It’s 4:29 am. Everyone in my home is asleep. The fall temperatures are cool enough that our windows are open and the air conditioner is off. The only sound I hear is a constant roar in the near distance of the ocean. I assume it is high tide as the sound is much closer than it was a couple hours ago.
In my mind, I see the peaceful horizon as the sky meets the sea. Pelicans diving headfirst to catch dinner. I think of just a few hours before my head hit the pillow, I was on the north beach photographing a family at sunset as the local shrimp boats were heading back to the docks for the day. Beachcombers reflections are in the calm tidal pools as they walk down the tideline searching for souvenirs of seashells and sharks teeth.
The sky changed quickly from a bright blue to baby blue to a pink and soft salmon with white clouds softly scattered from north to south. A warm golden light created the perfect illumination in a small window of time for the family of three perched artistically on a piece of weathered driftwood. Smiles and laughter still linger in my head.
I lay here peacefully giving thanks for the beauty that surrounds me. As the serene soothing sounds permeate my ears and the gentle breeze touches my bare shoulders. It’s my choice to accept each day as a gift and be appreciative for it. Faces of each of my loved ones come to my eyes. Prayers of blessing and gratitude for each of them are sent up from my heart.
After a few minutes of such quiet and serenity. I am interrupted by an air unit outside my window. It clicks on and the ocean sounds are masked by the droning fan that buzzes and hisses. I hope that within days, the neighbors around me will decide to open their windows and receive the gift of the sounds of ocean life too.
A few more clicks and chatter, the unit stop spinning and once again I am back in my beautiful world. As I breathe in the fresh salt air, I time my breath with the rhythm of each wave…hoping to fall asleep for a few more hours, before getting ready of another day of work and pushing sand between my toes having the privilege to photograph the celebration of love and commitment on the beach.