i sat back and watched...
trying to soak up everything about today's time on the beach.
the vast green-blue ocean, full of wonder, possibilities, fear and hope.
the endless blue sky with still no sign of rain.
the whisps of clouds floating in the sky.
the cool and aggressive breeze keeping me slightly chilled.
the specks of gold glistening in the sand.
the four-ship of pelicans soaring uniformly, yet freely, looking ever so closely for their next meal.
the ship. the gigantic vessel. moving slowly across the sea. resembling a child's toy from the distance.
the three military boats perfectly aligned and spaced, only to spark my curiosity as to what they are doing.
the various aircraft flying overhead. jets. tankers. helos.
one can't help but stare in awe.

i sat back and watched...
my three children running across the barren beach.
jumping the waves.
playing with sand toys and building sand castles.
hunting for the next best shell, so excited to show me each and every magnificent treasure.
their faces and bodies covered with sand and salt.

it was just us on the beach, the military portion of coronado's beach. no one else for miles of the open sand except for the training military seals. i watch these future seals. i watch them in awe. first two appear. they run up and down the hill, into the water, only to immediately get back up and run back up and down the hill. my guess is that they were fullfilling their assigned punishment. later it's the whole unit of trainees. they all do the same, although push-ups are now added in the series. then they gather together in formation and being to run, in the opposite direction as us. i can't help but watch them as they fade into the distance. thinking about these seals, i am fascinated. these men running up and down the beach, doing exactly what they are told, time and time again, are being trained...trained to possibly kill someday or at the least aggressively fight the enemy. all this amazing beauty on the beach and these guys are training...training to fight, win and even kill, if necessary. the beach. the military seals. they amaze me, each for their own reason.

sitting on this beach always seems to result in a catharsis of emotions and feelings for me. no one is watching. no one is listening. it's a time when my mind can wander and free itself. it's just me and my thoughts and an occasional book. but i always give myself time to sit back, think, soak it all in and simply enjoy. being in the military, i'm thankful for the opportunity to live here and be able to experience this on a regular basis.

the beach photo attahced to this entry was from my maternity session yesterday. it was what i saw when i arrived. magnificent and amazing. click on the photo to view larger.