Monday, December 19, 2005

Last night…

Freeman came running into the living room about 3:15 yesterday afternoon.  He put on some hot water and told me to get some warm clothes on; we were going to the beach.  And to the beach we went!  Armed with a large mug of hot cocoa and warmly dressed against the cold, we headed to the beach with the camera in hand. 
Freeman took these beautiful pictures as I sat and watched people. 

There was a couple with a small child, probably 5 or so.  The woman was playing with some electronic toy, the man and the child were running around the park, playing a game.  I felt a little sorry for the woman, if it was indeed her child she was missing a very precious moment between father and son. 
There was a couple standing on an outcropping farther down the beach.  They stood, silhouetted against the darkening sky.  It was a very romantic picture. 
I watched other couple walk the beach, hand in hand.  I listened to snippets of conversations.  Loving conversations, worried voices, concerned responses, and a few angry people here and there.  I watched people come to the waters edge, enamored by the sinking sun, cameras in hand like Freeman, snapping a moment in time. 
I noticed that people are all too willing to leave right after the sun sets.  As soon as the great ball of fire was below the horizon people left the beach.  They left too early.  My favorite part is right after the sun sets, when the clouds catch fire and look like molten gold.  The colors settle into a pretty pink before turning blue.  The sunset doesn’t end just because the sun has set. 
I’m so glad that I am with someone who insists that we spend time watching the sun set and the sun rise.  Someone who takes pleasure in nature, the simple things that cannot be recreated on a whim.  It was a special moment.