One of my Favorite Places

Do you see what I see?  Do you see the houses, so close to the water that the waves crash underneath them? Do you see the sun rising over the water?  Do you see the bright blue sky, the water rolling, the empty beach just waiting for your footprints? 

Do you hear what I hear?  Do you hear those waves crashing, thundering over the ground?  Do you hear seagulls cawing, children laughing, the sun greeting you hello?  

Do you smell what I smell?  Do you smell the salt in the air?  Do you smell the sunshine, the fresh sea air?  Do you smell the BBQ on the deck, sunscreen on your skin?

Do you feel what I feel?  Do you feel the sand beneath your toes?  Do you feel the water hitting your thighs?  Do you feel the greasy sunscreen coating your skin? Do you feel the sun’s rays beating down on you?

I see, hear, smell, and feel all these things when I think of one of my favorite places, sitting in a chair outside of a rented house on the beach in North Carolina.