Grandma Sees Ocean For First Time at Age 87 — Her Pure Joy Is Everything

Dorothy Mae Hendricks, 87, grew up in rural Kansas and spent her entire life within 200 miles of where she was born. She had one bucket list item she’d never been able to check off: see the ocean. Last month, her grandchildren surprised her with a trip to Santa Monica. Her reaction to seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time has since become one of the most-watched videos in the world.

The Moment

Dorothy is led toward the beach wearing a blindfold. When it’s removed, she stands completely still for almost 10 seconds — hands clasped, lips pressed together. Then she whispers: “Lord almighty.” She walked to the water’s edge, sat down in her dress clothes, and let the waves wash over her shoes. She stayed there for 45 minutes.

What She Said Afterward

“I always thought the pictures were exaggerating,” Dorothy told her granddaughter afterward. “They weren’t. If anything, they didn’t do it justice. It’s just so much… so much of it.”

The Internet’s Response

The video has been shared by millions of people with captions like “This is why you do it. This is exactly why.” Multiple travel companies have since reached out to the family offering future trips. Dorothy is reportedly already planning her next visit.