The Beach Chair Chronicles I

Clarity: 

I have this beach chair that I’ve owned for many years. It has a white metal frame, wooden armrests, Copenhagen Blue covering, a large white sailboat on the back and it sits low to the ground. I don’t remember where I got this chair from but I do know that it has never seen the beach.

I used back in my teens and early twenties to sit in my back yard and read books.

It’s not all that comfortable but I always loved it, I guess because of the sailboat.

It has been a very long time since I sat in it again. As I sit here I think about how uncomfortable it really is, but its still a nice chair and is one of the very few items that ive managed to take good care of in my life.

I thought about this chair a month ago when we took a family trip to Pensacola Beach. I almost took it along, but decided not to because I didn’t want to get it dirty or have it rust. Isn’t that funny, I mean, it’s a freakin’ chair! 

So I have recently been re-reading my Jimmy Buffett books, which have re-kindled my infatuation with the ocean, airplanes and sailing. A few minutes ago I was lying in bed trying to catch a midday nap when I started thinking about this chair again. I was considering bringing A Pirate Looks At Fifty out here to read, but instead my mind wandered back in time to my beach days, and that has lead me to dig out this uncomfortable chair and tell you a story that has absolutely nothing to do with the chair.

 Back in high school, every summer for at least five years, I spent the Fourth of July week at Ocean Lakes Campground in Surfside Beach (Myrtle Beach) South Carolina. Now these were some of the greatest times of my life, but I am only going to tell you about one for now.

There was a time in my life when I felt very in-tuned to nature, ocean and the Heavens. I lived and breathed the beach, although I have always lived at least three hours away from the nearest one. I owe all those feelings to Jimmy Buffett’s music, books and a show that used to come on FOX called Key West. They sparked my interests in beaches.

Thanks Mr. Buffett!

Let’s see, where was I…

 When you are a teen certain events in life seem paramount, and I had my share of those events. During that one week a year that I spent at Ocean Lakes I would pick one evening to go the ocean alone and reflect.

It occurred to me back then that the ocean reacts to humans. Let me explain.

Early in the mornings, around sunrise, there usually are very few people on the beach. Walkers, waders, joggers and old people take advantage of this less crowded time.

By-the-way I do not have anything against old people. Moving on…

 At this time of day the ocean seems calm and easy going. Then around noon when hundreds of people are elbow to elbow in lounge chairs and half as many are in the surf swimming, the ocean seems very active. The waves seem larger and livelier.

Then comes evening when all those tourists are back at there air-conditioned beach houses assessing their sunburns and making plans for the Seafood Buffets.

This is yet another time when very few are on the beach. A fisherman is reeling in a small sand shark, a couple lovebirds are walking hand in hand and the “elders” are back.

The ocean once again has settled down to a calm and soothing pace. This is the time that I chose to have my aloneness.

The Sun is going down behind the tall beach houses, a few people are walking slowly along the shore, someone is fishing, lovers are walking hand in hand, and all is right in the world.

I would ease slowly into the water, never going but just about knee deep, and wade for a few moments, watching the minnows dodge my feet. Then I would go to the edge of the dunes plop down in the sand and stare out over the sea. This was my time to reflect on the past year’s ups and downs, and prepare myself for the next year’s ups and downs. I always walked away from that with some clarity and peace.

 It has been quite some time since I have done that. I think it was probably 1995. Almost fifteen years. I sure could use some of that clarity right about now.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Edgefield- My back yard