Remembering why Im here
I am driving angrily and upset out of Monterey along Pacific Grove's coast. My favorite music playing I roll down the window and basque in the sun and cool breeze. Glancing around there is no traffic. I stick my arm out the window and let it fall dead. I turn my hand in to a wing and as I accelerate my arm raises and falls from the aerodynamic lift.
Here is my stop. I sit idle for a moment while I consider my future. Looking over I see enormous waves crashing on the rocks. This is why I stopped here. I get out of the car and head down tothe beach. The rocks are wet here and very difficult to climb. After several slips and… ‘Oh no, I can’t do that’s’ I reach not the point I was headed for but near it. Still, this is not good enough. I need to be closer to the water so I quickly backtrack . Once on the beach again I trudge through the soft sand. For a moment I am reminded of snow. As I pass an elderly woman beachcombing I greet her with a warm ‘Hello’. She ignores me. Then I scale the wall face and plan my new path. I think for a moment that maybe I made her day a litter brighter, even if she didn’t know it yet. Perhaps she’ll pay it forward.
Now I stand on the rock point I wanted to get to. I close me eyes and soak in the environment. What should be a gentle mist stabs at my semi-frozen skin as if they were thousands of tiny knifes. It’s cold and painful, yet somehow I am enjoying it. Waves crashing all around me, the sound pans in sequence up and down the coast line. Then the thunderous roar is suddenly broken by the bark of a seagull. I open my eyes to see a couple dozen seagulls and several pelicans cruising directly in front of me. This is awe-inspiring.
Water drops begin to sprinkle down on me and at first I ignore it. Hoping it was just more mist. I didn’t want this to end. At last I give in to the fact that I must leave now. The rocks I traveled across to get here would not be so forgiving while wet. Back on the beach I look towards the ocean once more. I am more determined than ever before.