“Get your camera, the regatta starts in 15 minutes!” a half-breath squeak came from the office next to mine… “regatta, remember? We missed it by an hour last year! C’mon!”.
Usually, I don’t comply with commands if I don’t “get it”, but this time the thought of being out in the sunlight sparkled all over my brain. “oh, yeah! out breathing the salt. I can do that”. I grabbed my camera and ran.
The breeze ruffled my hair like a mother’s embrace, and in the cool, shimmering blue, they showed up. Bunched up together, like the floats of a puffed up dandelion.. wobbling on the waves, tiny at first, then bigger and bigger. The seawall was full of photographers, both amateurs and professionals, all trying to catch that one shot that will transform a simple picture in an animated message of greatness at sea. I aimed my camera and shot. From the depths of my soul, not from the tip of my gaze. No need for the perfect photo, just a memento of this moment, when time stopped and gave way to my feelings to go awry without any unwanted consequences!
I looked around at the people, all in awe of the beauty. I stepped on the jetty, among the crowd, trying to get closer. A gust of wind blew my hair undone, and made it float around me like in a fall.. Then time stood still. I heard the squeak near me, saying something I couldn’t understand. I moved to the edge. Took the “one picture I will ever want to take”. Couldn’t see a thing with my hair all over the place… Turned around, and walked away. Walking back on the seawall, I gathered my mane back into a pony tail. Squeak dragged me into the street, we managed to get to the middle without any cars running us over, and as we were contemplating running to the other side, a truck stopped, and gallantly offered us way. I bowed, and my hair came undone again…oh, well! The person waved and kept going.
Back in the office I dared look at the photos… not too bad. But then, again, it’s just a parade… that feeling will always fill me when I see them, but not the others…or maybe they’ll feel a little bit of breeze… that would be great!
Ah, but such a special parade.
Oh, PJ, it was so bold! And freeing!
You took me right out onto the jetty with you. Lovely pics and words.