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Circles in the sand just a home away from home BY J. G. Fabiano God did us a great favor during the July 4th weekend. It was one of the best weather holiday weekends I can remember. Of course this meant we would have to suffer through a cold and rainy week but the clear air, warm temperatures and low humidity made us all want to hit the beach and enjoy the ocean like we are supposed to and I, of course was one of those people. Even the tide along the New England coast came through by allowing most of the beach to be enjoyed by the thousands of people who visited our shores. Sitting in the midst of the crowds I broke away from conversations concerning what and where one was planning for the warm and clear nights the weathermen promised once the sun went down. The first thing I noticed was that I was part of a rather large circle of people on our particular part of the beach. Allowing my mind to transgress back into my past I remember when I went to the beach to join my friends and family we always made little circles in the sand. At first these circles were created to contain our small children from wandering off down the beach or into the water. As our children aged, the habit of forming these circles continued until there was no other way of enjoying our time in the sun. I reminisced when my daughter was a young child. She loved the beach and loved to do flips in the sand. My wife would perpetually watch and make sure she was safe from the sun and the sand. In fact, she did most of the work. All I did was admire how lucky I was to have a beautiful wife and daughter. I still have yet to figure out what I did in my life to have this happen to me. Another advantage of making circles of chairs and blankets in the sand was you could see everyone who was part of the loop. Looking directly to the other side of the circle I watched a couple of people I have been with before I was ever related to become a permanent member of the sphere. My mind’s eye brought me back to a time when they were much younger. They have always been a member of the beach community. In fact, they were one of the first who discovered what we all now know is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I remember a time when she would be making sure her daughter was within both sight and touch. She also made sure her daughter was wearing a hat and was well covered in Coppertone so she would not have to suffer from a sunburn during the upcoming night. I don’t think any of us were concerned with things like skin cancer back then. Hell, I don’t think we ever heard of it. He sat next to his wife reading one of the hundreds of books he was destined to read on the beach during the lazy days of summer. Since they were both teachers they were destined to make little money but have time to enjoy their family and what they loved to do. They only had one child but I assume that is all they ever wanted to have. Next to them was another couple who corralled their children within their circle of family. I can only remember her laughing and most of the time eating. This was one person I could never out eat and what was most surprising she rarely gained any weight. Her husband could never stay in the sun too long because his parents gave him too many Irish genes. They had two children to care for and make sure they did not wander too far away from the circle. Working my way around the circle of my memory I watched another young couple around my age also enjoy their time in the sun. He was one who could rarely stay in his chair because he was perpetually looking for some game to join or begin. The primary thing that annoyed me about his particular part of our circle was he was always the best at any game he played. His wife would be like the other wives of the circle making sure her three children were within reach and thus safe. Sometimes a family member who decided not to live near our beach would join our circle. I know he enjoyed his time with his family but he rarely had color and always left hoping the skin burn lotion would allow him to sleep. He also had children the entire group of the circle watched as they did with all the children who were fortunate enough to be part of this sphere of life. I then remembered a large mountain of a man who joined our circle with his wife during some of the hottest days of summer’s past. He was the patriarch of all of whom sat on this part of the beach. He had many names. Many called him Dad and many more called him ‘Grampie’. He was taken care of by his wife and earned the right to simply sit and enjoy what he had created. Smiling my way back to the present I started my trek around the circle of my past, present, and hopefully my future. The teachers of my family had long since retired. He is still seen reading one of the many books he will ingest during the summer months. He is not the mountain of a man he was but still retains his stature of being what he is. His wife is still taking care of a small child making sure she is happy and secure inside the circle. But, she is now the child of her child who now represents a newer part of the perimeter of the sphere. Of course, the circle has become a bit larger because the child, now mother, is joined by a man she hopes will be part of the circle for the rest of their lives. The circle has swelled because the children of the second family had children of their own. Two became four that became eight. The circle expanded in order to handle the increase in population. She could still eat more then anyone I have ever known and still stayed thin in stature. He still couldn’t handle the sun too long but still stayed on the beach not daring to miss this important part of his life. I don’t see the member of our happy little group who decided to stay away from the coast too much. He does arrive at least once a year and still leaves a bright red that no lotion could ever cool down. The people I miss most are the giant of a man and his wife. I guess with every circle of life there has to be beginnings and ends. They will always be there in our memories but we will also always wish they were still here. The circle of people now has small circles growing from them. These are produced by the young children who are now becoming young adults. With their new friends and new memories it is as if the larger circle is giving birth to the new one. As to whether this circle will break away to become its own is anyone’s guess. Personally I doubt it. I think it will work its way back into where it began. My memory reminds me it always does. The circle does not only include family members even though they are the base of the ring. Friends who through time became family-like members push the circle deep into other parts of the beach. Every one knows every one and conversations pop up at different times and parts of the circle as if it became a perfectly organized machine. But, throughout all the conversations eyes still watch and protect the newer members making sure they will grow up and have their time on what I will always remember. After awhile I take my daily walk down the beach in order to have the sun bake my back and not only my front. I guess this is bad for you but without it I doubt I would be what I have become. Meandering down the beach I notice other circles in the sand. Some are small and like my own some are very large. Some have umbrellas in the center looking like a church steeple in the middle of a town. Others have tents in order to make sure the sun is kept to a minimum. Like ours some even have small circles being born from the larger circle as if the larger circle is given birth to the small. God did us a great favor during the July 4th weekend. God does this for me every time he allows me time to go to our seashore at which time I am allowed to observe. The End.
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