The Pacific Ocean

California Dreaming: Part 1

Seams Like a Story is taking a break from sewing to go on some summer adventures. My “California Dreaming” series features three posts from a recent trip to Southern California. This first post takes me to the shores of San Diego, a half a day’s drive, but worlds away from my home in the desert Southwest.

Life on Hold

We’d been planning this trip with our friends for some time. Waiting for vaccinations. Waiting until it was safe to travel with precautions. Waiting for the world to exhale. Excited to be making our first timid steps back into the world after a year of turmoil and isolation. The past year had taken it’s toll on us all.

We rented a small bungalow just a few blocks from the ocean. We’d planned to do some sightseeing in San Diego: Balboa Park, The USS MIdway Battleship Museum, Little Italy, Old Town; but I was most excited to see the ocean. It had been several decades since I’d stepped foot in the warm waters of the Gulf Coast, and even longer since I’d seen the Pacific. I love my home in the desert; the mountains and Saguaros ground me. But lately, I’ve been longing for the ocean. 

Toes in the sand

I couldn’t wait. Once we’d checked in and dropped off our bags, I headed to the beach, practically running ahead of the others. It was too chilly to swim. I rolled up my jeans and kicked off my shoes, feeling the cool, wet sand squeeze between my toes. For the longest time I stood, breathing the salt-tinged air, listening to the crash of the waves, gazing at water so expansive it bent around the horizon.  

I walked along the edge of the beach where land mixed with sea, each footstep landing on the very edge of our continent, while water that had traveled the world tickled my toes. I marveled at surfers, graceful and athletic in their wetsuits, at times riding in beautiful harmony with the sea, other times being tossed aside at the whim of the waves. An elegant sea bird walked delicately on stilt legs, perfectly navigating the ebb and flow of the water. 

We spent four wonderful days in San Diego. I returned to the beach each afternoon. On our last night, Ed and I gathered with our friends on a cliff overlooking the ocean to watch the sunset. I’d brought along a thermos of wine and plastic cups and we toasted the sea as it swallowed the sun. For a few golden moments, I was connected to the earth, the water, the sun. Released from the grip of anxiety, my soul expanded.

Mar Pacifico

After braving perilous seas and sailing though the Straits that bear his name, Ferdinand Magellan entered an unfamiliar ocean. Compared to the rough spell he’d just been through, he found this body of water to be calm and tranquil at the time. He named it Mar Pacifico, “peaceful sea.”

We’ve come through some rough seas during this past year or so. Now I know why I longed to come to the ocean.

Peace.

Here’s to you, Pacific Ocean. Thanks. For everything.