I had the fortune to spend about 9 days in Maryland visiting family this summer. My parents were born in Baltimore, and most of my extended family still lives in Maryland (I also have family in California and Canada). Last year when we visited, Xena was traveling with Nancy & David to Iceland, so it was just Cam, my dad (Chuck) and myself. This year I was lucky to go with both Xena and Cam, and my dad.
We stayed at my aunt Norma and cousin Cindy’s house (in Baltimore) the first night we arrived. Our flight landed in the early afternoon, and my cousin Patrick picked us up from the airport. That first evening we had dinner at one of my dad’s favorite restaurants, an Italian place called The Olive Grove. They’re pretty well known for their seafood dishes and my dad usually gets something with crab. My cousins Cindy, Pat and his wife Cheryl, David, and my Aunt Norma, myself, my dad and Xena,Cam and I all went out to dinner. The last night we were in Maryland we went again – just my dad, the kids and I. Dad and Xena both ordered the Cream of Crab soup, which was almost like a bisque- very rich and delicious. Xena really liked it.
On Saturday July 30th we got up early and drove to Ocean City (it’s a little over 100 miles from Baltimore to OC). We stayed at The Harrison Apartments, an older building that is subject to a little deferred maintenance – funky, but a fun place to stay. We stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment on the first floor, and the rest of the family stayed up above in a larger apartment (3-bedroom) and an efficiency room on the 4th floor (where we had stayed last year). The building is 1 block off the boardwalk, on Baltimore Ave between 9th and 10th Streets.
While in Ocean City, we ate at The Brass Balls Saloon twice (my dad and I had lunch when we first arrived while the kids headed straight for the beach). We also had pizza at The Dough Roller. We got french fries a couple times (Cam and I) at Thrashers, and had fun tossing them to the seagulls (and I put one on my head, and a seagull got it – dared by my cousin-in-law Tom), and also held one in my hand and a seagull swooped in and took it from my hand. They wouldn’t take one out of my mouth, though.
That first day the beach was lovely. The waves were gentle and there was a nice breeze. The following day was also nice, but the waves were starting to get a little rougher. By Monday (August 1st), rain was forecast and it was a little cloudy in the morning, so Cam and I decided to go to the amusement park instead of the beach. We headed down the boardwalk around 11:30, and Trimper’s Rides opened at noon. Trimper’s is the older of the two amusement parks on the boardwalk, and I believe it’s where my parents had gone to when they were dating/first married. Specifically there is a ride there called the Tilt-A-Whirl that I have fond memories of – I remember going on it with my mom & dad, Grandma Frieda and Allyson back in 1978. Cam and I did the indoor activities until the outdoor rides opened at 3. Indoor rides were mostly for smaller kids, but they did have adult bumper cars and the carousel. Cam rode the bumper cars about 10 times, and we did the carousel about 5 times. Once the outdoor part opened, Cam went on the big roller coaster (The Tidal Wave, which has upside-down loops) 3 times, and several other rides that are challenging to the equilibrium (I deferred) – the Zipper, the Himalaya, another “sideways swingy thing” (per Cam) and something called The Freak Out (he didn’t). By this time it had started raining, so we were a little bit soaked. Around 4pm we decided to call it a day, as the wind had picked up and it was a true “east coast” rain storm (big drops). We ran over to the boardwalk tram stop and bought tickets to ride back up to our hotel (about a mile up the boardwalk). It was going to be a bit of a wait for the tram to get there, and I wanted to get ice cream so we trotted up to Dumser’s Dairyland. While we were there, the wind picked up even more and there was pea-sized hail mixed with the rain, as well as thunder and lightning. Luckily the ice cream stand had a covered area with bench seating where we could take shelter. As the wind got more intense (and by now the rain/hail was coming sideways), we hid behind a coke machine to attempt to stay dry. This was around 4:15 PM – then our phones emergency alert tone sounded, and we found out there was a tornado warning in effect until 5 PM. Xena (who was back at our hotel/apartment with everyone else) sent me a text asking where we were, and when would we be home. I let her know that we were ok, but stuck down at the end of the boardwalk. Around 4:25 PM the wind was really blowing strongly, and the hail was almost quarter-sized, and sharp – about the size of crushed ice you get in restaurants. The coke machine was no longer providing adequate protection, so we and the others we were hunkering down with decided to run a-few-at-a-time across the boardwalk (about 60 feet) to businesses that were offering better shelter. Cam and I ran through the wind, rain and hail getting pushed sideways – the hail (which was sharp!) hurt as it hit my head, arms and legs – one piece actually cut me. We ended up in a old-time photo/costume shop with about 15-20 people. A few young kids were there w/their parents, and one child was freaking out a bit thinking we were going to die. I told Cam I thought it was pretty exciting to be in a storm with a tornado warning. He disagreed. But I figure if we have to be stuck somewhere, at least we were warm and sheltered (even though we were soaked from running in the rain), AND we could dress up in costumes. Cam wasn’t impressed with my logic or sense of humor.
Around 5 PM the wind and rain settle down (no more hail, and the thunder and lightning had stopped) so we decided to hoof-it back to the apartment – the damn tram still wasn’t running. Cam said “Let’s run the whole way back!”. We ran (almost) a block, and then I had to rest so we would walk a block – about 11 blocks total. We made it back around 5:15, soaking wet and out-of-breath, but with a great story. Everyone else was inside when the storm had hit.
Pat and Cheryl showed up on Wednesday, Aug 3rd and brought a bunch of steamed crabs. We picked a bunch that night and the next, and then I made crab cakes on Friday morning for breakfast. I didn’t have the usual/traditional ingredients/seasonings but apparently I did ok improvising because my dad and cousin Barbara said they were really good. I used crab meat, 1 beaten egg, bread crumbs (crumbled hamburger bun), crushed Old Bay flavored potato chips, and french onion dip. I fried them in butter. My dad ate them on crackers w/yellow mustard.
Other things we did were rent bikes (recumbent “fun cycles” as well as an upright two-person Surrey), some of us girls got henna tatoos, went to the Funcade and played Skee-ball and other corny games, and spent time on the beach in the sun, shade, waves and sand. The best times were just being (and talking/laughing) with my family.
The last full day we were at the beach, Cindy, Cam and I went back down to the Old Time Photo place and Cindy and I had picturess taken (two gangster floozies on a hip old car).
I’m so glad to create these memories with not only my kids and dad, but with my cousins and aunt Norma. It was great to retell (and hear) old stories/memories, and to make new ones.
Jen Knapp, Realtor 
I love the picture! You look and sound so happy! I am glad you and Cam did not die in the storm…Pam