Into the Mystic

"hark, now hear the sailors cry,

smell the sea and feel the sky,

let your soul and spirit fly, into the mystic . . ."

-Van Morrison

I hear "I love the beach!" all the time. I can relate. Only what I have with the ocean seem to run much deeper.  The only place where I feel truly at peace is with my toes in the sand.  I'm not a surfer or kayaker or even much of a swimmer. I've always aspired to be, though. I used to envy the lifeguards as a kid (and even now to some extent) because they got to save lives and spend their days getting paid to stare at the ocean.  That would never get old for me. I also want the body to wear those red swimsuits. Why don't their bits flop around as much as mine when they run?  Oh, well.  At least I got over my Hasselhoff crush early in life.

I made my husband climb down to the shoreline one night last week in La Jolla and we watched the sunset together.  He was hungry and tired, but he thanked me later.  We were totally, completely free of worry, regret or sadness.  Just pure, unadulterated joy. I can't remember the last time I felt that way.  The fact that I got to share it with him made it even better.  It was a perfect moment in time that I wish I could bottle up and re-experience forever.

Mario said that at one point, once the sun had set, I stood and stared out at the ocean, barefoot in the sand; completely lost to the world for about ten minutes.  I'm not sure what I was thinking about specifically, but I know I did a lot of wishing and hoping. Wishing for nothing but the best for my family. Hoping that my dreams come true.  In those moments, it felt like they would. I want to feel that way forever. Perfection.

I know every moment can't feel that way. But I can only hope that more are like that than not from here on out. I want to be that person in the sand, free from all burdons, for the rest of my life. A lofty goal, I'll admit, but one worth attaining.

Where do you feel at peace?  What is hands-down your favorite place in the whole wide world?