It’s Poetry Friday and today I am counting my blessings. In these topsy-turvy troubling times, I am feeling lucky that I have a job that allows me to work from home. I am feeling lucky that I have a family who I love and that all of us have roofs over our heads, even when we might be separated. I feel lucky to have a house full of books, good internet connection, food in the fridge and pantry, and so much more. And I feel very very lucky to live where I do, and that this means my daily exercise is on (to me) the most beautiful beach in the world.
Like so many other people I am staying home unless essential, but because I live so close to the beach and because it is never crowded, I am still able to walk on the beach every morning, keeping well more than the required distance from other people (do be assured that this is done within the law, and in fact I am more cautious about any contact with people or surfaces than has been mandated).
Aware that there are so many people who can’t do this, I have been sharing a one minute video of the beach every day, on my Instagram account, using the hashtag #oneminute . I’ve also started adding a selection to Youtube , for anyone who doesn’t have Instagram. The idea is that anyone who needs a minute of waves, water, sunshine, sand, can watch, and breathe with me.
So, for example, you can watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean, and imagine you are there with me – or, if you’d prefer, alone:
I’ve been looking for different angles and, one day, I thought I would try filming my toes. In my head it was a little more artistic than it turned out, but I was able to giggle at myself:
It was only later, after I’d uploaded and shared that I remembered I had done something similar in a less stressful time a few years ago – in fact, back in 2016, when I photographed my toes and wrote an accompanying poem. I had happy toes then, and, when I’m on that beach, I have happy toes now. Here’s that video and poem – I hope your toes can soak up some of that happy today.
Happy Toes
This morning I have happy toes
They’re wriggling in the sand
They’ve carried me here ocean-side
To where the sea meets land
This morning I have happy toes
They’re dancing on the beach
They’re gathering secrets from below
And whispering each to each
This morning I have happy toes
They’re tingling in the waves
They’re laughing at the silly way
The morning sea behaves
This morning I have happy toes
They’ll head home feeling great
But tomorrow they’ll be back here
For another beach play date!
Copyright Sally Murphy 2016
The Poetry Friday Roundup today is at My Juicy Universe, where Heidi is inviting us to all #ShelterInPoems . Catching up on loads of poetry goodness seems a wonderful way to spend a Friday, so check it out. Stay safe, breathe deep.
PS
It seems an age since I decided to have a Read Along (see this post) to celebrate the upcoming release of Worse Things. When I scheduled it, I did not imagine the lockdowns that would be happening around the world. The Read Along is still happening, though – I think we need books more than ever – and I hope you’ll join me, starting next Friday, to read with me.
Sally, your beach videos made me smile. You live in a beautiful place. I am several hours from the ocean, and now that we are older and the traffic is awful, we rarely get there anymore. I miss it. Watching your videos, I almost felt like I was right there with you. “Happy Toes” is delightful and the perfect description for toes in sand. Congratulations on your new book! I’m going to take a look on Amazon to see if I can order it. Stay well!
Glad I could take you there, Linda. And thank you for looking up Worse Things.
This is a very kind idea, Sally, and I will say your two 1-minute vids had exactly the effect I was hoping for. Thank you, and can you share your approximate location so I can see where in the world your toes are on a map?
Great idea Heidi. The beach is the Dalyellup Beach, but whether or not the world map will show that I don’t know. It is just south of the city of Bunbury which, in turn, is two hours south of Perth, Western Australia.
What a wonderful post! Thanks so much! Just the sound of those waves relaxes me.
Thanks Ruth. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Thank you for this lovely escape! Ahhh…
You are welcome Mary Lee. Thank you for breathing with me 🙂
I will gladly delight in your beach and ocean, Sally! How thoughtful of you to share. 🙂 I think you shared the Happy Toes video here when you first recorded it back in 2016, right? It seems familiar, but it still makes me smile.
Yes Michelle – the recording and poem were from A PF post back in 2016.
THank you for the lovely glimpse of waves and sand and sun. The ocean and my family are the only things I miss from Florida. Love your happy toes. I think it’s appropriate to find small joys anywhere, even…especially…in chaotic times!
You are welcome Laura. Yes, small things (like toes) can make big differences.
Thank you for the virtual beach walks. I love your Happy Toes! The sound of the water is so soothing and comforting, and transported me to a peaceful place far from the ravages of the virus. Loved hearing you read your poem, too!
Thanks Jama. I’m glad to spread the comfort. Hugs to you xx
Loving all this sand, and water, and waves, and your delightful “Happy Toes!” The videos are a nice escape and calming too–I love the beach, I live less than a mile from lake Michigan. Our Mayor shut down the Chicago Lake front after one day when it was warm and there were way too many people out too close together. Though I think it’s safer shut down right now. Thanks for all, looking forward to your read-along!
