Couples Retreat

My husband and I took our previously scheduled trip away this weekend, and today is our last day.  It was lovely and much overdue.  We had originally intended to spend it north of Florida, for some fall weather.  Since we could only take a few days this time, we came over to the beach, Atlantic side.  As much as I love the Gulf, it is always more mellow than the restless Atlantic whose waves are larger and noisier.  I love it.  I could listen to it day in and day out, and never grow tired of it.  The weather has changed this weekend, and grown colder, my very favorite time to be here.  In our room we light a candle, put on sweaters, open our sliding doors and simply enjoy it.

This morning finds both the sky above and the restless water below it a cold, steel gray.  Because of the cold air coming in, the waves are churning, and above them as far as I can see are pale gray sprays of mist, adding an eerily beautiful perspective to the picture.  If I were an artist, I would take out my palette and recreate this serene setting by painting on canvas.  However, since a writer paints with words, the keyboard is my palette, and the computer, my canvas.

I have heard some people say that the constant sound of the waves falling upon the shore is unsettling and distracting.  To me they are healing, therapeutic.  Some prefer the quiet serenity of the mountains, to which I can't argue.  The mountains offer their wonders as well, how can such stunning, ageless monoliths not?  From the awesome, in your face majesty of the Rockies to the more subtle, quiet majesty of the Smoky mountains, this earth is full of incredible places.  But for me, of them all the ocean is where I always come back to.  No matter what else is going on, it never fails to calm me, and help me put things into perspective.   The vastness of it reminds me to focus on the big picture and not to worry too much about the small stuff. 


And this weekend I was also reminded to take more time away with just my husband.  We had a great time, and as it turns out, we had our fall weather right here in Florida.