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| Blogs > RickySpin01 > Salon De Sapience |
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WALKING ALONG MANHATTAN BEACH I was walking along the strand in Manhattan Beach. I had parked at Bruce’s Beach and it was just before sunrise. I could see the Hermosa Beach Pier about two miles to the south. I checked the time and I decided to walk to the Pier and enjoy the dawn. In the red glow of the morning I could see a tanker anchored a little to the north. The hills were purple blue with the dawn twilight and the water was like purple black obsidian. As I walked there were surfing in the perfectly formed waves. The lefts and the rights breaking so evenly that they would form an erect peak, a traveling, foaming vortex where they met. The perfect roll of the breakers meeting and forming the shape of a woman’s legs welcoming love. Pelicans were gliding over the water, and then diving so perfectly. Each pelican would form a graceful spear and as they drove into the water there would be hardly a splash. Other people were walking. Others were jogging. Some with coffee. Some with dogs. Some with strollers. As the sun rose the colors changed. The reds and purples became lighter and the sky became blue. The water, the smooth beckoning water became blue. Some of the water was the crackling crystal blue of the sky. As the waves crossed the shallows the water became sparkling white blue. There was the shimmering green blue of the kelp beds. The dancing brown foam blue as the breakers reached the beach sand. The broad smooth clean sand of a California beach on a dazzling California morning in the California off season. As I walked I came upon a lovely setting. Two big easy chairs and an end table between them. All done in artiste’ concrete’. A celebration of consolidated sea shells, sand, beach glass and stone. On the back was an inscription: “Contemplate this view that I have enjoyed so long.” I smiled as I looked at the dazzling morning seascape and continued my walk. With each step I thought of this public sculpture. Of the woman who had dedicated it to all who might see and enjoy it. I thought of the Romans, of shovels and glistening, straining arms feeding the kilns. I thought of beautiful women dancing on concrete floors. I thought of the mountain of gypsum Kaiser had mined to a nub. On my way back from the pier, watching the surf, watching the people, watching the pelicans fishing I looked forward to seeing the concrete chairs again. When I got to the chairs on my way back I read the inscription again: “Contemplate this view that I have enjoyed so long.” So I did that. I tried sitting but standing felt better. So I stood and watched the symmetrical shape of the long waves as they rolled to the sand. I watched the surfers riding the waves and making patterns in the water. I watched the pelicans skimming the turbulent air and diving into the water. I watched as the pelicans surfaced and sat straining the water from their beaks. As the sun climbed I watched the water change from blue to blue to more blue. I watched as the waves formed their water tunnels and then I could see the face of Joan in the waves. Joan who I had loved and who had loved me. Joan of raven hair and shimmering white smile. Joan who’s love I had lost. The skin I pined for decorated with sapphires. Joan who’s love had comforted me and had guided me. I began to count the breakers reaching the beach. When I counted to 26, the number of years I have been alone, I became a pelican. I flew to the waves and I glided over the breakers and then I soared to the sky. I soared until the blue sky became black and the intense white diamond stars decorated the world. The silver ripe moon shone a beam to the waiting ocean. I followed the moon beam and then I dived toward the water. I became a spear and penetrated the water without a splash, so deep, so very, very deep, until I had become captured by the rapture of the deep. There I saw Joan. Her body, warm like café au lait, protecting me from winter snows. Her smile like the shining orb of the sun to welcome me. Wrapped in Belgium lace made from coral fans and decorated with swimming sapphire fish to dazzle me with her beauty. I felt her breasts pressed against my chest, her soft and delicate finger tips playing along my jaw as she kissed me welcome. Our bodies were liquid in the sea and the liquid of our bodies joined to follow the rhythm of the rolling surf. I felt the raven black glow of her hair as it wrapped around us, our legs entwined like rolling ripples of the sea bed. Her hands pressing against my shoulders to her breasts pressing against my chest and my hands holding her shoulders to me in a desperate grasp lest she slip away. Her lips so gently brushed my ear as I heard her whisper, “How will you love me?” “Forever,” was my whispered reply. My lips gently caressed her ear