Old Orchard Beach, Maine

“Woven into our lives is the very fire from the stars and genes from the sea creatures,

and everyone, utterly everyone, is kin in the radiant tapestry of being.”

― Elizabeth A. Johnson

Family Reunion

Last month I had the opportunity to tag along on my sister's husband's family reunion.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE going to the beach.  So when my sister's husband couldn't go and they asked if I wanted to take his place, the answer was YES!!!

The reunion took place at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and we stayed at a historic house with cottages called Odessa by the Sea.  My whole goal for the week was to swim in the ocean.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to because the water temperature.  Luckily, the first day I arrived the water felt pretty good.  I swam every day except one, but the water got colder and colder as the week went on.  I was barely able to go under quickly and come right back out.  But this "cold-water-ninny" was proud of herself for going in.

Below are a few photos of my sister, me, and her two sons. 

Beach

Every single day I walked on the beach and it was such a joy.  The very first day I woke up early and found these beautiful ridges in the sand before anyone had walked on them.

When I saw the ridges, it made me think that the earth really is the most prolific and talented artist that exists, painting a new scene every single day.

Eventually dogs, people, and the ocean took the "ridgework" away.

Rose Hips

The house where we stayed was only a block away from the ocean and we had to walk through a grass-covered dune to get to the water.  As I walked across the dune the first day, I spied the most amazing thing...gorgeous, giant rose hips!  They looked like red octopi, kissed by the sun,  dangling from the leaves of the rose bushes.

I had debated whether or not to bring my sketchbook.  I often bring it on trips like this and it never leaves my suitcase.  But the rose hips were so incredible, I dug it out.

I also had the best seat in the house on the upper balcony to paint.  I could just see the ocean from where I sat, painting to my hearts content.

When I got home I added the type.

Barnacles

 Another thing I found fascinating were the barnacles.  I know they may not be everyone's cup of tea, but to this land-bound girl from Cincinnati, OH, they were like intricate, living art.  

When you walk the beach you always have to find a landmark to help you know where to turn in to your street.  We were lucky in that our street was marked by a string of about 20 rocks covered in barnacles.  At low tide they were covered in children with buckets of water, scampering about searching for crabs.

Seaweed

The first day I walked there was a lot of seaweed on the beach.  I know if you live near the beach, it is probably not that interesting to you.  But I like to think that if I lived by the ocean, I would find the seaweed endlessly captivating.  I absolutely love the chubby, yellow "claws" at the end of the branches.  And the plump "berries" that help them float are equally beautiful.  I was also amazed at how the clumps were often arranged perfectly as if someone had taken the time to lay them out before pressing them flat.

Here is my compilation sketch.

Wood

 If we turned right (south) when we walked on the beach we eventually came to an inlet that was difficult to pass at high tide.  Lining this inlet were large rocks that had pieces of wood that had gotten lodged there over time. 

 I don't know what species of tree made this wood, but the lines of the growth rings and the old worn knobs were fabulous!  I could easily have spent a day clambering over these rocks looking for wood to photograph. 

Wolfe's Neck Woods

One day my sister and I met a friend at Wolfe's Neck Woods.  We had lunch sitting on a blanket overlooking the bay.  Afterwards, my sister and I drove to the state park and walked down to the water.  It was quintessential Maine.  The large rocks here had such character.  While there, a squall came through and we sat under a tree waiting for it to pass.  

It was nice to sit on the rocks and absorb the beauty of this place with my sister.  It is not often we get to spend the day together chit-chatting about the mysteries of this world.

Map

I wasn't sure I was going to do a blog post about this trip.  But I got an email from an artist I follow named Jean Mackay.  Jean is an incredible nature journal artist, and I have gotten her emails for many years.  Last week, her email was about making maps of the places you visit.  I knew it would be a fair amount of work, but I decided to try it.

I liked thinking about the mental map I had made in my head of the beach.  I knew I would put in the rocks and lifeguard stand that marked where to turn in to our street (plus a few rose hips for good measure).  Also, I knew the bounds would be the pier with the circus on the north side and the river inlet on the south side.  I also wanted to include the highlight of my nephew winning a stuffed animal warthog at the arcade and the lobster roll we ate afterwards.  And of course I had to add Odessa by the Sea.  And I even added the dolphins we saw one day. 

Once I finished the map I decided to make a video so I could zoom in and show the highlights. Turn your volume on! (Music by Quincy Maddison from Pixabay)

Family

Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind,

flight to the imagination, and life to everything.

―Plato

The last topic I want to write about from this trip was the family reunion itself.  I only know my sister's husband's two sisters.  But the reunion had about forty people, most of whom I hadn't met yet.  I was struck by two things.  First, I was deeply impressed by the musical talent of this family.  I would not say I am that into listening to live music.  But I was utterly blown away by it.  The first night one person played the guitar and sang.  It was so beautiful it gave me the chills.  I was actually surprised at my reaction and was looking forward to the next night.

The following night, my nephew played with drums with the guitar singer.  Again, I was utterly and absolutely blown away.  I had a feeling I don't get very often.  As I was sitting there I realized I was completely content.  I was incredibly present and didn't want to be anywhere other than the place I was in that moment.  It is so different from my normal state of always thinking about what is coming up and what I need to do to get to the next thing.  If I had to describe the experience, I would say it was like being absolutely absorbed and in love with the present moment.  As the week went on, more family members came out of the woodwork with their incredible voices, piano, and guitar playing.  I was truly impressed and inspired.

"When we listen to music we are not listening to the past,

we are not listening to the future, we are listening to an expanded present."

―Alan Watts

The second thing I want to mention about this family is that the love was palpable.  Often, there are family dynamics that are playing out when such a number of people gather together.  There probably were this time too.  But the thing I sensed the most was that all these people loved being in each other's company.  I felt like a firefly buzzing around on the outskirts looking in upon a great bonfire.  I was barely even able to get people's names straight by the time I left.  But I loved observing small moments of interaction... the attention to detail in cooking, the time spent when older cousins played with the younger ones, the admiration in the eyes of the elders while listening to the next generation play music.  I could go on and on.  But I want to end by saying how lucky I was to have been included in this week by the sea.  A big thank you to the Amarels for including this sun-kissed hanger-on in their celebration and so much gratitude for including me in your magic, music, food and love.  Such a gift to spend time with you all.    

What if our religion was each other?

If our practice was our life?

If prayer was our words?

What if the Temple was the Earth?

If forests were our church?

If holy water—the rivers, lakes and oceans?

What if meditation was our relationships?

If the Teacher was life?

If wisdom was self-knowledge?

If love was the center of our being

―Ganga White