22 August

A garden of stones at the beach

When we first moved to this rather tiny island it was a cold and stormy valentine's

 day. We ordered take away Chinese food and ate at the dining room table 

surrounded by piles of old books tied together with twine.

  

The surf crashed outside our windows

 but we were warm and cozy inside our beach house. 

In the Spring I ventured outside to the beaches.

At the beginning I couldn't bear to part with any of my little treasures...

Joe said he would look out the window and see me 

walking the beach and across the street toward home 

with a handful of stones, a pocketful of beach glass 

or a piece of driftwood thrown over my shoulder.

All through that first summer I found tiny treasures left upon the beaches. 

Clam shells nestled into each other babushka style, 

beautiful heart shaped rocks left in conspicuous places 

where the sun would shine upon them, 

circles of starfish and many letters spelling out messages in the sand 

with small stones, shells, or driftwood. 

Slowly...

I began to nurture the ability to let go of my need to carry everything home with me.

 I left things on the beach for others to see. 

I began to build blessings for the next person to see...

I planted blessings....

I built cairns-towers of rocks, 

I built sandcastle villages with flags and glistening sea glass towers, 

and I planted stone flowers....

It's hard to know who will come upon the little blessings 

which I leave behind

I hope it brings them joy.

friday finds