OCEAN FIRE

Earth Wind and Ocean

OCEAN FIRE

“The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”

— Karen Blixen

“To me the sea is a continual miracle—

Mysterious oceans where the streams empty,

Infinite oceans where the rivers empty,

Restless oceans of the entire world, covering three-fourths of the world.”

— Walt Whitman

The sharp sting of iodine wafted on a NNE breeze over the Atlantic Ocean and through my olfactory system like a welcoming familiar friend. The path over the dune rich with the scent of beach plum, green leaves and white flowers, lush on both sides with the east coast natural native. The aqua ocean, summer warmed, was a gladly receiving blanket of velvet, still refreshing at 70° yet warm and responsive, the choppy surf pulled in a southerly direction, white caps and juicy waves roiled and rolled in quick and never ending succession. Along the horizon a Cobalt blue sky formed a backdrop for the balmy day. Balls of clouds whiter and fluffier than cotton drifted lazily southward. Gulls peered hungrily while sandpipers swooped over the gnarled surf and sand pecking for sustenance as pelicans flew in formations and landed in armadas to scoop out fish. Outside the sand bar porpoises surfaced and dove in a uniform single file towards the south. The breezy breeze persisted, silken like scarves fluttering to tickle and caress sunburned arms and legs. The surf becomes whiter and whiter and more frothy as the tide rises to recapture some of the sugary sands of the island. The sun turned across the blue and cloudy sky like a dial, turning morning to afternoon and afternoon into evening. Parallel to Portugal and south of France and an Atlantic Ocean away Assateague Island embraces the ocean with love and respect. The ocean’s restorative waters move with a force divine, the oceans of the world, supreme.

“The sea, once it casts it spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

— Jacques Cousteau

Authors note: My love affair with the ocean began at an early age with family vacations to Rehoboth Beach Delaware. The salty waters of the Atlantic have restorative powers. Wading, swimming and body surfing are a remedy. Never underestimate the benefits, power or the infinite beauty of our oceans.