A circle of six canvas and wood beach chairs halfway between the waves and the sea grass covered dunes, in front of the beach club. Left over from last night, late last night. I've been walking for fifteen minutes this morning, time to sit and watch the ocean. Whitecaps as far out as I can see, very windy today.
A Moet-Chandon metal top is in the sand at my feet. And an empty green Heineken bottle. Don't you wonder what conversation took place here last night? They tried to clean up, but didn't get it all.
Aren't some moments magical? Stolen moments, spur-of-the-moment events. A handful of friends at the Beach Club's Opening Night party say, Hey let's go down sit by the water. They nonchalantly grab a bottle of champagne from the bar, a few plastic glasses too. As they walk through the party, they see two more friends, Hey join us we are going down to the beach. They come, carrying their Heinekens.
Out the wooden boardwalk, down the stairs, finding chairs leaned up against the posts at the bottom. Pull six into a circle, sit down and quiet for a few seconds. Then laughter, so did you see Joan's mom, is that a bad face job or what? So how was yesterday's shoot, bag any ducks? On and on and on.
Did they realize how magical that moment was?
I remember sitting on the beach at night. Decades ago. Another life. You wanted to dodge the crabs cleaning out their holes and finding midnight snacks. Which is fine, they want to dodge you too. The whitecaps are lit up by moonlight. Colors are serene and so deep. Listen to the crashing waves. Relentless, peaceful, powerful. Powerful.
Whoever you are with, you are open. You are calmed and nourished by the surroundings. You don't chat, you idly talk. Conversation follows a flowing path when you are in the presence of peaceful power. Looking at a mountain view from a back porch's rocking chair, looking at a lake from a mesh chair in the middle of a lawn, looking at a fire from a comfy sofa. Nature's power. God's power.
Last night's party we all went to was a wonderful party. I had been out to the Golf Club for lunch, and napped on and off all afternoon watching college football. Unfortunately I hit the wall at the party last night, too many people, too loud, too much stimulus for me it felt like. I can't stand seafood or fish. The only food served that was not seafood were wings, so I ate four. Really. Apologies to all you who love wings, but blah. Even the salads had crab or tuna in them. The centerpieces were horizontal columns of seaweed and real seahorses. That was cool. What a band, three violins, cello, keyboard. That was cool too. After thirty minutes I had to leave, broke up the whole thing for the fam. I insisted they stay, they didn't. I just couldn't take it, my whole body was rebelling by shutting down.
Fashion note, ninety five percent of the women were wearing black pants, ninety percent of the men were wearing khaki pants and blue blazer. Seventy five percent of the women had shorter-than-shoulder length blonde or frosted hair. Only five percent of the women had high heels. Ten percent of the women had frogs on their jackets or jewelry. Ninety percent of the women wore gold not silver jewelry.
Came back to the guest house, to bed, to sleep. Not good company for others. Just wanted to be quiet.
Feeling so much better today. Took my walk on the beach, saw the gulls and pelicans and today saw a few sandpipers and a heron (it was flying, never landed.)
Thank you Lord for all the moments you give us. Some are easier to thank you for than others. Moments on the beach make the Top Ten List.
Life is beautiful!
