For about seven minutes, I had this sun lit beach all to myself. I delighted in every second of undisturbed solitude. Far enough from the cheering and jeering crowd at the bar, I only hear the rush of the waves as they roll up to the shore one behind the other.



I have yet to swim here. It’s not because of the undercurrent warnings. I respect that and would never go out far like I would other beaches. I just forget to come prepared to swim.

But now that I think about it, I would like to enjoy this part of the ocean with someone else, not alone. Someone whose hand I can hold as we jump the waves and mind our balance against the tide. Our laughter would merge and echo upon the horizon. Laughter…someone to swim with me and hear my laughter. This is the perfect place to be as free-spirited as the restless, inviting waters. However, not alone.





I stood at a distance watching a little boy about 2 and his female friend of about 6 take turns tossing a deflated ball, empty coke bottle and a short bamboo stick into the waves to be carried out a bit then returned. She did most of the tossing while he did most of the retrieving.

The babe didn’t appreciate his parents taking him by the hand and removing him from his assignment. Neither did I. I found watching the innocent actions of children having fun made my single heart smile oppose to grieve my solitude.

Standing to the side, I rest my stuff on the crumbling low wall safe from the splashing sea water. I turned my music up to drown out the applause and curses from the World Cup viewers. A hostess approached me.

“Good afternoon.”
“Hello. How are you?”
She flashed a movie star-like smile before answering
“I’m very well thank you. We have beach chairs.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

The children are gone. I resisted the urge to toss the deflated ball into the crests. I’m sure it wouldn’t feel the same coming back to me as it did the little ones so I let it be just as the world has left me be…