Home after a long absence

Cold clean sand underfoot

Makes that special “squeak” you don’t hear anymore

With so much dirt in the sand

But it’s here this morning

Welcoming me back

As I walk along

My favorite stretch of beach

You can still beach comb

They can't bring in the big machines

To groom this tiny stretch of sand

The swell isn’t as good as earlier in the week

The tide a little too high

But it’s my first surf in months

So I don’t complain

In fact I'm giddy with excitement

The time honored ceremony is the same

The surf check

The suit up

The walk

My wetsuit is dry

Dry as my whistle

Dry as my gills

Dry to the bone

I stretch and I walk

The water surrounds my ankles

And I’m home

After a long absence