Wonder-full tonight

‘A sense of wonder, so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years - is the best gift one could bestow on oneself.’ ~ Rachel Carson

What snuffs out our sense of wonder? What kills that inner child in us?

A night at seaside revealed to me, splendors of ‘the ordinary joys’.

It looked mysterious in its calm, and then suddenly it surged towards me, with an eager welcome. Involuntarily I stepped back, my clothes wet with the quick spray. Seeing my reluctance the white surfs just rolled away, looking like the wavering lines of folded snow, and the wet sands clung to my bare feet. I felt this sharp desire to run across the beach, feel the moist salty air on my face, and roll on the wet sands. I wanted to make sand castles and suck upon the ice candy like a five year old once again. As I watched in wonder the rise and fall of waves under a shimmering moonlit night...the sheer beauty of it brought a sudden wetness to my eyes. I looked around surreptitiously. There were too many people around me, the beach was dazzling with brightly lit eating joints and looked populated by the seasonal derelicts, vibrant youngsters and noisy children…some couples were strolling on the beach, holding hands with an air of self conscious intimacy about them.

My young friend was standing by my side with a bored expression. 'Look at this...' we both spoke at the same time...I wanted her to see the sheet of liquid silver beating down on the undulating waves…she screwed her face at the crushed cartons of juices, empty coconut shells, soiled paper plates, and twisted tissues scattered all around. ‘This place stinks...' she looked around in disgust. I looked at the sea, apologetically...it roared and a spray hit me once again. I licked the salt from my lips.

Perhaps I am the odd one. I reflected. Perhaps it is wiser to feel sorry about the filth and destruction of a beautiful beach than gushing over the moonlit waves...

I looked again at the rolling waves. It moved with such abundance, such liberty... Gosh! It’s been such a long time since I have felt such a sense of total freedom, since I have exclaimed at a rainbow with wonder. It’s been such a long time since I have stopped playing the role of soi-distant sophisticate and laughed at some silly joke with careless abandon. 
I have forgotten to love the tiny miracles of my inner child. 

I looked sadly at my companion. Her frown had deepened and she suggested that we rush back to our hotel. I insisted that we walk on the beach.  I wanted to savor the moist and salty night air a bit more. To feel cradled by the mildly crashing waves

My affinity with the sea was growing stronger, and the act of just standing and looking at the dark shimmering waters felt like meditation. I was beginning to feel the tranquil seep inside me…felt the winnowed effervescence washing away the dustiness of misgivings and remorse I had collected over the months. Oh to be washed clean....and feel light as air. To be able to do as one feels, give in to the pure delight of impulses, like those whimsical waves, and to be like a child once more....

The sea was tugging at my heartstrings…

‘Look.’  A touch on my arm. I looked at my young friend, expecting the bored look. She was showing me the large drop of water on her palm. Another one fell on the tip of my nose. It had started to rain. There was a smile on her face. Within minutes the moon hid behind the dark clouds and the drops turned into pour. People around us started to run for cover.

‘Let’s stay on the beach.’ She said suddenly. Her eyes gleaming now, at the thought of getting drenched.

Pure, simple delight of rain!

At last...someone else has found a miracle too...no matter how tiny it is. The idea of walking on the beach under a pouring night sky was magical. We had our faces up to the sky and I opened my mouth, sticking out my tongue to capture the crazy drops. It tasted of soil and salt. Within seconds it was raining. But the downpour was quick and lasted for few minutes only. Our clothes had large wet patches, our hair turned sticky and moist. We wiped our faces with our palms and looking at each other, burst into a silly laughter!  

‘Tonight...' I thought. ‘When I go to my hotel room I’ll admire once again the tiny petals of that flower in the vase’.

I just recalled that it curled so prettily at its center.