The first morning on vacation we awoke to an amber glow filtering through our westward-facing window. Our room was chilly, and we were grateful for our down comforter cacoon. At home, we would wake up each morning to an alarm, and we would hit snooze several times until finally grumbling our way out of bed. Here, being greeted by the California sun, we couldn't wait to get out into the cool morning air. My husband, two kids and I all piled on cozy slippers and hoodies and opened the door to greet the day. The first thing I felt was a blast of cool, salty air washing over my face and filling my lungs. The smell always makes my heart swell with contentment and yet the feeling is slightly tainted with knowing that I will have to leave soon.
We walked to the edge of our deck to watch the waves crash onto the shore. The mist from the furious water gently kissed our faces. I watched my boys get their first glimpse of the ocean that I love so much. Disregarding the coolness of the morning, we took off our socks and sunk our toes into the soft sand. Our home is never quiet, and this was one moment where we all stood and took in the beauty of nature and the pleasure of being together on this gorgeous day, and not a word was spoken. The silence was broken by Aiden spotting the sleek grey backs of a pod of dolphins breaking the surface of the water. At that moment, creatures of the sea became a real thing to my two year old, and not just pictures in a book. The sun was rising higher, burning away the blanket of fog that had covered the peninsula, and the beach was coming to life. With each wave that washed up on the shore we could see the glistening, speckled backs of sand crabs digging frantically to bury themselves back in the sand. Skittish sandpipers and boisterous seagulls danced with the ebbing water, getting close enough to nab a snack and then skittering away before the water could touch their feet. We saw pelicans floating lazily in the air and then diving suddenly to scoop fish out of the water. In the distance, we could hear the bark of sea lions as they sunned themselves on an abandoned pier, it's pillars covered with barnacles, starfish, and other living scenery.
We walked to the edge of our deck to watch the waves crash onto the shore. The mist from the furious water gently kissed our faces. I watched my boys get their first glimpse of the ocean that I love so much. Disregarding the coolness of the morning, we took off our socks and sunk our toes into the soft sand. Our home is never quiet, and this was one moment where we all stood and took in the beauty of nature and the pleasure of being together on this gorgeous day, and not a word was spoken. The silence was broken by Aiden spotting the sleek grey backs of a pod of dolphins breaking the surface of the water. At that moment, creatures of the sea became a real thing to my two year old, and not just pictures in a book. The sun was rising higher, burning away the blanket of fog that had covered the peninsula, and the beach was coming to life. With each wave that washed up on the shore we could see the glistening, speckled backs of sand crabs digging frantically to bury themselves back in the sand. Skittish sandpipers and boisterous seagulls danced with the ebbing water, getting close enough to nab a snack and then skittering away before the water could touch their feet. We saw pelicans floating lazily in the air and then diving suddenly to scoop fish out of the water. In the distance, we could hear the bark of sea lions as they sunned themselves on an abandoned pier, it's pillars covered with barnacles, starfish, and other living scenery.
Beautifully written!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou painted a wonderful picture. It was like I was almost there. Thank you.
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