Although I’m originally from North Carolina and have been coming to the coast since I was little, one of the beaches my family never went to when I was growing up was Carolina Beach. From what I can remember, we went to Nags Head and Avon in the Outer Banks, Brunswick County beaches, specifically Holden Beach, and Wrightsville Beach maybe once or twice.

When I moved to Wilmington in January and wanted to go to the beach, I went to Wrightsville because that’s what I was familiar with, but then I started branching out to Carolina and Kure beaches because I made a friend who was renting a house in Kure.  

My family, who lives about four hours away, northwest of Charlotte, decided that for vacation, they wanted to come to me, which I was incredibly thankful for because I get scared driving through Charlotte, even though I bravely drove on Interstate 85 as a 16-year-old when I worked at my dad’s work in the summers. I have to admit, it felt weird packing my suitcase to go just 25 minutes down the road to Carolina Beach, but it felt like a blessing at the same time.

Here’s a look at how our vacation went.

A trip to the aquarium

Although I already went to the Aquarium at Fort Fisher before, we decided to go again.  

Every time I have been, I’ve left without regret. Even though I remembered most of what was in there from my last trip, it still didn’t change the cuteness overload of the otters when we walked into the first room. Last time I went, they were busy swimming around and doing flips in the water. This time, they were cuddled up on a log, snoozing. 

Hunting for shells

Inspired by our trip to the aquarium, where I got to learn more about the shells that can be found along the coast of North Carolina, I searched up and down the beach and found so many cool shells. I even found a piece of sea glass the day after my dad was talking about how he had never found any before and that he wanted to. I still don’t think that was a coincidence. 

I found a ton of beautiful calico scallop shells with so many unique markings and colors. I also found a bunch of thin pearlescent shells that look like mermaid scales, and they reminded me of the Aquamarine movie, which was my favorite when I was little. Aquamarine’s nails were pearly and changed colors depending on her mood. 

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Fishing traditions

Growing up, my dad took us out on his fishing boat in Lake Norman, so whether it was casting a line out at Lake Norman State Park or putting our waders on to trout fish in the streams of Avery of Watauga counties, my dad raised both my brother and I to never forget the basics. 

Although my brother knows a lot more than I do these days as fishing has been a continuous hobby of his, I am getting back into it. My dad brought down my rod that he bought for me years ago and we fished out at Fort Fisher’s Recreation Area where you can buy a pass to drive out on the beach. 

It reminded me a lot of the Outer Banks. I think most of the fish I caught were used for bait, but my dad fried up some of the croakers when he cooked our low country boil one night. My brother also caught a shark for the first time. It was a baby and my dad unhooked it and watched it swim back out. Of course, my mom, who is always cautious about getting in the water, was a little spooked after she realized that a shark was swimming that close to shore. 

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Made with love

One thing about my family, we know how to cook. My dad, who cooked us breakfast every morning we were on vacation, got teary-eyed after we ate the first morning and said that cooking breakfast for us was his favorite thing because with me moving away from home, it made him feel like we were all at home together again. 

I think it probably goes without saying, but I think I live in a pretty special place and I’m thankful I got to share it with my family. 

The Republican nominee for North Carolina superintendent called for mass arrests and suggested that former President Donald Trump activate the military to stay in power, in a now-deleted video posted after the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.

Michele Morrow, who is seeking the state’s top public education job, made the comments in a Facebook livestream first reported by CNN on Friday and archived by Say No To Extremists, a Carolina-based anti-Morrow group.

Morrow expressed ardent support for Trump in the video, calling for arrests of those who helped certify the 2020 presidential election. And she suggested that if those efforts fail, Trump should turn to the military to help him stay in office.

“And if the police won’t do it and the Department of Justice won’t do it, then he will have to enact the Insurrection Act,” Morrow said in the video. “In which case the Insurrection Act completely puts the Constitution to the side and says, now the military rules all.”

She added that “as long as (Trump) invokes the Insurrection Act before the inauguration, then he’s going to be re-inaugurated. He’s going to be put back in.”

According to public footage reviewed by CNN, Morrow was at the Capitol as the Jan. 6 riot occurred. There is no evidence that she entered the building, and she has not been charged with any crimes stemming from the events of the day.

In the livestream, she said she does “not promote breaking and entry” or “vandalism.” In an interview with the Charlotte Observer days after the riot, she said she was “frustrated and disgusted.”

Morrow’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the video Monday. She declined to speak on the matter to CNN.

“What North Carolina voters are concerned about is the education of our children,” Morrow said in a comment to the network.

Morrow, a registered nurse, activist and former school board candidate, has drawn prior scrutiny for her online activity. She wrote a series of posts on social media between 2019 and 2021 suggesting that former President Barack Obama be executed on live television, among other comments about national Democrats.

She defeated incumbent Catherine Truitt in a shocking upset earlier this year, and will face Democrat Mo Green on the ballot in November.

In a statement Monday, Green said Morrow’s comments set “a dangerous example” for students.

“The State Superintendent of Public Instruction leads the education of more than 1.3 million children in North Carolina; Michele Morrow does not have the experience or the temperament to run North Carolina’s public schools,” Green said.

“Her dangerous brand of political violence will harm our schools, our children and hurt our state’s economy. How can someone who called to set the United States Constitution aside swear an oath and be trusted to uphold that constitution if elected?”