Quite a number of friends have begun to call me their favorite beach bum. I was beginning to question whether the description fit when I realized that I haven't so much as glanced at a pair of shoes other than my two pairs of flip-flops since sometime in June. (Until last night's date night, that is, and I ended up with blisters. Figures.) Combine that with weekly (or more) trips to the beach, a growing seashell collection, and a new affinity for the cycle of the tides and the rhythm of the ocean, I'm accepting that the label isn't about laziness -- it's about attitude.
We journeyed to the beach again this morning, early, before the sun burned away the reprieve brought by last night's storm. We go so often on Sunday mornings that I'm beginning to call it church, as it has the same effect on me as a thoughtful service: contemplation, fellowship with my family, acting as a reset button for the start of a new week. We swim, we sit on the shore and let the waves knock us around gently, we dig our feet in the sand. Breathing. Content.
Today, I walked, alone, down the stretch of the beach that I hadn't explored before. The tide had peaked before our arrival, and the waves were in the phase of slack tide -- breaking closely together near shore, looking rough but without much momentum to push toward shore. As I walked, I made the conscious decision to pay attention. That's it: just pay attention.
In doing so, I found myself enjoying the saline sting of water on the blisters of my heels. The warmth of the sun on the back of my neck. The tickle of my hair blowing in my face. The subtle butterflies of movement in my belly as the new baby danced to the sound of the sea. The way that the seafoam abandoned by waves gets pushed around by the wind. Watching a young couple press wet bodies together in the surf. Laughing at the little girl chasing her bodyboard as it tumbled in the wind.
When I returned to Ron and Claire, I found myself tuned in. Claire and I played "beach spa" while Ron swam. She rubbed my legs with sand, exfoliating, and dumped sandy water in my hair in a shampoo au natural. By the end of our session, we were both sticky with sand, salt water and sunscreen, and we were beautiful.
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Inspired in part by last week's Mama Says Om theme: sticky.
That is just lovely my friend.
I am looking forward to our beach trip in October down to my dad's condo. We always feel refreshed when we see, smell, and feel the ocean.
Posted by: Jamie | August 12, 2007 at 04:18 PM
This was so beautifully done that I felt like I was right there on the beach too. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Steph. | August 12, 2007 at 04:32 PM
I KNEW you were beautiful, and now you have confirmed it. Hoo boy.
Posted by: Old Horsetail Snake | August 12, 2007 at 08:20 PM
I love this post! Sweet and beautiful. I think we all need to take more time to pay attention.
Posted by: Heather | August 13, 2007 at 08:45 AM
I wish I could love the beach as much as you. You really do make it sound perfect!
Posted by: Elaine | August 13, 2007 at 07:15 PM