Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Atlantic in Autumn

Equinox today, the autumnal shift. The daylight is rapidly fading and the sun seems cooler somehow, as we tilt towards winter.

Last Sunday, Mac and I journeyed down to the sea for what may be one of the last times this year. The sky was a deep, cerulean blue, unmarred except by the yellow sun and a few airplanes. The atmosphere was so crisp and dry that the short, white con-trails the jets made dissipated rapidly, making them appear like distant comets, arcing above the horizon, following the curve of the earth. No clouds seemed to form at all that day.

Through the fringe of my half-closed eyes, I watched as sandpipers and plovers dodged the surf. Glistening, clear jellyfish dotted the wet sand between multi-colored stones and clumps of seaweed. Gentle, coke-bottle green waves rolled in to shore, breaking into cascades of lacy foam before retreating back out to sea. Cabin cruisers bobbed on the surface of the bay and white sailboats shimmered like ghosts on the horizon as we luxuriated in the warmth of the late September sun.

Rigby dug a hole in the shade of Mac's beach chair and burrowed into the cool sand to watch the ringed gulls strut by us, searching for scraps and picking at abandoned shells, amid the washed up strands of kelp.

Later, as we watched the sun sinking low over bay, I was transfixed by the flashing diamonds it created, spangling the mud left exposed by the ebbing tide. Suddenly, I realized there was movement on the mudflats; a billion tiny periwinkles were stirring all around us, wondering where the sea had gone, their shiny, wet shells catching and reflecting back the sun's light like little jewels.

There may be other days at the shore in the weeks to come, but I will probably not swim in the ocean again until next May or June. Instead, Mac and I will most likely spend the brief hours walking on the sand with Rigby, greeting other dogs and their people, wearing our fleece jackets and warm-up pants or jeans. This brings a big sigh, because as I may have mentioned, winter is very long in these parts.

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11 comments:

  1. Lovely prose. Some say non-fiction has its own poetry: that's what you've written here. Lovely indeed.

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  2. I agree with Don. What a beautifully written post Deedee. I especially love the bit about the periwinkles. I bet Rigby enjoyed his day on the beach!

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  3. Yes indeed, good writing! And thanks for recognition of the equinox. You must know that is a big time for me - I did (or re-did) my list of goals for this next period before winter solstice. I love the quarter turns!

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  4. Thank you my friends - As I go through my days, I constantly find myself constructing prose in my head around ordinary scenes and events- I find so much beauty in in the world and am compelled to attach words to it. I long to be a writer and your words of encouragement are much appreciated.
    Suzen, I love the quarter turns too. It makes much more sense to me to herald the days that are actually attached to the eternal seasons as the ancients did, rather than some random date based on modern human events which I find less significant. Good luck with your goals!

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  5. Autumn is such a beautiful time, and there's nothing like a fall day on the beach. It's a pretty perfect place to be, so full of life and energy and contemplation.

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  6. I am transfixed by your description..one wants it not to change too quickly..I can see those periwinkles, trying to go home...Thanks!

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  7. Lovely post. Makes me want to take a road trip this weekend, but probably won't get to it until the next one.

    :)

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  8. I feel much calmer now.
    Thanks for that.

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  9. the beach is a beautiful place at any time of year......though it's alot easier on the bare foot when it's warm. i was at pine point this friday past....very windy, very nice.

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  10. Dear Deedee, I am back! How are you? Well, it is a very nice post! Here in Brazil autumn started last week...Happy Autumn for you and your family! Have a very nice week,
    Rosana

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  11. That was a beautifully written post :-)

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