Moonlight Beach

Checked out Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, CA last evening:  Yep, it was still there! Even after the lock-down.

People were milling about with no particular reason, except that the beach was open... even though the parking lots were closed so you couldn’t easily access it.  (Passive aggressive control, don’t you know.)  Lots of young and old, adorned in signature black wetsuits, were carrying their boards, coming and going, as surfing was ok. 

Families came with their kids just to experience the freedom:  it was like the free entrance to a street happening.   Teenagers were everywhere dodging yellow caution tape wrapped around seats to prohibit sitting – forced social distancing.  Some visitors were wearing masks, kerchiefs and bandanas, all types of styles and colors.  And some weren’t.

The lifeguard tower’s loudspeaker droned on as the sky darkened from the fading day: “Keep moving, stay six feet apart.  Don’t loiter or you’ll lose your privilege to use the beach.  Only use the beach for exercise.  Keep walking or running.  No Stopping!”  Something eerie about being instructed by a faceless person on how to use a public beach. 

The thick marine layer draped heavily over the beach and out over the reddish-colored surf, beyond the horizon, was a thin line of yellow sky beckoning.   It was way out there.  How far?  Not sure.  But there was hope that maybe an awesome sunset would reward those watching while surfers carved in and out on small waves in celebration of the lifting of restrictions.

Walking down the beach, people acted like it was their first visit.  They were amazed at seaweed being pushed onto the beach with each in-coming wave.  Kids kicked up freshly soaked sand, rinsed with salt water, which stuck to their toes  Some were in awe of the small stacks of beach stones balanced on each other set up on a ledge under the overhanging bluff which leaked water like the spray from a rain forest. Cellphone cameras where being used to record selfies and babies in dim light even as a breeze cooled the beach.

Finally, that distant strip of yellow light began changing colors and the tip of an orange ball began to emerge.  Some stopped to look in reverence, others kept up their cadence without a glance.  The sun broke through the dense marine layer and magnified its glow which spilled all the way to the water’s edge.  And two surfers passed by with nary a glance; maybe they have seen it so many times, it didn’t register, as they made their way past an old, dead piece of driftwood.

But the for the moment, it was like discovering the magnificence of a first sunset.  It had a freshness and brilliance to it which roused the spirit.  The gift has always been there for the taking; even a lockdown or a plague can’t wipe it out.