For Whatever We Lose...

We had a day last Fall in Florida that we call "our perfect day."  It doesn't always happen that a day hits a high note for each member of our family, but it did this time.

I had a conference at the end of the week at Disney World, and brought the family along, seizing the opportunity.  While I conferenced, they visited the parks.  And though it was fun, it didn't make our dreams come true.

When my meetings wrapped up on Friday afternoon, we had the weekend ahead.  My brain was overloaded with new information, connections, and ideas.  The sun was warm, the return home to Saint Paul would be chilly.  A weekend on the ocean sounded right.

Using the resources of the internet to find the right place at the right price, we chugged across Florida to the gulf side on Friday night.  We checked into our simple and inexpensive hotel that included a kitchenette (funds were low, Disney is not cheap).  And, we were on the beach.

Day dawned and the sky was clear and the sun was up.  Glory!  An early morning walk pointed me right to a line of cabanas.  Hope sparked. I wanted a day in the cabana with a book and a view.  It was off season so rental was cheap.  For $20 it was ours for the day.

The weather was warm, but not too hot.  The ocean was cold, but not too cold to dip in.  The sand was just right for a sandcastle or two.  At the end of the day, the whole town gathered up and the sun went down.  The kids were happy and joyful, Matt and I were content and rested.  Miracle!

I came across this e e cummings poem -- it captured that day for me.  On the theme of Advent and sparking joy -- and on this second Sunday of Advent -- days "away from it all" renew my spirit and fill me with hope.  And, even looking back up on these pictures sparks joy.  We are lucky to have such a day - and I hope for more to come.  Special indeed.

maggie and milly and molly and may
e e cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea