No Boardwalk Fun Until March 13th?

Just another February weekend in Ocean City. Valentine's Day. Boat Show. Sunshine and temperature outperforming expectations.

Sign on the Boardwalk: "The Fun Begins March 13, 2009." That would be the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

You mean we were supposed to wait?

If there was an embargo on fun until March, several thousand people violated it this weekend. You got that right. Thousands of people were having fun in the sun on the Boardwalk on Saturday and Sunday. (Not dozens, not hundreds, thousands. I am not exaggerating.) Not to mention the people having fun at the Boat Show in the Convention Center.
Another sign on the Boardwalk hit the mark: "2009 Grand Opening This Saturday and Sunday. Fly On In" at the Kite Loft. (Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.) Sure enough, much of the Boardwalk was open. Fishers Popcorn had a line of customers. Thrasher's had a long line. I have pictures to prove it.

I should have tried for a picture of the rambunctious German Shepherd, fetching a tennis ball on the beach. This dog was beside himself. Time after time, he chased the ball down at full speed, scooped it from the sand without slowing, and proudly raced back to its owner. Unleashed exuberance! You cannot capture that kind of pure, animal joy with a camera, let alone words.

Who do you think is having more fun? A banker on Wall Street with a million-dollar bonus? Or a dog on the beach with a mouthful of sand?