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Monday, June 20, 2011

A Love

Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove, California
This year a new love blossomed in my soul. Its been there always, this part of me. But it grew fiercely stronger in the past few weeks with my travels to the Oregon Coast and to California. I don't need to touch it, just to know that it is there is enough. The ocean is my haven of peace, security and calm. It heals me. I could sit for hours by the water with not a thing to do and never feel a hint of boredom. Even with the cool June gloom of the California coast I was at ease. But bring that same weather back to Idaho and I feel miserable and lock myself away inside.

Zen Beach
Beach totems
I find it therapeutic and almost meditative to walk along the beach. Searching. Listening. Feeling. Smelling. In Oregon I declared a mission to find sea glass to start a collection, but found sand dollars instead. In California I trudged along the coast searching for pretty shells and found sea glass as well. The ocean offers up her gifts to those who are willing to search, who have patience to watch and who have the eyes to truly see her beauty. Every grain of sand is a treasure, every rock a monument and every broken shell a story of beauty. I honor it all.

The start of a collection
The start of a collection
For now we call Boise, Idaho home, far away from the roar of the waves. I can only hope that some day, in this lifetime my home will be a cozy beach cottage along the shores of the sea. Until then I will visit when I can, dream when at all possible and remember the sights, sounds and smells of what is left behind.

9 comments:

  1. I love your photographs and your writing.
    "For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it's always ourself we find in the sea"
    E.E.Cummings x

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  2. This is a lovely post, Celina. I love your photographs -- especially that one of the beginning of your collection. I find it interesting that in OR you set your intention to find glass and were rewarded with shells...and just the opposite happened in CA. A reminder of sometimes the universe knows better than we do what we need, when we need it. I also totally understand about what you mean when you say that you don't have to touch the sea to want to be near it; I feel much the same way.

    Could you enlighten us readers as to what sea glass is?

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  3. Gorgeous photos. Living here at the edge of the ocean is the fulfillment of a childhood dream for me. Holding space that you get here too - when the time is right.

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  4. oh dear celina!! i concur!! i am searching for that roar of nature that is calling me home. i am soaking in these beautiful images!

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  5. celina, this is a beautiful post.

    i feel so incredibly in love with the california ocean too. collecting and stacking rocks on the beach is one of my most blissful moments in life.

    we live about twenty minutes from bodega bay in northern california. i love to fly a kite by the ocean. you are always welcome to come visit.

    xo

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  6. YAY! Sea glass :) As someone who grew up near an ocean and who now lives the farthest from it possible, I understand the longing and the peace the ocean brings. May we both hold a piece of it in our hearts. xoxo

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  7. Elizabeth - From Wikipedia: Sea glass is glass found on beaches along oceans, bays, rivers or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the waves, water and sand, creating smooth, frosted shards of glass.
    So basically it is beautiful trash. :)

    Diane - that would be lovely to visit The Inn sometime. :)

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  8. so much beauty!!

    i love your fledgling jar of seaglass and remember longing for it so badly and then the day i spent on stanton island picking up piece after piece and marveling at the beauty. i am still sending you some of mine to add to your collection. xoxox

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  9. I share in your affection for the sea and dream of one day living on the coast, too.

    Beautiful post.

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