Peace & Quiet

Imagine a peaceful place.

The smell of salty water and coconut-scented sunscreen. The feel of grainy sand clinging to oily skin. Buried toes, getting softer. Better than a pedicure. The warmth of a bright sun shining down. (I hope I’m not burning.) The cold big waves crashing. Scary and thrilling and refreshing.

Again. The wave ebbs and flows. Some like a ripple. “Now, here comes a big one!” It’s stunning. There it goes again. Bigger than any of us could ever be. Linking to an ocean that can be seen from space. That will live past this era.

Laughter all around. Splashing. Umbrellas. Towels. All bodies. No one seems to care how size fits into a bathing suit. (Only me.)

Long days. Eyes closed, lying down. This is the life. These are the moments why we are here. Take a deep breath and drink it in — it won’t last forever. Soon we will pack up, crumble up the towel for washing. Dust sand off our feet, shove them into flip flops, and head to the car, knowing the remnants will track with us into the seats.

Now my mind is focused on the shower, the ending of a beautiful day, the return back to the mundane.

Our trip to the beach is over. When will we go back?