Beach Walk

I have had a bit of a rough week. I’ll go into the details at a later time, but I was frustrated and sad and just emotionally spent. I took the opportunity to take a nice walk along the beach. There is a trail that goes from my building to the stretch of lovely white-sand beaches that line the bay. Today is quite breezy, as it often is, but the sun is shining and it’s very warm. I think to myself that I should take advantage of it more often, and no better time than the present.

I walk the hundred yards or so over the sand trail that is lined with green desert bushes. Arriving at the beach, I turn right- towards Simons Town. I walk and walk. The Cape winds are a force to be reckoned with, although the wind gusts only seem to give me more energy. Even the barrage of tiny grains of white sand hitting my ankles seems to invigorate me. The weather is sunny and warm, but it is a weekday morning and I only see a few lone stragglers.

It appears that high tide was not too long ago, and the water is receding now. In its wake it has left all kinds of sea creatures. I bend over and scrutinize some of the remnants. It occurs to me that these are the remains of disregarded abodes, worn down splash after splash by the relentless tide. Others, however, continue to house live creatures. The creatures are slow to reveal themselves by propping up their beautifully shaped shells on their backs and creep along the sandy beach. Mostly, though, I see jellyfish and seaweed.

The jellyfish vary in size, but are about the size of a small fist that has been squashed into the sand. Their translucent bodies seem to have a bluish tint; some are brighter than others. As I see the jellyfish creatures lay listless on the sand, I get an odd feeling. I think a feeling of sympathy. There they lay in endless wait for the next tide to take them to their next destination. At least the cautious sea creatures can crawl up or down the beach. Or several seem to enjoy burrowing themselves in the sand. But the jellyfish existence, at least for these jellyfish, is entirely dependent upon the ocean tide.

I then feel grateful. I am grateful that I don’t have to wait for the tides to take me to my next destination. I am thankful that I can chose to enjoy the salty-sweet air during my walk on the beach and can then travel off the beach and onto the pavement of Muizenberg, where the sea air mixes with the savoury smell of the boerewors (South African sausage) vendor on the corner. I appreciate the transition of damp, squashy sand to the hard, hot concrete of the sidewalk. I revel in the fact that I have the choice and the independence to experience the vastness of life. Although that choice comes with great responsibility and sometimes grave consequences, that freedom offers an abundance of opportunities- and for that I am eternally grateful.