Saturday, July 3, 2010

Beach combing #3: what remains





The sea is amazing beyond words that I possess. It always reminds I am no larger or more important than any one of the grains of sand that guard it.

These are some things I found on my walk the other morning: remains of sea plants, remains of sea life, and a relic that was once a weight for a lobster trap. My son's grandfather, who did not live long enough to know my son grew into a knowledgeable waterman in his own right, was once a fisherman off this coast. A single man in his own, small, dory, he earned a living for his own family in these waters in this time honored occupation. Now my son free dives in these same waters to feed his own young family...one more of life's cycles.

I doubt the person who made this weight and used it ever could have imagined it would roll to shore and be shared with people all around the world one day...isn't that cool.

6 comments:

Penni said...

Could your son's grandfather (your own father?) have used that very weight? Thanks for the photos, it makes me feel I've been beachcombing with you!

Taos Sunflower said...

Hi Penni: Who knows! That would make a nice completion of that circle, wouldn't it. It was his dad's father, so I didn't know him in those years when he fished off Swami's. Since you know the area, he talked about being out off the reef the day one of the old buildings at the SRF started slipping down the bluff...don't know the time period on that, but there is a plaque commemorating whatever it was in their meditation gardens. Now there's some history...

Anonymous said...

Yes, the cycle. I must beach comb soon.

Linda Huesca Tully said...

Hi Martie! Have been enjoying your beach posts immensely, as you are now talking my favorite place in the world - not any beach in particular, mind you, just ANY beach, period! I love the photos of your finds. To me, some of the most beautiful things one can find are the smallest - those miniature shells and stones that are usually overlooked by most people but are just as intricate as any of their larger cousins. My house is filled with beach treasures I've collected over the years, and I keep a tiny box filled with miniature shells in my drawer at work so that I can always have the sea close by.

Take care - sending good thoughts your way!

Linda

Taos Sunflower said...

Linda! I've thought of you as I've done those walks and these postings. Perhaps one day we can do that walk together. More soon...Martie

Sea Mist and Sunsets said...

Hi Martie,
Love all these magical beach shots. Finding things out there with special markings ect, feels like finding buried treasure.
Hugs, Chris