Are you ready for it?

This place will always have a special place in my heart.

Growing up in Orlando, it was THE beach to go to. If you were in the in crowd or the out crowd, you went.

I went a lot!

My brother was a surfer. So we went more than we would’ve preferred some summers, if we’re being real.

Before he got his license, my mom and I had to go to the beach. All. The. Time.

But that’s the kind of family we are. We’re loyal. We chase happiness. We have each others backs.

My brother was an adventure seeeker. That phrase doesn’t come close to describing him. I’m not sure if any term or phrase ever will.

That’s why, after he died on July 25, 2010, I dubbed the phrase #LiveLikeBentley.

His zest for life was unmatched. He pushed everyone around him to chase their dreams, no matter what the cost. After all, we only have one chance at this thing called life.

Maybe you are starting to understand why I am the way that I am.

Maybe not.

A lot of people don’t. A lot of people never will!

I live my life as full as I can every day to honor my brother and father. I am carrying on their legacy.

I am doing exactly what they want me to do.

He had several near drownings in NSB. That stings. But being there brings me close to him.

It brings my mom close to him, too.

So during the craziest part of Covid-19, what did she do?

She bought a condo there, obviously. It was absolutely stunning.

Minorca Condominiums. The furthest north of the inlet, before Smyrna Dunes Park and the dog beach, all state protected land.

It was like the scene out of a movie set. We may not have had a yard, or a high rise ocean front view, but we had a killer, oversized balcony.

Our dog, Tobey, could play and chase his tennis ball out there. That’s how big it was!

More to come on our many adventures tearing up New Smyrna Beach… We’re just getting warmed up.