Once it was

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

early 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 and a few empty waves

always joined by a water brother or two

a surf session usually punctuated

by a wipeout

and the always pleasant bodysurf / swim in

leashes? what's that?

sometimes someone

a friend, a stranger

would grab your board

and caddy it out

or at least meet you

halfway

soon enough

the crowds fill in

people setting up big umbrellas

the sand wiped clean

ready for the next customer

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