The same Atlantic Ocean I have always loved. It’s not so cold nor too hot. A perfect 75 degree day with a high breeze. The sun is out to warm you up. Then after dinner a cool night without a moon and of course no warming sun.
We set out for a quick walk to the water knowing the water would be cold. April is still on the chilly side. We have our phone lights on and it reminds me of going to check the crab traps at night. My walks to the end of Folly Island over the years. And of a trip to Thailand’s Penang Beach to sit in the cool sand listening to the surf and watching the waves glistening by the light of the moon.
A passerby had a more serious flashlight and asked if we were looking for crabs. Funny how I went right back to my childhood… “No?” He told us that they come out at night because the birds aren’t out at night. “Thank you!” We shuffled on by as he moved past us. And so now we are looking for crabs in the dark. Not sure which type or size or color? We started scanning each section of sand seeing the waves lazily meet our feet. Lots of broken shells and of course sand. But we had made it back to our ‘exit’, so up the beach we tromped. Doing the silly sideways wobble as each step feels like a tiny mountain your feet slide down but need climbing.
“There! I see one!” “where?” I point my phone lights just so and we both see the tiny half inch crab practically going light speed to get clear of our lights. And just before our walk is over, we see a second one a whole inch bigger scurrying just as quickly on past me.
Satisfied we continue the laborious climb of tiny sand mountains to the beach access point and off to bed we headed. Sleepy enough for a good night’s sleep.