TWO HAPPY CAMPERS

Shell beach //

It’s chilly this morning.  Enough to warrant a coat and thick socks while we all sit and chat and welcome the rising sun.  It’s Sunday, my favorite day of the week.  The only day I’m able to give myself permission to disconnect, to rest, to play.  Not that I don’t ever do these things any other day of the week but for whatever reason Sunday is the only day I don’t feel guilt for it.  I turned my phone off and could have easily just sat in a chair on the beach for the entirety of the day.  However, by late morning the temp has increased significantly and the weather is too beautiful to not enjoy some beach activities.  Yoga, long walks, shell collecting, body surfing.  

Allow me to expand on the body surfing part.

The surf was large enough and close enough to shore that I had a lot of fear about getting in the water at this particular spot.  Unfortunately it’s not unlike me to come up with a reason to not get in the ocean no matter what beach we’re camped on.  I’ve spent too many years of my life in the mountains to have any kind of real knowledge about, or experience with, the ocean.  I’d like to say my fear of the ocean is healthy, it’s a force to be respected, but I can admit that my fear is strong enough that it’s holding me back from having experiences I’d like to have.  Mark, on the other hand, has been facing those fears head on and swimming regularly.  As a result I’m watching his comfort zone and confidence grow every day.  I’m loving watching him thrive, I’m also jealous.  

He gets in the water first and I watch how he interacts with each passing wave.  He dunks himself as a foot of water goes over his head and then quickly pop ups after it passes.  I eventually get in deep enough to start riding each wave back up onto the shore.  Something about facing my fear combined with the way each wave deluges me and deposits me on shore with force, causes me to belt out the most pure, uninhibited laugh.  I am a control freak through and through and tend to carry a lot of stress.  To let go of my fear and let the ocean literally carry me (in a safe fashion of course) was liberating.  I felt like a kid again.  

As evening commences, Mark casts a rod into the ocean, while I make us dinner.  As we eat, the sunset turns the horizon into deep shades of magenta and orange.  For some reason, eating outside while watching nature on display makes any meal that much better.  We confirmed our plans with Josh & Darci for the next day and by 8pm were tucked inside our bed…salty & satisfied.  

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