as I whispered, “How will you love me?” “For always” was her sweet whisper back. We were carried to the bottom and as we lie on the sea bed the sand swirled around us and we became buried, surrounded, covered in fine sand. The water around us began to erupt and foam in a crescendo of joy and we were carried to the bubbling surface and together we flew as pelicans. Together we were spears diving again and again into the delicious ocean water. We emerged and instead of floating to strain the catch we flew ever higher until the blue of the sky became black and the sun was replaced with the glowing stars. Bands of rubies, likes rings of Venus orbited Joan’s lips. Glowing rings of blue sapphires circled her waist. White diamonds surrounded her thighs. My chest was carved from the red rocks of Mars as we joined and together we flew. The moon shone a beam the color of golden aspen leaves and we followed the moon lit path and together we dived into the rocks. Together we became the molten magma of the Earth. She was flowing white quartz. Joan formed a cliff of towering beauty and specks of gold glinted as she smiled at her granite lover. Together the sun pulled us from the rocks and we became white crested eagles, our talons locked in sky dance like the roots of aspen trees. Slowly we descended and together we melded into the Sand Cliffs of Nebraska. Joan became the Princess of the Cliffs wrapped in white chiffon, adorned with swirling blue diamonds and I was the fog mist that shrouded her in loving beauty. So beautiful was Joan and so deep was my love that as the sun rose she melted with me and together we were swept into the Platte River. We tumbled in joy together through the rapids and when two pronghorns drank from the river Joan and I became the antelope and together we ran through the prairie grass in sheer joy. At last we came to rest. She lie under the prairie sun and I put my head on her back as she nuzzled me to comfort. At moon rise a beam shone upon us and we were lifted again skyward and Night Star guided us to the ocean and as we lay upon the sand, we became the sand. Then together, as two sand creatures we went to the chairs of concrete and sat upon them. As we sat the sun slowly rose and the perfect breakers became crackling blue with the sky and sparkling white as the waves crossed the shallows. We held hands, invisible to all but ourselves and the sun. The sun that kissed us, and, together we melted, holding hands forever as we melted into the concrete of the chairs. Forever holding hands as lovers came to sit, and, to stand, and, to kiss, and, to touch and, to contemplate the view that once we had so briefly enjoyed. |
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10/26/2008 8:55 am |
How very romantic. I haven't been in Manhattan beach in a long time!
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10/26/2008 9:56 am |
Ricky fantastic my friend thank you. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."....T. Paine
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Ricky me love... What a glorious mind you have and what an elegant writer you are...and what magical chairs those be! Thanks for taking me with you on your flight of remembrance and love. It mezmerized and warmed me to my very soul. Hugs... PrairieSky
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10/26/2008 12:36 pm |
Hi Rick Even us guys can enjoy and relate to your morning..Good job and thank you.. I too have many special memories here in California, mine is a little south of Manhattan Beach down in Laguna Beach..Its a place we named Tranquility Cove. About 1/2 mile north of the basketball court. It is so beautiful as was RB.. But, the only thing that lasts forever is .. memories .. Have a great day
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Ricky, My goodness it has been decades since I even thought of Manhatten Beach! and belive me, my visits there were never as awesome, inpireing or lovely as yours...ty for sharing this, extrememly well written, and captivating. Now, going to stop thinking about Your writing before I get very jealous 
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10/27/2008 3:39 pm |
Honey....this is a wonderful story. I've also walked California beaches and been mesmerized by the beauty. The tidal pools the whales and the bird life. It's beautiful....I've enjoyed the picture you painted in my mind. To find such love is the most beautiful thing in the world. You need to write a book. You are an amazing friend... Love you! Karen
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10/28/2008 8:51 pm |
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! now thats what i call romantic and breath taking all in one>Ricky i have always loved your writing . You are so very talented, Never put that pen down . Hugs to you , keep up the good work
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