Sea Our Souls

The seagulls chase each other, then fly into the wind, stabilizing themselves as they scour the neighboring blankets for leftover food or snacks. A fast-moving afternoon storm popped up off the coast, pouring rain for 90 seconds before quickly dissipating, leaving behind the sun, humidity, and hopeful spirits. The waiters opened back up the table umbrellas, wiped off the chairs and sat me in the sand for me to place my soles on the ground.

A group of girls begin to bounce a volleyball back and forth while kids began to scream and play chase nearby. The waves hum a constant white noise, and intermittent laughs of patrons can be heard as a jetski pulls a raft behind. Here on Anna Marie Island, the water is a calming blue-green, with the beach gleaming from sunscreen. The summer shandy salad is light and fresh, featuring salmon, blueberries, mango, pineapple, feta, pomegranate, apple, and lemon zest. The peaceful ambiance reflects everyone's intent to enjoy a relaxing, sunny day. I could walk for days on this soft, white beach sand and return to spend at least a day or two soul-searching. This is just the beginning of my journey to find peace and tranquility. On to the next place...