by Kary Wright

Created on: February 17, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Taught By The Beach

'My investments have gone for crap, now how will I retire?'

'The economy is cratering, and all those damn politicians can think of is ...'

The crashing of a wave on the shore jolts me into the present moment, but my mind resists, 'The kids will never be able to pull this country out of this sh...'

Another loud is crash followed by the scream of a seagull searching for his next meal. Squinting into the early morning sun I can make out his streamlined form tracing graceful circles against a deep blue cloudless sky.

My brow furls as I try to remember what I was thinking about.

Oh yes, the economy. 'And that damn foreign policy I disagree with. Why don't they ...'

"Good morning," rings out from behind. Turning, I'm met by a slim, sun-tanned retirement-aged couple bounding across the powdery sand. "Perfect day again! It sure beats Oklahoma right now!"

"Good morning," I manage to reply, 'I guess maybe it is a good morning,' I realize.

A rusty old shrimp boat plods by with booms extended, making its slow and deliberate trek down the channel that leads beyond the breakers, flanked near the bow by three playful dolphins riding the bow wave. 'How do they safely stay out front?' A flock of gulls bring up the rear, hopeful that the crew will share some of its treasured bait.

The breeze off the Gulf and the bright sunlight warm my face, as the sand massages my feet. Looking down there is a seashell, and I bend to pick it up. It has a regular wavy pattern on it, with a pearl color that fades into a light pink, and it makes me wonder how long it took for its owner to build such a masterpiece. It must have belonged to a scallop at one time, a treasure to save as a reminder of this moment, so it is placed carefully in my pocket. Looking down the beach there is the nice folks from Oklahoma, the man tapping his foot in an exaggerated look of "disgust", but in reality laughing; the woman picking up yet another shell to add to her collection, bag in hand.

I'm now back in the present gently rubbing my shell as I do whenever I need a getaway. I'm thousands of miles and several months away from the magical moment of its discovery, pondering a question recently asked by a friend of mine, "What is a beach to you?"

I guess I'd have to answer that a beach is a special place that is a complete escape from our everyday life and concerns; a place that demands our full attention in the present moment to insure that its magic does not go unnoticed; a place that reminds us that Yesterday is History, Tomorrow a Mystery, and that there's a reason Now is called The Present.

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