Glimpse of the Gulf

For six years of my childhood, I lived but two miles away from the Pacific ocean. On the clearest of days, you could see its glimmer from my bedroom window, and a better view could be found if you climbed to the top of the hill behind our house, something I did many times a day. Hours were spent flying kites along the southern California beaches, eating Mexican take-out using our boogie boards as tables after swimming back and forth for hours out to a large raft-like board that was (somehow?) securely fastened to the ocean floor, summers spent walking a through fields with friends to the ocean and stopping to feed the horses our leftover veggies or peanut butter sandwiches. Such happy memories.

The last time I had seen the ocean was 17 years ago, but it was just a brief view in passing since that winter our family flew out for my Grandpa's funeral.

Trips to the Great Lakes are always a highlight of my summers (when I'm able to visit). The sound of water lapping up to the shores is so comforting, but it's a different sound to that of crashing waves. Just a couple of weeks ago found me down in Florida for a few short days near the gulf. Since it is connected to the Atlantic ocean, I was satisfied enough to say that I saw the ocean once again, though my time down there was spent in a way that did not allow me to experience all that I had expected, but what I did see and feel did not disappoint. There is nothing quite like the smell of salty air and white sands between your toes. Below are some of my favorite pictures from two different occasions and locations.

"The marshes themselves: limitless, humbling. The great sweep of Aliveness. The keen and exquisite Sameness that rushes forth in greeting like an old friend." (quoted from Lanier's blog; she says everything so beautifully!)

Waded knee-deep and walked its shores in silence until the moon became my light. I did not want to leave.

"The sea heals us by helping us learn to listen…silence is requisite." ~Peter Kreeft

Hoping that not quite so much time passes until I can see the ocean again. My roommate and I will probably do something next summer in celebration of obtaining our degrees. If anyone out there has favorite spots along the east coast, feel free to pass them along!