Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Greetings from Another Planet


It was well over seventy degrees yesterday, in southern California, and I managed to convince The Husband to tear himself away from his mistress and escort us to the beach. The children had the day off, and Sophie, being Sophie, woke up mysteriously better after four days of seizures and sweating and drooling and me on my knees beside her bed crying for mercy. We packed up the car and headed over.


The water was very, very cold and very, very greenish-blue, and there were just a handful of people hanging out. Women were still in bikinis, though, and some children even braved the water. My boys immediately began digging in the sand. The Husband and Sophie went walking.


I stared at the surfers who stared out at the waves.


Have I ever told you how much I love surfers? It's definitely what I'm going to be in my next life -- that's what karma is for, right?


The Big O insisted on setting up the umbrella even though it's missing a crucial line of tube.


Henry is starting to look a little glamorous of late, no?


He's still mine, though. Thank goodness.


The Mermaid was, once again, intent on walking into the ocean.


The beach is one of the few places where Sophie is somewhat independent (meaning I don't hold on to her for dear life). She'll wander off but at least if she falls, the sand is soft and cushioned. Nonetheless, Henry was very protective.


Man? Woman? I told you we live on another planet.


This guy and his tattooed girlfriend and their muscled buddy looked threatening, but when I eavesdropped on their conversation, this is what I heard: Man, this big hole right here is dangerous. We need to mark it so those little kids don't fall in. Appearances are deceptive.






She's elusive and deceptive, that girl in the pink hat. We never, never know what's next.

34 comments:

  1. You're family and heart and eyes and soul are so incredibly beautiful.
    Thank you for sharing this...
    Glad you had a beach day. Regardless of what planet you live on. It looks pretty heavenly to me.

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  2. Your kids are beautiful and I'm glad hubby put the mistress aside for a minute and went to the beach too ha ha
    Sorry to hear you and Sophie had extra difficult days. It's good to hear things have eased up

    that she-man/him-her is scary

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  3. Thank you for sharing these photos--beautiful! As I sit here looking out onto snow-covered rooftops, you have given me my summer. Thank you!!

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  4. You do have to love SoCal don't you? We were cooped up in an ER most of yesterday, but it was gorgeous outside!

    That s/he is hilarious. LOL We sure do see some weird sights on our beaches! :)

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  5. What a wonderful day! So glad you had a good day together and the release of being carefree for a few hours.

    Beautiful pictures. Loved the surfers and the spiky green hair--and the overheard comment. You're right, we never know.

    Have been meaning to say, love the new masthead photo.

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  6. Water has a way of bringing peace. I'm glad after a few shaking days, you all were able to enjoy this special day. A very beautiful family you have inside and out my friend. xo

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  7. Thank you for the photos. Your children are beautiful!
    I've been working on a post about my own. About their not being around for Sunday dinner. I guess about letting go. My youngest and his new bride just moved from 70 miles away to 900 miles away. The oldest and his bride live in California. I miss them!

    Please, no more posts about sunshine and warm temps. Too hard to take here in the frigid midwest! But, as long as you have them, enjoy!

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  8. Thank God for the beach. I am SO happy that you all got to go there together. Sun, sand, salt, sea...all so healing to the spirit, each in their own way.
    May the peace and beauty of this day remain with you and bless you. Praying with you for mercy. XOXO

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  9. amazing! so much I love about this post E. Mostly the hand holding, kisses and protectiveness going all around - even from the guy in the mohawk. Sweet sweet sweetness.

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  10. What a great day - what a great post!! So much going on,
    I would stare at the surfers too.
    Henry is very glamorous.
    Great for Sophie to have some independence (know what you mean about hanging on for dear life).
    Man - woman - man - woman - oh, I don't know!
    The girl in the pink hat is beautiful.

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  11. I take the girl with the pink hat. But you already know that.

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  12. what a small world....we saw that mohawk guy and his friends at a carls jr last night. how bizarre is that?!

    your pictures are wonderful...such a beautiful family!

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  13. I love this post, your writing, you, your kids and the husband. "non e' l'abito che fa il monaco", the saying goes, appearances are deceptive, and appearances are just what they are, the outside. It is also true that it's not always easy to get to the inside. Sounds like this was an inside kind of day for you.

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  14. Love to you all. I loved your writing from the previous post. T

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  15. Sometimes less words say it best. Loved this.

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  16. I hate judging, but that man/woman person freaks me out. And the girl with the pink hat is beautiful. So sad to hear she hasn't been feeling well.

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  17. What a stunning day. I'm glad to see dear mermaid looking so well again. They sure know how to scare us, yes?

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  18. thank you for taking me along...i felt sand in my toes as i marveled at your mermaid, your beautiful family.

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  19. Such gorgeous pictures--I'm so glad the day was a good one. Good days are forever, you know.

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  20. I love the beach, especially the sea. It is home, and you transport me there every time you write about it! I'm glad it was a great day for you, for Sophie and your boys.

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  22. What a great post! Sunshine, February at the beach! Oh our California never ceases to amaze, no? And I love these pictures of your family, so beautiful through your lens. Your images are sensitive and tender... and I am roaring at the he/she (sorry, I couldn't help myself!)! Maybe THAT'S the answer; be mysterious. Of course, I am not sure what the question is...

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  23. I love the beach too, it seems magical to me!

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  24. thanks for bringing us along. i feel like i´ve just had a little escape from the gray and cold. kisses!

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  25. I have tears in my eyes. That took my breath away. I love visiting other planets.

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  26. so beautiful.

    the day, your family, your henry(!), and yes...surfers staring at the waves. i love them, too.

    when i look into the ocean of those brown eyes, i can see it; sophie as she is here, contemporaneously swimming depths i can only imagine.

    xo

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  27. Oh my, thank you for sharing that lovely day. You have beautiful children. I love how some things just make sense.

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  28. Been looking for new hairdo inspiration, and the latest beach fashion. Thanks 4 the west coast style primer -- and your perpetually amazing own style, my writer friend.

    My girls have dibs on glamour boy.

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  29. Beautiful post of your beautiful family.

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  30. OH how i LOVE this post! the pictures are gorgeous, funny, moving, and like a salve for this grey grey winter day.

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  31. Those pictures are worth more than a thousand words each.

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  32. Oh, this post is fabulous!! LOVE your humor and these shots are so great... especially your ridiculously gorgeous kiddos!!

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  33. That looks like an awesome way to spend a February day.

    Btw, from the looks of the other beach goers that day, you do live on another planet.

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