Life at the Beach

Life at the Beach

“In a hundred years this all won’t matter….how you played the game…” (Jimmy Buffett)

Walking barefoot down the hard abrasive cement steps past the hotel restaurant, I observe a young female employee hosing down the multi-colored plastic beach chairs readying the beach bar for the morning breakfast crowd.  We exchange “good morning” greetings as I continue my casual stroll towards a small wooden walkway which leads me to my desired destination – The Beach.

Stepping on the beach, the cool dark colored sand immediately sends chemical electrodes to my brain which my heart immediately interprets as “I’m Now Happy”.

It is dawn. I gaze upward to witness a larger than life painting in the sky consisting of indigo, crimson and white clouds frozen in time high above the Atlantic Ocean.  Sandpipers play in the surf at my feet, using their small legs to race away from the oncoming surf, much like little kids running away from incoming waves.  At a nearby jetty, a relentless stream of waves crash into the dark black and lime green moss covered rocks, causing large white blasts of ocean spray to explode into the air like fireworks.  Mesmerized I watch these proceedings continue, occasionally breaking my daydream only to glance up at the sky in anticipation of the sun’s scheduled appearance at 5:53am.

Instinctively, my camera’s lens follow the ocean waves rolling towards the jetty, then upwards to the sky now a canvas of pale blue and pink hues.  Suddenly on the other side of the world, a faint orange half circle appears on the horizon. For a brief moment time stands still, minutes later a perfectly formed bright orange ball rises from the bottom of the sea.  The salt air fills my lungs while the music of the ocean fills my ears.  As if I needed any physical evidence, I stand on this beach bearing witness to a brand new day.

I continue to walk slowly north on the island foolishly believing that if I can walk far enough and fast enough towards the sun, it will eventually be within my mortal grasp.  However, with each step I take towards the sun, the sun slowly inches further up into the heavens.  My feet quietly splash the warm shallow foamy water at the place where the wave meets its eventual demise in firm sand to my left.  These simultaneous sensations bring me simple pleasures that are extremely difficult to explain to the unenlightened beachcomber.  My five senses are suddenly in sync with the rhythm of the ocean and sun.  I find myself alone, but somehow connected to all that surrounds me.

My camera remains randomly pointed at the sky, ocean and shoreline looking to capture unique images of life at the beach.   While I hope to witness and capture some amazing beach image with my camera, I am more than satisfied to walk this beach this morning.  I am content to photograph what the “Beach Gods” will give me this morning.

An older gentleman dressed in jeans, a long sleeve sweatshirt and floppy beach hat approaches me busily scanning the soft white sand with a metal detector.  We acknowledge each other with a quick nod.  Is he looking for money or a misplaced watch? Or perhaps he is not concerned with these material things, but instead takes solace in being outside in the elements today simply basking in the abundant sunshine and salt air?  Maybe he is never really concerned with his “find” but only thankful to walk this beach like me. 

Beachcombers in all shapes and sizes, alone and often in groups of two pass me as I walk alone in the opposite direction.  Many are runners and walkers seemingly concerned with exercise.  The serious ones barely notice me, no doubt focused on their personal fitness goals and times as they speed on by.  However, the casual athletes will nod and say “good morning”.  Are they running/walking to get their heart rate to an optimal “level” or is this morning’s run or walk more about “escape”, both literally and figuratively.  Are they searching for the natural high that is found in “letting go” or the satisfaction of bettering their previous times.  Maybe they will attain both goals this morning?

Eventually I make landfall at the 10^th street life guard station.  Climbing up my own personal wooden “fort”, this will serve as my new vantage point, allowing me to witness the beach world around me, raising my camera to my eye when the moment moves me.

Sitting in my life guard stand, I acknowledge my fellow early morning beachcombers as they pass me by. They in turn acknowledge me.  I sense each one of us is searching for something today. The sun is up and the doctor is in. For me, another beach therapy session has begun.  Scott – remember to breathe.  Ahhhhhh......

The city worker responsible for grooming the sand before the sun worshippers inhabit the beach in just a few hours waves to me as he drives by.  I return his wave.  Performing a task that would make Sisyphus smile, he could not be more content, driving his oversize truck up and down the beach.  Maybe he was that kid with the red Tonka truck now getting to live out his childhood dreams all these years later?  Where do I sign up for this gig?

Two young surfers walk past me, giving me no mind, intently focused on the waves directly in front of them.  A few minutes later, a middle-aged fisherman has begun to setup his surf fishing equipment to my left, carefully going through his checklist of specified procedures before making his first cast of the morning.  Both groups enjoying the “off-hours” freedoms the beach offers before the life guards and beach rules take effect.  The pure joy of being able to enjoy a hobby or pursuit without some “stupid” rules.

Just when I’m ready to head back to the resort, an older couple walking hand-in-hand catches my attention.  Their beach chairs slung over their shoulders, carefully carrying their Wawa coffee and morning newspapers they stroll by.  Catching each other’s glance, we wish each other a good morning.  I watch them as they walk directly to the shoreline marked by the presence of low tide.  He fixes her chair and within minutes they are seated escaping into this “we’re the only people in the world” existence. 

Would the health that Marie and I currently maintain allow us to do this very same thing in another 20 years when we are staring down 50 years of wedded bliss in our early 70s?  I can only pray that we will.  I think to myself…”there will certainly be a time in my life when I will not be able to walk this beach, and I’m thankful that day is not today”.

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The 14^th street life guards now standing in their stations blow their collective whistles signaling the end of their shift.  The beach exhales.  In this exact moment, the hot summer day relinquishes its control to the cool summer night.  Gone is the hot summer sun, replaced by a cool ocean breeze.  The torch has been passed.  The night awaits us beachcombers.

Dusk will soon arrive and we beachcombers will be transformed.  Slowly one by one, the beach people trudge by my beach chair, making their way back to their respective homes, hotels and cars to begin this nighty ritual.  Bikinis and board shorts will soon be replaced by cotton summer dresses and pink floral shirts. Within a few hours, a new gathering of beachcombers will happen over Margaritas and Coronas.  The energy that we conserved relaxing on the beach today will be expended in the bars and restaurants tonight.  Suddenly recharged we race into the unknown darkness.  Memories made by the ocean today will be celebrated late into the night. 

It remains a mystery why we are drawn to the Beach.  However, we all seek out the beach for different reasons and we all leave the beach with different memories.  Maybe that is the magic of this special place?  Maybe we are not supposed to know or understand this magic spell that is cast over us when we reach these sandy shores.  This oasis where our problems can be put on hold (temporarily), where family and friends can interact and connect amid this high tech world in which we live, where the dreamers can still dream and the seekers can still seek.  The beach offers us freedom in a world where we are increasing controlled by deadlines and tethered to technological devices that often reinforce those restrictions and limitations.  The beach lets us forget this “programming” if for only 24 to 48 hours.  

My sun from 12 hours ago that had originally started its daily path over my left shoulder high above the ocean, is now behind me starting its slow decent over the bay. The wind is brisk and feels good on my sun baked and sandy body. The beach once active is now calm, ready to take its rest before its encore performance tomorrow, and the day after and the day after that. Tomorrow, it will entertain a whole new group of beachcombers. For now we are left with only our photos and memories to mark this moment in time.

And so it goes....life at the beach.

Someday I will experience this world on a daily basis……….

Scott & Marie

Lauren 1 & Lauren 2

Brigantine Beach

July 2013