until tomorrow

 

summer

it was my favorite time of the year

no school

early mornings spent soaking in the cool pacific brine

still the best treatment for chronic sunburn

cause and treatment both

drive thru the state park gate wave to the ranger

early so the beach cleanup tractors (sandboni?) hadn't removed yesterday’s debris

walking thru a mine field of trash and occasional treasure for a quick paddle out

a few empty waves

then always joined by a water brother or two

a "surf" session usually punctuated by a wipeout

and the pleasant bodysurf / swim

leashes? what's that?

sometimes someone a friend, a stranger

would grab your board and caddy it out or at least meet you half way

soon enough the crowds fill in

people setting up big umbrellas the sand wiped clean ready for the next bunch

3 dollar parking all day

the nameless faceless and relentless summer hoards arrive

or the wind would come up

and the day was reduced to absorbing stray rays until tomorrow