My Love for the Sea
by Snappy One All photos are by the author
I’ve been in love with the sea longer than I’ve been in love with my husband.
My husband and I have been married for almost 50 years! I was around 5 when my parents took our family to the seashore. That was 16 years before I met my spouse, but l love the sea and my other half equally, though differently.
We could smell the salty air before we heard the waves. Sometimes, we heard them before we could see the ocean. Anticipation of our reunion with this old friend was half of the excitement. Those watery billows never forgot to wave back, whether they were happy or not.
My parents always wanted to rest after the long, hot, arduous drive with three children. My brothers and I weren’t tired at all! We couldn’t wait to get onto the beach.
We were allowed to head up to the sand and dunk our feet while Mom and Dad took a short nap. Ahhhh, what a wondrous feeling. The sand nearly scorched our feet, but the cold water soothed our soles and souls.
Of course, the boardwalk also had an allure, but we were far more enticed by the marvelous foam tickling our toes and chilling our legs.
While the usual amusements were thrilling, they could not compare with the waves that sometimes knocked me down. Still, once I ventured a bit farther from shore, to where they rolled before breaking, it was one continuous fun trip. There was no need to wait in line, strap in, or limit the length of the ride. Up and down, bobbing over, rocking in the arms of the water.
I was blessed because the beach vacation became an annual event. A ritual we relished like opening our presents on Christmas.
We wanted to savor every minute, no every second, of the entire experience. The 5 days there went by faster than snow cones melt on a 90 degree day.
While I seldom go into those inviting tides very often anymore, my love of the sea has only grown.
