Three Days and The Boogie Board Lady

Sweet magnificence.
Three days of peace, love and understanding. Plus one.
After working seven out of eight days at The Booze Emporium, working like a pig-donkey, I wrangled four days off. Spent three of them on Old Orchard Beach. Thursday we got stuff done, got ready to roll, Friday we were off like a wing-ed bird, flying northward towards paradise. And escape.
When you are a low wage earner, when your life is small, you have to take small victories. Most of the time this is the only vacation me and Carol get - three days on the beach in Maine - so you can imagine the significance.
The weather was perfect. I am always struck by the aura that people project in situations like that. Sitting up on our porch looking directly down onto the beach and watching the people. Young lovers, old lovers, dog lovers, children lovers, sun worshippers, exercise dedicates, fat people, long hairs, short hairs and everything in between. Everybody is relaxed. No rush. No worries.
I would love to harness that energy because it is powerful. It is the antithesis of the human condition. We are, all of us, stressed, hurried, worried, afraid and disappointed most of the time. That is how we live our lives. But when you are on the beach, no work, the sun is shining and suddenly your soul smiles. It comes to the surface and says yeah, baby I AM human. A stunning feeling.
We laughed, we talked, we lazed, we drank, we walked, we pondered - crammed it all into a leisurely three days. Saturday is THE day because you have the whole day. No travel. I am old now and can no longer sleep late. A bonus. Saturday morning I was sitting on the porch at 7:15, alone, the glorious sun full in my face. Digging the beach.
Fat old guy in a pink shirt walking behind his small dog, plastic bag in hand. The guy was waddling uncertainly in the sand, short, choppy steps. As he scooped up the waste, it hit me what a powerful relationship the pet lover/pet thing is; we will do anything for our pets. As he was following his dog off the beach, the dog got up close to a couple of women sitting on a bench. They shooed him away. I put them on my list. They will pay. I saw the same guy in the same pink shirt on Sunday morning. I know his dog appreciates what he does.
Another guy getting his puppy used to the waves. Using treats to lure him to the edge so the waves could wash over his paws. The dog was surprised and kept shying away, but it was such a cool scene. And the guy kept kissing his dog on the head. I loved that. If you are going to love your pet, LOVE your pet.
A related scene. A mother holding an infant so the waves washed over her feet. Delighted squeals. Puppy, baby - same thing - pure love, pure innocence. Watching people or animals experience something brand new was powerful. We are jaded. We must re-capture that thrill.
The Boogie Board Lady. Woman sat down on a boogie board in the wet sand, wearing a big, floppy hat, her head bowed. Waiting. A long time. Finally Joey went down to find out what she was all about. Joey has no inhibitions. She was not interested in talking to him. Another small slice of life, another observation. I imagined her to be an insane asylum escapee; this kept me entertained.
We celebrated Paula's 64th birthday. A person worthy of celebrating. To some people, birthdays are just markers. Another year, more wasted space on the planet. Other people add something to life with positive attitudes, laughter, a sense of adventure; you enjoy their company. That's Paula. She has been through the worst hell a parent can endure and she finds a way to smile. I am learning a lot from that.
Went to dinner at Sarge's Tailgate Grille. Carol's brother Kenney and his wife Cori own the joint. In Saco, ME. Magnificent restaurant, has everything you want; atmosphere, excellent food, a great, comfortable bar. GREAT place. They are struggling because chain restaurants have opened around them over the last ten years, stealing their business by serving inferior food at inflated prices while offering zero atmosphere. Another reason why the world sucks. The economy hurts them too but I think the chains are even more evil. Sarge and Cori made us comfortable, they fed us like royalty and we had a drink or two with them. Fantastic night.
I held Carol's hand more over this weekend than I have over the last 33 years. It was cool. We took a long walk on the beach, we walked downtown, we were a couple in love with no worries. What a supreme release.
I haven't even begun to capture the sheer beauty of this weekend. Paula, Bill, Rhonda (H - no H - not sure), Joey, Carol, Joe, Sarge, Cori, Lorraine - this is a group of people who laugh together A LOT. A small group of people in a huge world who came together for three days and dug life. Dug it simply, freely and with abandon. And it happens every time we are together. I deeply appreciate that.
When your life is small you have to dig small things. A three day weekend. Small potatoes to some people. But as short as it was, as small as it was, it was huge.
And I feel it in my soul.