about year and a half ago today, i was still traveling ireland. I was in strandhill in co mayo, its build on the beach and is one of the best surf spots in all of ireland, I managed to hitch a ride there with some lovely polish girls and arrived at about 5:30 or dawn anyway.
I walked down onto the beach and just sat back and relaxed, i just let the sound of the ways breaking off the beach block out all other noise and i was for a time at peace. A perfect moment.
Suddenly a girl sits down next to me. about my age, only a foot away and a total stranger and she just sat down next to me and was staring out into the ocean like i was just doing, so i just went back to watching and listening to the waves. But ofcourse i could not enjoy it anymore because there was a million questions flying through my head. who is she, why is she not talking, is she crazy, am i crazy is she real, is this a dream.
Then she takes a deep breath and turns to me and says “hi”, She was quite beautiful, and i have traveling for about 5 months now, i had a thick beard and long hair for a guy so i must have looked like a bit of a tinker to her. So anyway i managed to mumble out a quite “hello” in response. Im always shy with people i just met, cant barely say a word to them.
Then she says “are you competing today?” I think i said” am… i ah….. am ….. no…no im not. Competing in what?”
She said “there is a surf competition on today, i couldnt sleep, i just thought you couldnt either”
I said ” no no, i just got here, im traveling ireland you see, and i love beaches so here i am.”
She smiled and said “Well you picked a good day, it should be crazy on the beach today”
Then we went back to silence and as we both turned our gazes back to the ocean and watched the sunrise. it felt like time stood still, even though we were complete strangers i felt a kind of warmth i cant explain. That was the day i realised that our lives are made of moments we hold onto and treasure, and all the magic moments i can remember I AM NOT ALONE, I have always wanted to be alone, but my fondest memories are times either with my family or friends. I need them, I tried to push them, but alone is not happy, its just alone.
When about an hour passed, or what felt like an age, she said “well i have to get ready now, and thanks”
I said “For what”
She said ” for just being here”
And then she ran back up the steps and i never say her again.
Moments….
Peace 🙂
1 comment
Nice experience… and I’ve had a similar situation or few at the beach. I’d go to the beach quite often and just watch the water and the sand. It was rather peaceful and it was a good place to collect my thoughts… or, to the contrary, think of nothing. Occasionally, a stranger would walk up and do the same thing… Sometimes we’d exchange a few words… and then the time would end… and I wouldn’t see them again.