My Adventures in Writing

My garden loves the summer when the sun is warm. It’s not as fond of the hot heat but it sure likes those warm days. I can almost see it grow right before my eyes. The tomatoes turn from pale green to bright orange in what seems like just a day. There are new flower each day, ready to become the next fruit.

The one plant that I have been watching for months is my lone sunflower. It survived the trample of the dog’s feet and has even gone without water for a few weeks. You see, it’s at the very edge of the garden where the garlic has already been harvested. Before it was very tall, it was easy to miss. But now, it towers above me, at least six feet tall. It now faces the east, and the rising sun.

This week the sunflower has begun to open, showing me it’s burgundy color. It’s so beautiful. I am in awe because it is so different than the usual yellow sunflower. It’s so dark and has so much character. I am excited to see that there are other flowers waiting to open. I am thrilled with this one flower of my garden.

I can still imagine the sand between my toes and feel the movement of the waves if I close my eyes. The glow of my tan skin makes me do a double-take every so often, thinking wow, am I really that tan? The cool breeze tonight feels so different compared to the slight but necessary breeze of the Caribbean. Here the feel of the wind almost feels like cheating - it is so drastic. In Mexico, the sweltering heat and humidity made the slight stirring of the air seem like a knight in shinning armor. The slightest movement made all the difference, even if only brief. Without the breeze, it was almost unbearable. When stepping out of the air conditioned room, sweat came almost immediately, paired with an instant thought of, where’s the closest water we can jump in? The walk to the beach took us passed several sparkling swimming pools. They were like mirages as we aimed for the sea.

Once we stepped into the salty, turquoise water, there was no turning back. Like a still-warm bath, the water was inviting, with the mesmerizing roll of the waves. We floated and bobbed, chatting and laughing. Some of the best conversations were had while in waves. The view from the water gave us a different perspective than from shore, as we inconspicuously watched the sun bathers, sandcastle builders, volleyball players and beachcombers.

The snorkeling gave an even diverse perspective, as the world under the water came alive to us. Blue, yellow, and purple flashed before us as the fish darted by. They seemed to be having just as much fun as we were, moving with the motion of the waves. From above, this world was invisible. Yet once it was seen, it was not forgotten. The coral, fish, skates and other creatures came to mind each time I stepped into the water.

Back from vacation, the pictures we took have been downloaded and shared. Looking at each one is like a peek back in time. The sights, sounds and smells come to mind and it’s like I’m there. Will this last? I want to capture it all and not forget one moment.