Observations and Reflections of the Sea

The waves are large this morning

swelling and forming miniatures

of the great waves surfers are thrilled by.

A boarder is out standing on his 

and I marvel that he stayed aloft

as the swells turn him up

and then down.  He managed

to stay put until a juicy wave 

caught his eye

and he flattened out and caught

a little surfing action.

I stand at the fingers edge

of the ocean reaches 

as if it is stretching for the day

after a night of sleeping.

My feet get the royal spa treatment

as the salt water mixes with 

the fine abrasives.

I dig them into the soft white sand

intentionally appreciating natures 

loving caress.

It's a time to be in awe

at the exact place where God

says to the mighty sea,

"Here, and no farther".

It is humbling to know 

that even the wind and waves obey.

Is it no wonder that people

have been held captivated here

for centuries?

God is always at work around us.

It's a wonder to behold Him

at His work.

A crane with graceful long neck

is standing upon the rocks in

majestic glory.

He stands still for me

as I inch my way towards.

A couple of large seashells

are in crevices waiting to be found.

Inside are gastropod creatures 

with little things protruding 

that look like two googly eyes.

I throw them deep into the surf.

The tide is out so I can walk along 

the retracting wave water left behind.

So fun to follow it as it recedes

and then be just ahead as it returns.

Sometimes it's too quick

and it catches my feet.

And I laugh.

My hair is wildly soaking up

the moisture that exudes.

I always look like a wild woman,

Tarzans Jane perhaps?

Little tiny clams left exposed

by the retracting sea

scramble downward by the droves

into the wet and manipulative sand.

Then the waters crash over them

and leave them exposed yet again.

And the process goes on and on.

I wonder that they aren't thoroughly 

exhausted.

If you grab a bunch of them 

just as the wave leaves them there,

they try to bury themselves

into the palm of your hand.

It tickles as they nip your skin.

So much fun, I scoop up a few again.

The sun streams through the misty haze

along the shore 

and makes for some soft

filtered sun that turns skin 

to a nice light shade of tan

after you've been in it a little while.

Solitary is a pleasure here.

It's something about the treasures

you discover and the thoughts 

God shares along with the sounds

of the crashing waves.

I wish though to share my experience

with the many friends who never have.

I want to see what this place does

for their heart

and smile at their many discoveries.

Someday I will get some of them here.

I absolutely know it.

Oh beautiful Lido Key,

you bless me each and every time

I come, with your quaint and quiet,

old-world charm.

You beckon me to days of yesteryear

and renew sweet memories

of years gone by.

I look forward to visiting you again

another time.

(Written on the beach of Lido Key

on my last few moments here on

the morning of Christmas Eve, 2015)