"We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean."
John F. Kennedy
There are few places in this world as sacred as the beach. Any beach, be it lake, river or pond. But to me the most reverent of chair communion belongs on the beach in front of the sea.
It’s not the same as the camaraderie of chairs at a ball park, parade or pee-wee football game where sassy little cheerleaders yell for, well, everything. The chairs at the pool aren’t the same either. They have their charm, but the feeling I’m talking about is a feeling of contemplation, a type of meditation, or simply just sitting in front of something mighty.
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
Jacques Cousteau
When you’re looking for your spot on the beach you may pass people. You nod to acknowledge them and head to your pew. It’s a place where the sounds of silence is loud. There’s no talking, unless it is 100% consensual. Every now and again you may point at something just in case they didn’t see.
The most memorable times are at sunset, or sunrise sitting in a special chair with my feet buried in the sand. A sand crab skitters past and a seagull looks for food. The waves crash then kiss the beach. They retreat immediately due to shyness. As they head out the wave leaves you with sounds of shells or rocks crackling. A love note for you to remember it by until it returns. There is no app on Earth that can capture this sound.
What can be more powerful than the ocean? In all ways. She can also be calm. Serene. Playful. She’s where you go to let loose and think of nothing and everything. She’s a place where you look for sea life, or perhaps you’ll be the lucky soul and see a mermaid. Therein lies the magic. You never know what you will find in your beach chair.
My scanner doesn’t do this image justice. It’s a card from the artist Patrizia Arroyo. Go look at her work here.
Perhaps when you sit on the beach you’ll have a view like this. Well, you might see the whale but this particular view can only be seen by boat. It’s the Nepali Coast on Kaua’i. Those green craters are called the cathedrals. It’s stunning and the greens, the greens infiltrate you. They rejuvenate you. They make you feel fresh. I could go on and on, but I won’t. I’ll let Henry Wadsworth Longfellow close.
"Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!"
My unsolicited advice to you is pack a cooler, grab a chair, perhaps an umbrella and get to the nearest beach. If you don’t have a chair, grab a blanket, a towel, sit on the bed of a truck, or just plop down in the sand. I promise you’ll catch a glimpse of glory, or at the very least your blood pressure will go down.
Don’t forget your reef safe sunscreen.
Tootle loo,
Kelly