Today I went to the end of the point again... Point Wilson that is. The sun was high, the sky was a beautiful shade of blue, the sea was green, and the sand was so very warm and soft beneath my feet. What a feeling it is to curl my toes within that luxurious womb of Earth... I love the warm sand.
The birds were especially boisterous today... cawing and squawking about their discoveries of little fish swimming in the surf. There seemed to be enough food to go around to all because in a short while they all had their fill and settled down in the water to bathe and preen themselves. Many had their heads tucked neatly under their wings already and settled in for their afternoon nap. Some came upon the shore to rest... relishing the warm sand the same as me. So nice to be toasty warm all over your body with the shining Sun up above and the warm sand below.
I must have dozed off too... because I was awoken by a sharp pain in my ankle. In my sleepy state I couldn't figure out what it was. But when I finally opened my eyes I had quite the surprise... and knew exactly what was causing my pain. It was a young seagull that had ventured close enough to me to wonder what "I was" and he was giving me a little peck to test me out. I smiled at him and he startled and flew about 20 feet away from me. We both just sat there looking at each other... checking each other out. He was so pearly white and clean... almost the whitest white I had ever seen. I don't know how these birds of the sea keep themselves so glistening pure white. It's as though nothing dirty ever touches them, but I know that it does. Besides feeding on small fish and crabs they feed on anything else they can find... including garbage and dead things. They are opportunistic feeders and do a good job at helping to keep out planet clean. Yet they are so fastidious with keeping themselves clean too. Tireless energy of survival. He must have finished figuring me out because he spread his great white wings out and with one gentle flap was airborn. He swooped over my head as if to say "Good-bye" and soared out over the water. About 100 feet out he lightly settled on the water and let out his seagull style aww-aww-awwww.
I gazed out over the water and brought my view to the giant kelp bed. It has increased in size a lot the past few years and is now becoming a good home for sea otters once again. I have only seen 2 so far... but I can hear them... I know they are there. I am glad they are so secretive... they will survive longer that way. And it just fills my heart with Joy to know that they may be coming back. I think their food supply of sea urchins is the main reason for their slow return around here. Sea otters are no longer hunted... thank God... but the sea urchins are still harvested for their roe. This particular kelp bed is too rough during winter time for them I think, but there are some other more protected areas that I think they may go to during the winter. The Surf Scoters are out... the Merganzers and the Golden Eyes too. And the small flock of Pintails are still here. Most all of the Tufted Puffins are out near the Ocean this time of year so I don't see too many of them until they come back in Autumn. The Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, Terns, Mew Gulls, and Canadian Honkers are all here today too. We have new residents that have come to live here now too... they are the Pelicans... both brown and white. I am thrilled to see them here now. Graceful dive bombers of the sea... how they skim the crests and troughs of the waves by mere inches is truly amazing to see. I can always find lots of winged friends at the Point... I am never alone there.
I gazed over to the other side of the point and there cuddled up in the hollow of a great log was a young couple... anyone under 45 is young to me now :*). They were basking in the sun and entwined in each others arms... kissing and looking into each others eyes. I don't think they knew that I was nearby or they most likely would not have picked the spot they did... seeking someplace more private I am sure. I loved watching their tenderness and it brought back sweet memories for me. Once upon a time I had that tenderness too... for a short while. Never on a beach though... my man never did like cuddling and being close on a beach the way that I did... I'll never figure that one out. And that will always be something that I longed for and never got... many sad and lonely times sitting on a beach myself... longing for arms around me... being in my man's embrace. So now, I am just content to discreetly watch and enjoy other's Joy. My memory and longing end and my manners take hold... I snuggle down a little deeper into the warm sand trying to hide behind my log... out of view... and leave them their privacy.
I slowly turn my back and begin my other pastime... stacking stones. There are always many to choose from... all different kinds... large - small, flat - round, smooth - sharp, black - green - pink - red - white - gray - tan. My most favorite ones are the granite ones with the pink quartz in them and the dark black ones. The black ones are usually flat and round... so soft and warm in my hands. The others are all different and never as warm as the black ones that absorb all that hot sunshine. I place the black ones on my knees, ankles, wrists, hands... any place that hurts and their healing warmth soaks into my body. I feel as though a little bit of the Sun enters me... it helps to dull the pain for a few moments and bonds me with the Universe. I pick up new fresh hot black stones to replace the ones that I have taken the warmth from and continue to treat myself.
