ONE OF THOSE DAYS

For years I have spent my weekends on the beach during our summer months. From late June until early September I take my beach chair to one of three or four beaches that I like, find a good spot, kick off my flip flops and soak up the sunshine and salty air. I never take a book. I can read at home. It makes no sense to have before me this wondrous meeting of land and sea and spend the day engrossed in a book.

A cocktail of anti-depressants, muscle relaxers, uppers, downers, ganja or whatever else people take to mellow out, would not have the effect on me that a day at the beach does. For this reason, unless a good friend schedules a wedding or a member of our immediate family has a birthday, I never miss. I wait all winter long for these summer days and there are only a few of them so I feel as though if I miss one it is like a page in my book of life without any words.

It has been years since my kids have gone with me. They used to but with each going their own way and having their own families and interests it is a rare treat when I have their company. Last weekend was just such a treat.

Even though we have been experiencing the coldest summer in southern California that I can remember, we hit a streak of hot weather. Scorned by those who live inland, we love it along the beach. Temperatures of 90 to 100 degrees there mean high 70’s for us. Perfect. Just before leaving for the beach I made a long shot phone call to my 2 youngest daughters. Would they like to join me? To my surprise, both said yes!

Now I was faced with a decision of which of my handful of favorite spots to go to. Each has its own special appeal for me. One has excellent surf. In fact I grew up surfing there. Finding a place to park there on a Sunday is a nightmare and there are no rest rooms. Not the best for my girls. Another spot has rest rooms and snack bars but you would be lucky to find a spot on the sand on a day like this when half of southern California heads for the beach to avoid the heat. I settled on a spot called Thalia Street in Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach is one of those ageless towns that oozes charm and you never tire of visiting. It has beautiful sandy beaches broken up by rocky points and coves.

After parking the car we walked down twisting rocky steps to the beach, staked out our spot and settled in. Three beach chairs and three straw hats in a row facing a sparkling ocean. My daughters broke out sandwiches, soft drinks and snacks that we munched on all afternoon. Through our sun glasses we watched the best a day at the beach has to offer. A parade of people unique to Laguna Beach, kids skim boarding, surfers ripping good sized waves, sail boats and fishing boats cruising by, sea gulls hovering , pelicans diving and Catalina Island visible in the distance. Occasionally a single engine plane struggling to stay aloft while towing an enormous banner advertising rum or beer passed just off shore. Dad was in heaven.

We stayed until the sun set. Moving our towels and chairs back as the tide came in, we were finally backed up against a cliff and forced to leave. It was one of those days that come along every blue moon but, as always, sharing something you have a passion for with someone you love is special.