Thanks Michelle. Yes, I think shut downs are necessary wherever there is a population that means distancing requirements can’t be followed. here in Australia some of the beaches have had to be closed. Where I am, there are far less people at the beach than walking on the street. I count myself very fortunate.
Happy toes! I love your poem and that you are sharing videos of the beach. My toes are far from an ocean, but they are quite happy in the greening grass and counting their blessings of home and family and plenty of good food. My daughter and I have also been enjoying a morning walk down our country roads. Stay safe and well.
Thanks Kay. I have always loved my beach walks, but as my only outing of the day, and one that could be curtailed as things progress, they are taking on even more significance. I’ll enjoy them for as long as I can, and share them, too, for those that can’t.
How lovely to be able to dip your toes into water. My toes envy your toes. Local playgrounds and beaches here in Vancouver have been closed. It’s really hard on my grandkids because their parents have few places to take them to outside. (That makes it hard on mom and dad too) I’m lucky to get out for daily walks so I’m not going stir crazy yet!
Hugs to your grandkids – and their parents. It is so tough for kids! Playgrounds have been closed here too. beaches remain open in places where there is not the population issue – here its rare to see more than a couple of other walkers. But in our cities there have been crowds at some beaches so, of course, they have had to be closed.
Counting your blessings Sally. Rejoicing in simple pleasures. These things assume greater significance in times of difficulty. Your post and your poetry are critical reminders to hunker down and remember we can derive much sustenance for soul in the very things close by. Your poem possesses a delightful blend of repetition and rhyme. A toe tapping delight.
Thank you Alan. And thanks for continuing to spread poetic joy online.
I have so enjoyed your beach moments on Facebook, so thank you for sharing those. This poem has such a happy rhythm to it. I mean how can toes NOT be happy in the sand!
Thank you Leigh Anne. Yes, I am guessing happy toes is a bit of an oxymoron when referring to the beach 🙂
Glad you are well, Sally! We are holding tight. I enjoyed your poem, especially “They’re gathering secrets from below/And whispering each to each.” A mysterious frolic 🙂
Thank you Tabatha. And glad you could frolic with me – and my toes – for a minute.
I’m so glad to hear that your beach has not been closed, Sally and glad that you are all okay. Others have shared their sadness that theirs has been. My family & I have our beach trip planned for late July into August, crossing fingers that it will still be a go. I love your happy toes, makes me wishing I was still there now! Have you ever watched for the ‘green flash’ just as the sun disappears? Occasionally we do get to see it, a lucky thing.
Thanks Linda. Yes I am lucky my beach is not closed, though some beaches in Australia have had to be because the sheer numbers of people going to them have made social distancing impossible. Where I live it is rare to see more than two or three other people on the 2 km (?) stretch at the moment and even in the peak of summer, fifty would be a crowd. SO I am confident it is safe but, of course, won’t go if the government decides to close it. In the meantime, I have learnt to go up and down the stairs without touching the railings and on the rare occasions I see other people I keep several metres away. I do hope your beach trip can go ahead, and that by August the worst is over. I have heard of the green flash but never seen it myself.
ooooh, I love your happy toes…my toes are a little jealous. It’s still cool and windy where I am, despite the greening spring. This lockdown is crazy, isn’t it?! I’m also glad that you have what you need. My family does too. We are fortunate. I have been working to support teachers get distance learning in place. It’s slow but fun. Stay well, friend.
Fortunate indeed Linda. In my day job we have moved all teaching (of university students) online, and my students have taken up the challenge very well. Stay well yourself x
Yes, thank you for this trip to the beach. I love beaches! I live in Syracuse New York and the lakes are nice, (I have taken pictures of my toes while lounging by a lake.) but ocean is breathtaking and five hours away. Stay safe, Sally, and enjoy your walks.
Thanks Janice. The images I am seeing of New York, and the figures, are heartbreaking. Stay safe xx
Thank you for the one minute beach respite, Sally. I especially like your happy toes poem, it made for a happy read/watch/listen. I had a wonder while I watched, is the Indian Ocean warm this time of year (or any time of year?) 🙂
Great question Bridget. I walk barefoot at the edge of the water well into Autumn and start again in Spring – so more than half the year. The water temperature seems fairly constant – and in fact it reaches a point where the water feels warmer than the land. But in the winter the sand gets cold, along with the air, and the water is rougher, so I tend to wear shoes then and walk just out of reach of the waves. I just did a google check – the water temperature on my bit of coastline apparently doesn’t go much below 20 degrees Celcius, and not much above 22 degrees celcius, so is pretty tolerable year round – though my backyard pool is currently about that temperature and feels too cool to swim in.