Sixty-Something: Enjoying That Beach Bench Breeze

What is more pleasant than sitting on a bench on a beach on a sunny day with a pleasant breeze? The truth is everyone is mesmerized at the foot of a large body of water. I have always believed that standing at the edge of where “matter” exists in its three stages in large volume, that being gas, solid, and liquid, somehow releases special energy that we all absorb and enjoy. This last weekend was an excellent example of why the East End of Long Island is a magical gem of a place to be. The ocean breeze had hints of the very warm weather summertime will soon bring. The waves were gentle, inviting, and sitting on that bench with my wife for perhaps almost an hour was a perfect respite before we continued our daily three to four mile “walk and talk.”

With so many vaccinations against the dreaded COVID-19 beginning to show positive results by lowering the numbers that have been used to gauge the ferociousness of the virus, many feel that they are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! It’s a wonderful, positive feeling knowing that the virus is in retreat and the worst is hopefully now behind us. Sitting on the bench with my wife, looking out at the water reminded us of how good it all can be when feeling the beams of the warming direct sunlight.

This last weekend, besides sitting with my lovely wife on a bench on the beach overlooking the water, I also finally launched my sailboat into the water and enjoyed a most pleasant Sunday sail all over Gardiner’s Bay. The first day back on the water of beautiful, historic Gardiner’s Bay, it always amazes me how clean the water and invigorating it is to be sailing on it again. It’s a “best of JFK” moment for me every time I raise my sails and the winds catch them just right. There is a wistful sound of the sails in the wind. The lack of motor noise and the quiet sailing experience is what draws it to me. Power boats have many positive attributes, but the loud sounds of gas and diesel engines churning water was never a favorite of mine. Yet, my dad loved it, to each there own.

Big blue sunny skies seem to bring out the best in everyone. On a beautiful day, you can’t help but notice that people are more upbeat, smiling and have a nice positive energy. The discussion during the sail on Sunday was about predicting what kind of summer 2021 is going to be. The conclusion was that it’s going to be a summer long coming out party, because almost everybody wants to celebrate life’s freedoms again After being told we can’t do this, and we can’t do that, we now understand the basic quality of being free just a touch better. We were speculating on whether or not there would be Fourth of July fireworks and were wondering if some of the events like East Hampton Library’s Authors Night will be back on the calendar in full throttle this summer? In the end, we were predicting hopefully a yes.

There was a time when I saw old folks perched on high ground, overlooking the beaches on benches and wondered what they thought about. Now at sixty-something years old, I understand. My mother was sitting on such a bench at Ditch Plains Beach a few years before she passed and said to me, “I look out at the ocean, and I still feel your dad and me on the boat with all our kids, I remember his smile, I remember him at his best. Now I just look out there hoping and wishing a mirage of him on the boat might appear.” Then she smiled at me and said, “Besides, it’s beautiful just peacefully looking out at the ocean and feeling this wonderful ocean breeze right on this bench.”