I am greeted by a million twinkling stars glistening on the sunlit sea. Blue sky above me, ocean before me, coastal forest behind me, beach sand beneath my feet, mountains hazy in the distance – what more could I desire? There is nowhere else I’d rather be.
I start my joyful trek along the firm sand, with gentle wavelets creaming up over my feet in a never-ending cycle of advance/recede. And then the game is on. The first shell calls my name. “Look at me! Pick me up!”
What pleasure I experience collecting shells that attract me. There are no particular requirements, just that there is something about each one that appeals, whether it be colour, shape, patterning or lustre.
When the bag is full and my back is really tired, I call it quits and tell myself firmly, “That’s it. No more shells.” Ha!
Sure enough, it is not long before a lovely shell is screeching at me to pick it up. Do I abide by my firm decision? Heck no!
“Just one more…” More, and still more, end up floating around loosely in my backpack.
The next step is the blissful playing. The photo above is one example of what I do with my beach findings. Again, there is no specific end result in mind, just an enjoyment of different ways of placing my bounty. The shells are not perfect and my collages are very far from perfect, but they gladden my heart and brighten my day.
in South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia
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