When doing yoga this morning on the deck, I had Pandora playing a meditation stream of music. One piece began with the sound of a gentle surf.
In Panama, I lived on a finger of land separating the Bay of Colon from the Atlantic Ocean. The barracks didn't have glass in the windows, only screen. My bunk was on the second floor. Each night I fell asleep to the sound of the surf on the breaker wall. During gentle seas, it was like a whisper that ebbed and flowed. On nights when the seas were angry, the surf sounded almost like thunder in the distance.
The sound coming through those tiny speakers made me realize we haven't been to the ocean since January. We both miss it. There's something primal about that sound of surf on the sand. It's timeless and as the saying goes, "Is woven into the fabric of our lives."
Not long after Jilda and I started dating in the summer of 1969, her family went on vacation. She invited me down for the weekend. Not to stay with her, after all she was 16 years old and had parents who kept an eye out for rift-raft like me, especially those with skinny legs.
Later when we married, we spent our honeymoon in a small cottage made of cement blocks which was a few hundred feet from the beach. At night, with a pallet on the screen porch, we fell asleep to the sound of the surf.
In Panama, I lived on a finger of land separating the Bay of Colon from the Atlantic Ocean. The barracks didn't have glass in the windows, only screen. My bunk was on the second floor. Each night I fell asleep to the sound of the surf on the breaker wall. During gentle seas, it was like a whisper that ebbed and flowed. On nights when the seas were angry, the surf sounded almost like thunder in the distance.
When we were newlyweds, we loved going to the ocean during summer, but we both looked much better in swimsuits then.
These days we prefer to go to the ocean in autumn, or winter. The crowds have fled north leaving only snowbirds from Michigan and Canada. We fit right in with these folks.
Jilda talked to her sister today and she's getting ready to head to the beach this week. We both were happy for her, but a little sad for ourselves. It's been too long since we've heard the sound of the surf.
We lived in Florida on and off. Now we are the snow birds. Love the less crowed areas. I am a lover of the sea, Blue water or surf. The last ship I was on the Skipper asked me to stay, I said only if the wife can stay aboard. The skipper was areal prophet. Never will a woman sail on a warship. Sometime never isn't so long.
ReplyDeleteYou did a good job getting me to hear the surf, I hope I dream of it tonight. THANKS.
I love the ocean--the sound of the waves is hypnotic!!
ReplyDeleteAwwww hope you both get to visit these gorgeous beaches soon!! Take care
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Falling asleep to the sound of the surf is amazing. Whenever I go to the beach,. I always leave the windows to the bedroom cracked a bit at night to let the sound of the waves in. It's hypnotic. I hope you get to go back to the beach soon Rick.
ReplyDeleteI could easily live near the ocean. The splashing water sound in my world means grandkiddos are in the pool. Somehow it's not the same..or as soothing! Fall is coming...plan that trip!
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel about the beach! We make our way to the Atlantic Ocean every fall, and I can't wait to get there this year. It hardly felt like we had a summer this year, so I look forward to the ocean and better weather. There's nothing like the sound of waves hitting the shore...so soothing!
ReplyDeleteI live pretty close to the beaches but never go, haven't been to a beach in years also want to add I love the sound of the waves
ReplyDeleteThe sound of the surf is mesmerizing and I don't know of anyone who doesn't like it.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of running water in a brook too, or a waterfall.