Beach

Tonight the kid and I took the two dogs for a walk on the beach.
The rest of the state is having a huge heat wave, but here on the coast it is foggy and chilly. I like the cooler weather but I hate the fog. I don't like the feeling of not seeing anything. Most of the time I can see the ocean and all the lights of the town. During the summer months, in the evening, no ocean and no town. Just gray. For some reason it gives me the willies and I pull the blinds closed and read.Since it is cloudy and chilly, the tourists enjoy the beach from the warmth of their hotel rooms, which leaves it wide open for the locals to walk around on. And to let the dogs run wild and chase tennis balls. Olive chases Herbie. Herbie chases his beloved, the green tennis ball.
Herbie lives for his tennis balls. He knows where they all are at any given moment of the day. If one so much as thinks about moving, he immediately brings it right back to his side. He sleeps with them, sets them by him while he eats and guards them faithfully from Olive. If one rolls under a chair where he cannot retrieve it. He will lay there and cry his little pitiful cry until someone moves the chair. They are a way of life for him. Olive on the other hand, couldn't care less about a tennis ball but she is always up for a game of lets send Herbie head over heals in the sand. She achieves this feat of wonder by just running smack dab into him and a tumblin' he goes. As long as she doesn't make any contact with the beloved, he is fine with taking a sand bath. If she inadvertently touches the beloved, Herbie turns on her like a mama bear defending her cub.

So tonight Herbie ran his little fireplug of a body all over the beach. Olive danced and pranced her way into every crab carcass she could find. Herbie carried his ball with delight. Olive rolled in seaweed. The kid took pictures. I breathed deeply and looked for my inner peace, then Olive stomach punched me and I decided "screw inner peace pay attention before she ruptures a kidney or two."
We walked and ran and caught our kodak moments, then turned and came home as the heavy fog descended upon us. The dogs are tired. The beloved is wet and covered with sand. Now we shall eat guacamole in front of the fire. Perfect!