Kill(ing) Devil Hills - OBX 2019

To say I had an amazing summer vacation in Outer Banks, North Carolina would be a total understatement.

It was Valentine's Day when Michael told me I had been invited on their family vacation. Michael asked me if I wanted to go, it was at Outer Banks, North Carolina at the end of our spring semester at college. On one hand, I was ecstatic and overjoyed I would be invited on such a thing, but the more I thought about it the more conflicted I became. The trip was not until May 16th - 26th so I had plenty of time to maul over the idea but guess what... I didn't.

May finally arrived and then the thought was on my mind every day. I knew this would be a fantastic experience for Michael and I to have and grow as a couple. I could also bond with his family and step out of my own comfort zone. Every time I was close to a decision I would flip on a dime and go in the opposite direction. My biggest concern holding me back from fully saying yes was my anxiety and OCD which I have dealt with on and off for years. I've never been a traveler, summer camp kid or sleepover person growing up; not to mention the fact that I also go to college locally. My mom has been my rock through my personal battles; between that and being a major homebody, asking me to travel 16 hours from home was not something I was going to take lightly.

I figured I was going to be upset one way or another. Either because I was far from home, or that I didn't get to have this experience and memories with Michael. I had told Michael's mom and dad, Dawn and Mark, on Monday the 13th that I was not going to go. She told me she would ask me again Wednesday, the day before they left for vacation. I had already asked off work, so I was covered if I did choose to go.

Wednesday the 15th rolled around. I looked at my mom that morning and told her that I was headed out to Walmart. She asked me why, that's when I had finally made my choice and told her. I was grabbing what I naturally needed before I left on vacation within the next 24 hours.

May 16th - The following morning, I managed to get through my last college final unfortunately quick. I distracted myself at home to keep my anxiety under control until it was time to load up the car at Michael's house. I didn’t head over until an hour and a half later... Thank goodness I kept myself busy by playing video games. Mark, Dawn, Michael, and I managed to leave before noon and drove the majority of the day. We went through Indiana and Ohio which I have never been to before and I got to eat Chick-fil-A's for the first time which was amazing to say the least. We ended up getting stuck in some type of freeway hurricane in Indianapolis for an hour. Between the wind and the downpour, it was super fun! (*insert sarcasm here*) We called it a night in Englewood, Ohio, and passed out around 10 PM which is early for Michael and I.

May 17th - Over the next day, we made it through West Virginia and Virginia which seem to never end. I am not a big fan of the curvy roads and mountains. We made a detour North to spend a day with Michael's Aunt Diane and Shaun. We crashed that night at their house fairly early considering we were now in Eastern time (+1 hour) I think we called it a night at 9 PM central.

May 18th - We woke up the next morning to the glorious smell of breakfast wafting through the air. Diane woke up and made us all sourdough French toast with pecans on top. It was one of the most delicious breakfasts I have ever had, I’m licking my lips thinking about it. We continued visiting and soaked up the mountainous scenery and of course played with their baby piranha cough… I mean their chocolate lab, Amos, who was super fun and playful. Later that afternoon after a nap, we packed up the car again and headed for the beach house!

Amos

We arrived in Kill Devil Hills just in time for dinner. We surprised the rest of the family by coming down a day early. I got to meet his mom's side of the family which was cool. After dinner, Michael and I went to the beach to soak up the beautiful scenery around us. It was gorgeous and I loved relishing in the moment with him. He popped into my room later that night around 10 PM to ask if I wanted to go sit on the deck out on the beach. We listened to the peaceful and rhythmic ocean waves and looked out and admired the stars; I totally would have hit pause on that moment to live it a little longer.

Our view from the beach deck.

May 19th - I was able to watch dolphin pods eat their breakfast from the third-floor balcony. I don't think I have ever seen so many dolphins together before. In the afternoon, Dawn, Michael’s cousins and I swam out to a sandbar located about 15 feet from shore. We ended up getting creeped out on the sand bar because one of his cousins got pinched by a crab thinking it was a seashell. We were all doing the "something touched my foot" dance until we swam back to shore. I’m sure Michael and Mark were very entertained by the group. Dawn taught me what a sea flea was; how to find them and hold them properly. She showed me what a Skate was (google it), and how to rescue baby Blue Crabs that were upside down in the sand and put them safely back in the water.

May 20th- A Fiddler Crab was displeased that I was generously helping one of his little Blue Crab friends; he decided he was going to get revenge by running over my foot to show me who was in charge. Needless to say, I screamed like a little girl. Michael and his parents learned I can make that noise now, I was a little shocked at the fact too.

Fiddler Crab

May 21st - The four of us woke up early and cruised around local shops. We even grabbed ice cream as our second breakfast before we headed to Jockey's Ridge State Park for the morning. It was definitely a calf workout and we all felt it the next day, but the view was awesome! You could see both sides of the boundless ocean amidst the giant sand dunes.

May 22nd - As a Fire Explorer at my local department, I was ecstatic to see different fire trucks throughout our vacation. Did you know they even have department stores in the Outer Banks? We went shopping in Corolla and I came back with Corolla's department merchandise, I was a kid in a candy store! I have now created a habit of bringing back shirts, patches, and engine pictures from different departments as I travel.

Corolla Engine 62

We ended up heading back a day early so our last day at the beach was the 23rd. We weren't supposed to be back in town until the 26th. I didn't tell my family that we left early so I could surprise them when we rolled back into town. They were definitely surprised and ecstatic that I was home.

I can say that spending vacation with Michael was amazing. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to spend time with him and do more vacations as a couple in the future. This trip was a milestone for Michael and I as a couple, and a milestone in conquering and controlling my anxiety and OCD. I was able to step away from my anxiety and OCD and live in the moment and enjoy life. It didn’t magically get rid of it, but I was still able to live fully and have fun because I didn’t let it stop me. With Michael by my side reassuring me and being there for me as well as a lot of personal determination, I said yes to the trip. I had God with me; I had faith and trust he would protect me. I trusted Michael who was loving and supportive the entire trip, and both families reassuring me in my question and ultimate decision to go.

If I had to do it all over again, I would say yes in a heartbeat knowing all the good it has done for me since.