For months and months Andy studied for the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 1 exam. There were late nights, lots of coffee, bloodshot eyes, and even a few tears. On top of that, we were experiencing one of the worst winters ever, with snow totals at 110.6 inches, breaking the all time Massachusetts record.

We needed the sun.

California was calling our hearts and our souls. Two days after Andy took the exam, we packed up our swimsuits and flew 3000 miles to the West Coast. La Jolla is a neighborhood in San Diego, and when we arrived, we couldn’t believe our eyes. The cliffs surrounding the beach were serene. The peaceful sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks was exactly what we needed to hear. This place is the definition of beauty.

These beautiful Sea Lions littered the beach.


Andy sporting a full beard!