And then we went to Oak Island

And stayed at the end of the beach, where I walked out at low tide on a spit of sand, sand deposited by the ACE dredger Merrit to retard beach erosion, several days, and sat on the sand and drew, read, thought.

And Jami walked out with me there once, beautiful, smiling, and we felt the water lap around our ankles.

Every year we take a photo of ourselves at the beach. Here we are, smiling and happy. Into our fourth year together - content. Each moment precious.

Joy floods my soul.

Last month we went to Kiawah

Last month we went to Kiawah- Jami, Gaby, Jennifer, Grace and I. While there I built a sand figure, reclining in the sand. Our niece, Grace, helped me. It was a wonderful reclining figure with a raised knee. I was only able to get so far, though, before the sea rose and engulfed it.

That night I thought of all the wonderful possibilities sculpting with sand afforded. I pictured a monumental figure, like the sphinx, that I would craft. It would establish its presence on the beach and inhabit the space around it. But I learned, on my attempt the next day, that sand doesn't support slender images to any height and it doesn't cantilever well.