Not every night, but often enough, after dinner, we head to the beach. Some days the waves are big, and Seth is happy. He lives for riding the big ones. Some days the waves are gentle and Riley is happy. She likes to leisurely bob and float. I never knew how varied the ocean was day to day, before living so close to it.
It is less work for me to go to the beach here, than it was to go to the public pool in Cleveland. I bring nothing but towels, and quarters for the parking meter. When we are done we hose off our feet at the outdoor shower, go home wet, sitting on our towels in the car. No worries. We change into pajamas when we get home. Easy.
What gets me every time is the evening sky. We are on the east side of FL so we don’t get the sunset directly over the ocean, but it colors the sky in glorious ways. The cloud formations are vast and just before the sun disappears, there are pinks so neon, it feels otherworldly.
Yesterday evening, Riley, Seth and I were bobbing on the gentle waves, kneeling so just our heads were out of the water. They both faced me, and behind them was a sky of such beauty, pink and white and blue and grey. I didn’t have my camera but the photo above was from another recent night, similar.
I had to shake cobwebs out of my head, is this real? The three of us turned slowly, 360 degrees, taking in the view. The clouds, the waves, the sand, palm tree silohettes, back around, and the sky, the blazing pink!
Their faces, so bright and happy, as beautiful and shiny as the masterpiece sky behind them.
The pink only lasts about ten minutes. Their childhoods whiz by.
Let me remember this time. Let me remember their faces, who they are, Seth at 10, Riley at 13.
“The summer that I was 10 – Can it be there was only one summer that I was 10? It must have been a long one then.” May Swenson
So glad you are in this lovely place where you can find the serenity every night if you wish. I suspect you will all remember these times fondly.
Oh, you painted a word picture, and it is beautiful. I won’t ever forget it, I think, and I’m so happy for all of you.
This is so sweet. Do you know about the green flash? My dad lives n the opposite coast of Florida so we see sunsets. We always wait for the green flash. My dad and mom saw it once in Florida but I keep waiting. You can also see it at sunrise and it is supposed to be very lucky and special. I wish you all love and happiness. And yeah – driving in Florida is nerve wracking to say the least!
Love the picture you have painted!
Beautiful.
Amen!
Just beautiful.
Love.
Dear Michelle, this is a lovely posting. Anne Marrow Lindberg wrote the following lines in her book of poetry entitled “The Unicorn.” –“For beauty, for significance, it’s space we need; and since we have no space today in which to frame the act, the word, the face of beauty, it’s no longer beautiful.” But you have found the space to frame the face of beauty. Not only the beauty of a Florida sky but that of Seth and Riley. The freedom of the sky frames their faces and hallows them in your heart. Peace.
What a gorgeous moment. I’m so glad you are there, experiencing this, embracing it. Love.