The sand between my toes…

The sand between my toes…

It’s Saturday, sunny, and I’m  enjoying the sounds and beauty of the beach.  I can only think of a couple things that I’d rather be doing than this (spending time with my grand babies is always my first choice).  I’ve always been fascinated with the ocean/beach and have spent countless days enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays.  As a child, my family trips to the beach were limited and our interactions with the salty liquid amounted to ankle-high walks along the shoreline as my father’s own past history hindered our own experiences.

Living within 20 miles of Southern California beaches, as a teenager several of my girlfriends and I would spend summer days enjoying the sun, water, food and laughter.  Most of our time was spent talking and eating snacks all day, with an occasional dip in the water to cool ourselves from the hot sun and wash off the gritty sand which was clinging to our sweaty bodies.  We always had a wonderful time and looked forward to our next beach adventure.

My own children’s beach experiences were limited as my husband’s job took us out of California but we lived within a few miles of Lake Tahoe.  Our family spent many days enjoying the tranquility and beauty of this magnificent body of water.  The clear, clean water was spectacular but the overall experience was quite different from the ones I had so dearly loved in my youth.  Gone were the sounds of waves and the salty smell of water, but instead replaced with quiet sounds and the strong smell of pine trees. Now I’m certainly not dismissing this wonderful backdrop on a beautiful summer day, but for me the overall experience did not measure up to my beach events.

As our children grew and left for college, my husband and I often took day or weekend trips to the California coast, to once again, experience the sand between our toes, the ocean air and aroma and the peacefulness that we both enjoyed!  One beach vacation involved a 3-day stay on the southern Oregon coast; the attire on this trip however, was not swimsuits, but raincoats…the entire time!  Although I love warm weather (70-80 degrees), oftentimes weather along the coast can be unpredictable and can be cold and foggy.  Needless to say on this trip I was a bit disappointed with the weather but my overall rating on my “calmness” scale was still relatively high.

Now as a grandmother I have spent many days enjoying my granddaughters as they frolic and play      on the beaches of Southern California.  For several years I had not worn a swimsuit in public due to my growing age and tummy, but when I’m with those little girls, worrying about how I look is the farthest thing from my mind!  We run into the water, run away from the waves, dig in the sand with  plastic toys and make an occasional sandcastle.  Although most of the time it seems that everyone within a 30-mile radius had the same idea about spending their day at the beach, and your real estate for the day may only comprise of a 2’x6′ space of sand, my body and soul seem to be refreshed and calmed by this experience that feeds my “senses”.

So today, the first Saturday in February, I am sitting in my beach chair, wearing capris, t-shirt and flip-flops, listening to the waves crash on the Gulf shore, enjoying the sounds of the seagulls, taking in the smells of the salty ocean and wondering if my husband will be successful in catching our dinner tonight.  There’s just something so fascinating about watching the waves roll in and crash!  The repetition of this cycle is simply amazing to me and I could spend all day enjoying this simple, but complicated act, repeat itself thousands of times.

My “go to place” is the beach.  It calms and refreshes me and gives me a chance to clear my mind

.   I hope that you, too, have a place where you can visit that “feeds your soul”, relaxes you, recharges your batteries and you can let go of all your worries and concerns.   If you don’t, keep looking, there’s a place out there!

Until next time,

Judy