As my pain subsides I am able to lift the stones and balance them... and so my stone stacking hobby begins. Large flat ones on the bottom... then two smaller angular ones... and another large flat one on top of those. Next I spy an especially beautiful pink granite stone that I surely wish to use in this tower. It is round though, so I search for tiny sharp ones that I can wiggle underneath and prop it up so that it will not roll out. There... solid as a rock :*). I was careful to position the pink granite stone in such a way that left the only flat spot on it, on the top. This has to be done in order to place another stone on top of it and continue the stone tower. I find one of those strange stones that looks like it has a string tied around it and the string has turned into stone too. I like these a lot also... two different types of rock coming together to make one stone... reminds me of the couple on the other side of me. My string stone has the perfect shape to fit exactly into the flat spot on the pink granite stone. Next comes all the smaller stones that I can stack up until they become unstable. These are graduated in successive sizes.. from larger to the smallest on top. I save the top for the most special small stone that I can find that day... because I feel the pretty small ones deserve a special place on the top.
I lean back and admire my work... and I wonder how long my tower will survive. Will a great gust of wind knock it over... will a rogue wave during high tide come up this high and knock it down... will a noncaring person kick it over... or will a bird try to land on it and topple it? I have never come back and found one of my towers still standing. I wonder what happens to them? Once again I apply the sacred warm black stones to ease the pain in my body. Nature doth provide... richly too :*). All we have to do is open our eyes and see... it is usually right under our noses.
After some more warm stone soaking, I notice the tide-rip begin to form and I know that the evening breeze will soon begin to reach the shore. The birds are now uncovering their sleepy heads... they flap their wings, paddle their feet, and wag their tails... cackling, chirping, and whistling to each other... signaling the wake up call. Soon they will lift off the water again in their evening search for their dinners.
I hear giggles near to me and it is the couple... she is getting cold and he is trying his best to keep her warm. Such beautiful smiles of Love... adoration and contentment... such a Joy for me to witness. As the evening breeze finally kisses the shore as it does everyday at this time... it rolls across the sand and over the logs. The temperature drop is sudden and all living things know that it is time to prepare for the night that will soon be upon us. The snuggling couple call it quits and he stands up and holds out his hand for her as he gently helps lift her up. She immediately cuddles under his arm and he wraps his coat around her. I continue watching the sea... trying to give them their privacy... but now they are visible from the corner of my eye. As they lift up their heads to begin walking back to their car... they notice me sitting next to my log. She skips a step and halts her stride only for a quick second... but it is enough for me to know that she has seen me. She turns her head into his chest and softly giggles... a blush comes over her cheeks. He looks down at her in wonder of what she is giggling at and she shyly points her finger to where I am sitting. He smiles gently, hugs her a little closer, and they continue walking in my direction. As they get close to me they become quiet... her cheeks are even more crimson now then they were before and she lets out more soft giggles. As they pass by me he turns his head to me and says a deep voiced "Hello", with a big smile and a little wink of his eye. I realize then that my own cheeks are blushing too and he seems to be enjoying and fascinated by this whole female situation. I flash him a big smile also and say "Hello to both of you too... it's been a beautiful day hasn't it?". She turns her head towards me and gives me a big beautiful smile and sweetly says... "Yes it has... it couldn't be any better... today is our Anniversary". I wish them a night as wonderful as their day has been and tell them Happy Anniversary.
The beach becomes quiet once again... just me, the birds, and all that is out in the water. I hear the breeze rustle through the beach grasses behind me... I love that sound... there is nothing that describes it. Just like the waves... how do you describe the sound that a wave makes as it passes through the water and then rolls upon itself and into the wave in front of it and on to the shore. And the birds... how do you describe the sound that a bird's wings make as it flies through the air. For a little while longer I simply exist in the sounds and smells that envelop me. Then I know that it is time for me to go too. I have animals back at home that need to preapre for the coming night also... and they need human help.
I have enjoyed my day at the Point immensely... my Soul is refreshed and my Spirit is lifted. I wish for anyone reading this... a day at the Point.
May God Bless :*)
Selchie...
