Summer's End Note

When day ends and hope survives do you long for peace, the quiet of a summer's night, or the fresh breath of sea salt skies?   If so, join me on a virtual evening stroll of a historic Long Island site, Jones Beach. 

 

It was the end of a Long Island, August dog-day when the family decided to take a walk on one of Long Island's beaches.  We were longing for the calm of the night sky along the ocean since we're moving to a beautiful new build in Virginia soon.  Saying goodby to summer is always a bittersweet event but now more so than ever.  Luckily, the weather obliged and a ride to the historic Jones Beach boardwalk afforded us the opportunity to take a peaceful evening stroll.  Upon entering the parking lot, we noted the new normal rules of parking (cones marking spaces one car away from each other) and joined masked beachgoers in an exodus-style line of walkers. As we strolled, the sky opened wide with changing colors from muted, hazy ones to glowing, vibrant sun streaks of reddish-orange.  There was the low hum of beach family conversation and activity from zip liners in the massive new structure facing the beach.  It was a night to remember so a digitally-created memory was a must.

chasing serenity

eventide at the beach

sea, sand, and sky intersect

©CV, 2020

It's Slice of Life Tuesday so I will share my virtual walk

with the Two Writing Teachers community of writers.

Note:

With summer around the globe estranged in many ways due to COVID-19, I am gathering a collection of image poems for my #EmbraceableSummer Gallery Collection.  If so inclined, join in the fun of creating image poems on the topic, Summer 2020 in the Midst of Quarantine Life. I am hosting Poetry Friday at my blog on September 4, 2020 where I will share creative work to showcase the beauty of summer even during trying times.   

Celebrate a Summer State of Mind

The day opened with a sky filled with bright sunshine. An intense warmth enveloped every living object so when my husband suggested, "Let's go to the beach," we quickly readied ourselves for the short jaunt. While the calendar read Labor Day, the official day the beaches close, we were not ready to say goodbye to summer. Off we went!

Others were not letting go of summer either as evidenced by the packed parking lot. Children were chatting away under the coolness of the outdoor showers and families were unloading their cars with beach paraphernalia. Rows of lifeguard chairs were stacked in the area in front of the dunes.

I paused for a moment to photograph the lifeguard chairs in need of an end-of-summer overhaul, thinking here in the sand lay the hope that summer continues on.

Like a group of pioneers crossing the desert with heavy possessions, beachgoers trudged through the expanse of sand leading to the shoreline. The sun's rays were heating the sand to the point that sandals were needed every inch of the way. I stopped to rest a bit before continuing the heated walk. As my feet sank into the sand, I remembered what a beach medic told me a few summers ago. "Be careful when walking in the sand on a hot day. You can easily get feet burns from the heated sand." 

Once happily situated near the shore, I edged my toes in the sand, enjoyed the breeze whipping past me, and continued to read my beach book, The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner. 

Ah! What can be better than a summer state of mind?

I hope you enjoyed a summer state of mind as I did but like Charlie Brown, 

I say, "Sigh...there goes another summer, Snoopy!"

😎

Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers

Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres

End-of-Summer on Fire Island

Labor Day took its bow last evening, marking the close of an eventful summer and the beginning of school on Long Island. While still in summer mode, I prepared for an end-of-beach season day on Fire Island. One more day of easy living in summer mode is what I was looking forward to before gearing up for the year ahead. What better way to spend it than with friends.

The day started out with lovely "beach" weather, warm with a sky full of sunshine, making travel to Bayshore for the ferry ride to Fire Island delightful. Since beach season "slowed down", there were few travelers on the ferry so there was plenty of room on deck to capture the beauty of the Great South Bay until the wind picked up. 

Then, it was time to keep my hand on my hat so not to have it whoosh away into water. 

When we landed on Fire Island, we were greeted by our friends at the small but inviting ferry station. There are no roads on Fire Island so travelers leave the dock by walking, biking, or in our case, riding in the courtesy cart that looks like a surrey without the fringe on top or a larger version of a golf cart. The afternoon was slow-paced, enjoyable, and full of friendly conversation and picture taking. 

Finding Serenity at the Beach 

Listening to the Waves Roar

Watching the Butterfly Flutter

The end-of-summer outing was a truly special time to enjoy the lure of the beach with friends. 

There was good food and drink, good conversation, and good memories to be had on Fire Island.

While I did not capture a fiery sunset, like my host,

Photo by Dennis Brady, 2017

 I did watch the sky turn colors at twilight,

see a magnificent full moon over the Great South Bay,

feel the wind blow my hair until it felt like sticky cotton candy, and remember Long Island's summertime magic.

🌻

It is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers,

a time to share a slice of my day.

Stop back please to view more sunkissed moments of summer

when I unveil my global, online Sunkissed Summer Gallery.

End-of-Summer Thought:

Summer drifts on by

leaving its footprints in the sand.