Ashore
People at Pigeon Point Beach — and all over the world — love to watch the sea.
Tobago, March 2010
The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be—
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea. — Robert Frost
I haven’t been to the seashore in awhile, and I’m missing it. Carla, Matt and I enjoyed a late breakfast at the Belvedere recently, but we didn’t have enough time to get out on the beach. I actually enjoy the beach more when it isn’t so hot outside, but something about summer seems to call for gazing out at the ocean. Since I’m not planning to go there in person, I can visit in my mind, and as a bonus, I’ll be avoiding the crowds and sunburn and sand in my shoes.
Want a quick break? Join me for some virtual beach therapy. We can watch the waves in Melbourne, Florida:
Or meditate to the mesmerizing surf on the rocky California coast:
Or catch the sunset at the beach pictured above, Pigeon Point in Tobago:
OK, I guess it’s time to get back to work…Sheila, I’ll join you for our imaginary meeting at Club Verandah (aka Chez Vann) this evening to enjoy your ocean views! Have the iced tea ready, and I’ll bring some freezing-cold watermelon. Sorry, Raynard’s chocolate/coffee/caramel cake is all gone now!
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: beach, calming, contemplation, meditation, ocean, sand, seashore, serenity, summer, surf, water, waves
Defeat Despair 
Good Monday morning, Julia. 🌅 I’m so sorry that I’m not home this morning! We actually boarded Jack AND Walter and are on vacation! We’re in North Myrtle Beach, 30 minutes from Garden City. 7 family members from Florida and North Carolina are vacationing here so we’re spending days on the beach and good meals together and LAUGHTER. Ummm, maybe that extra chair under the umbrella was reserved for you and I just didn’t realize it! 😎
What a beautiful Monday post. ☕️🌊
Thank you, Sheila! Yes, that was my extra chair. 😀 I am so happy to hear about your wonderful get-together! I hope that the crowds are thinning out a it as it gets closer to a new school year in some parts of the country. This morning Jeff said it was still dark when he got up, for the first time since last year. The summer is waning, but there’s still time to get in some fun. Thanks for stopping by today. The nice thing about Club Verandah is that it’s totally portable. 😉
I loved the virtual ocean breezes! I pray you and the family are well. Love and Light. Cherie
Thank you, Cherie — I’m so happy you liked it. We are doing pretty well, nothing big to report — which is a blessing, as I’m sure you understand. 🙂 Hope you and Ron have a wonderful week.
Great, Julia.
How soothing.
Power in the hands of man often corrupts and harms. Power which radiates from the Hands of God heals and comforts.
Thanks for the peaceful respite.
-Alan
You’re welcome, Alan. The sheer vastness and might of the sea would be intimidating to me, I think, if I didn’t feel connected to the One who controls it. Seen in that light, it is indeed a comfort and a source of healing.
For a bunch of years I worked for a Dutch multinational company. They insisted (and the Dutch are good at ensuring compliance!) that when an expatriated employee went on “holiday” that they went for at least two weeks, no access or phoning to the office. All that ensured is that on about day 4 of vacation, I had worried myself into a hole out of which I couldn’t crawl until I returned.
Now, I go for four or five days at a time (next Thursday, whohoo!), take everything, check in periodically, return emails, whatever. I don’t mind, they don’t mind or at least they say they don’t. I can do all the walking, ocean gazing, napping, eating, reading I want, still feel needed at the office and am on a legit vacation. Yikes, though, what will retirement be like?I have a feeling is sounds better than it is??
Jack, I wish I could say that I’m the diligent sort who understands how you might be agitated about what is going on at work. I’m sure Jeff would sympathize. However, I LOVE the idea of working for a company that insisted I disappear for at least two weeks! 😀 I suppose as a mother I have felt a similar anxiety when separated from my children, but I’ve never been in a paid job so important that I couldn’t go missing quite happily. Having said that, I do think that one giant advantage to technology has been the ability to connect easily WHEN NEEDED, from pretty much anywhere — but it’s a two-edged sword to be always on call. I think the toughest thing about being Matt’s mom/advocate/primary caregiver is that it’s really a 24/7 job, but having the knowledge that I CAN be reached in an emergency has given me more freedom, at least psychologically. As to retirement, I have no doubt that you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you will find to do. My sister and I were just talking about how busy our Daddy has stayed since he retired in 1988. We all worried at how he might handle retiring — he loved flying and always said they would have to drag him kicking and screaming away from the cockpit — but he has probably stayed as busy since retirement as he was before. Not that that had anything to do with my MOM’s ideas of what needed to be done! Let’s just say: practice “looking busy.” 😀
I could listen all day to these sounds. I love to be at the beach and just watch and listen. We were going down to Orange beach in late spring, weather didn’t look to great so we decided not to, glad we didn’t, rained all week. My doctors visit went well. Two more weeks in sling and then x-ray. He is hoping for great healing. The pain is better, just can’t do anything. Driving me crazy. I will be okay. You all have a great week. Hugs and love to my friends.
Carolyn, I think summertime would be a terrible time to be in a sling, so I hope you will heal quickly and easily. I’m very happy to hear that your doctor is optimistic. Just think how free you will feel when everything is back to normal. For now, try to “lay low” and stay where it’s cool! Thanks for taking the time to check in here and let us know how you are doing. Sending you love and prayers!
Good morning, Julia! I’m smiling again – thanks for bringing up the sea. It’s amazingly therapeutic. I took some video of the ocean during a snow storm, and even that was somehow calming. It’s as if the vastness of the ocean had the capacity to soak away worries.
This week I was inexplicably compelled to purchase a wheeled duffle … similar to one of borrowed for a sailing trip … I wonder why …. 🙂
Hi Susan, I hope that wheeled duffle will accompany you on many adventures! Jeff and I went to eat at the Belvedere one rare snowy day in Virginia Beach. You’re right, the ocean is just as impressive (maybe more so) in the snow. I guess that’s a sight you see fairly often, but for us it was totally new. Hope you are having a great week!