Random act of...Did you really just do that?

It was the end of July, and a beautiful day on the beach in Southeast Maryland. The sun was shining, a warm breeze blowing, and thousands of vacationers had flocked to the ocean's edge for what was sure to be the peak of the summer...the last opportunity for many to vacation before beginning to prepare for "Back to School" events, be it sports practice, school shopping, or other.

It was on this day, that we trekked down to the beach around 9am to meet friends, stake our spot, and begin digging the trench that would later surround the day's castle. Between us, our friends, and their family, six kids stood jumping around, shreaking with excitement in the sand. Mr. Eric was the man of the hour. The kids all brought him buckets full of water, as he constructed the "Greatest Castle" on the beach. With each pylon built, the kids would shout with joy..."Mommy, Daddy, Look at the castle!" The two older kids had to have a hand in it...Addie meticulously raking footprints from the perimeter, while little Patrick helped his Dad pat down the walls. The kids were so proud of the final product!

As the day went on, Mr Eric erected a wall to keep out the rising tide, and envious children paced back and forth with their Dad's requesting a castle of their own. It had been an amazing fun filled day until...

...The woman in the "red shirt" appeared with her two children (center above...I wish I would have been on the beach when it happened to get a better picture).

Now, all of us having kids ourselves have been witness to tantrums...children who refuse to listen to their parents. However, we would like to think when these events occur, that we (unlike this woman) have enough sense to remove the child(ren) from the situation and remind them of the inappropriate behavior and the consequence that will ensue if continued (if you know what I mean). This woman did not have this sense. What happened next left us all (and the others on the beach) appalled.

This woman's kids ran down to the water's edge just in front of the castle, fully clothed with socks and shoes, proving they had arrived after a lengthy car ride. With one glance of the castle her kids were on it, breaking down the very walls it took most of the morning to build. The woman asked her kids multiple times to stop, but received no acknowledgement in return. Therefore, our family friend kindly asked the woman, "Could you please ask your children not to play with the walls. My brother-in-law put a lot of work into those walls this morning, and my daughter is getting upset watching them crumble." With that, the woman took a leaping belly flop onto the castle, and said, "Screw your castle."

Did you really just do that? he said, removing his daughter from the beach in tears, both in disbelief of what had just occurred.

After sharing the news of the bellyflop with his brother back at the beach house, the castle's architect returned to confront the woman. A yelling match ensued, with the woman claiming, "You don't own the beach. Why don't you go find a private beach to build your castle on." "I am a pharmacist, and I make more than anyone on this beach."

Lesson for the day: Lady, money doesn't by class, and today you proved it for all to witness.

Every time I share this story, I shake my head in disbelief. No length of car ride or amount of unruly children would ever cause me (or anyone I know) to pounce a child's sand castle.

Did she really do that? Oh, yes, she did.