Last Saturday, my mom offered to watch the kids and I took her up on the offer. I felt myself feeling emotionally exhausted and drained and I needed some time by myself. I did not hesitate or question or feel guilt about having her watch the kids. That was a big deal for me. I decided that I was going to go to the beach and read. I knew the waters would be rough and that there would be more creatures and shells on the sand from the hurricane. I like exploring when there are storms, I always see interesting things in the water or the sand.

For some reason I felt like I should stop at the Cat thrift store before the beach.

I hesitated about that for a moment, but then thought that I should listen to my gut and see what happens. There was nothing spectacular, but a few significant things to me. I walked in and went straight for one of the first bookshelves that normally has home school resources or workout DVD’s. I found nothing for school, but did find an unopened three in one Pilates DVD’s set that I have wanted since 2006. Score! I also found beginners step-by-step Tai Chi DVD and thought, “Why not?” That would be worth the $2.50 to try.

I wandered my way back to the toys.

They did not have much, but the kids have been begging for checkers and a chess set. I found a 7 in one game set for $3.50 and thought that was a good deal. I then ventured into the books and found a box set of Sherlock Holmes for $5.00. I decided to wait and see if I should get that one so I left it for the moment and said to myself ‘If I keep it under $20 then I can get it”. I found nothing else and went to the register still not sure why I was there. I felt a jolt to look at the movie DVD’s which I never really do because I always expect them to be bad movies.

I placed my items on the counter and said “Oh, wait”.

I bent down to look at the DVD’s and an unopened, perfectly new “The Big Kahuna” popped out at me. It was hidden in the midst of very lame movies and I laughed. I have wanted this movie for a long time, it has great significance to me. It is a treasure to me, but I have never purchased it. I snatched it up and smiled. Then, I thought there has to be at least one more movie I could find because it is either $3 for one or 2 for $5. I scanned the movies and “The Watchmen” jumped out at me. I have never seen this movie and I am not sure that I will, I haven’t felt right about it for some reason, but it is one of David’s favorite movies. So I grabbed that one too. The Big Kahuna is one of my favorites and he has never seen it.

The cashier rang up the items and I felt another jolt to go get the books.

I grabbed the Sherlock Holmes set and came back, my total was $19.80. She passed me two dimes on the glass counter with her two fingers and they glided toward me in a strange way. I felt as if something had just happened in that store, but I was not sure what exactly.  It all seemed like a movie. I left quite happy and be-bopped out to the car.

I went to the beach.

There were no clouds and it was very hot. I read for a while, but I started getting dizzy so I ventured to the water and the wet sand. I took pictures of the waves, they were much higher and rougher because of the hurricane. I got caught up in the crashing sounds and the foam that rushed to edge of my feet. I started digging up shells with my toes and I was so excited to find a shell perfectly intact. All the time that we have lived here I have never been able to find a shell with the spirals and complete. They are always broken or I can only find clam shells. I figured this was another broken one, but I wanted to take a picture of the spiral.

To my surprise I dug up a perfect treasure.

It was full of tiny other shells as well. There was an entire village of creatures living in this shell.  I kept it and continued to look for more. I saw some creatures that I have never seen before and I have no idea what they are. I did not bother them, I only took pictures. The last time I messed with creatures of the sea I found out that they were Conus sea snails and I was picking them up and examining them close to my face. At any moment I could have been harpooned with their tooth right in my face. I learned my lesson about how I should not touch sea creatures.

I continued to find shells of two.

Attached clam shells and rows of different types of shells. I took pictures and sat in silence. When I left it occurred to me that I had not once thought about being alone. I had not once felt anxious. I had not once felt awkward saying “hi” to people. I had not once thought about what they were thinking of me wallowing on the sand taking pictures on my elbows or digging with my toes. Or how I got face to the ground examining the contents inside some of the shells. It didn’t even occur to me to think that others were around. I danced in the water and played with the waves and I did not care. It seemed like it was right out of movie scene when the character discovers something. Possibly right after a climax or right before…before something bad happens. Oh, well no sharks and the kids were great that evening too. No worries about the next lead in to a climax, until another time.

It was a lovely day.

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