Thursday, March 24, 2011

Eyes of a Child

Do you ever feel like you've just spent way too much time indoors lately? I feel like that pretty much every day. Luckily, my coworker is of the same sort, so today on our lunch break we walked down to Woods Cove, a beach by Diamond Street, pulled of our socks and shoes and hiked our skinny jeans up as far as the cheap stretch material would allow. The high tide's rushing waves competed with us to the strand of beach left before the cliffs - laughter and sillyness filled our spirits and I felt like a little kid, ready to strip down to my undergarments for the thrill of jumping in the icy blue water. Ahh, Pacific Ocean, you are my rebirth.


Last weekend I explored the tidepools, about a three minute walk North of Main Beach. Everyone was out enjoying the sunshine, greedily devouring the freedom of a Saturday afternoon with smiles and laughter and each in their own way.


High school boys at a game of giant hopskotch 


As I was walking on the irresolute waterline where the waves rest for a hesitant moment before retreating loyally back to the ocean, I saw some high schoolers draw deep grooves in the sand for a game of giant hopskotch. Naturally, I planted my feet in the wet sand and observed, and it didn't take long before we were discussing their pursuit for fun. I cannot tell you how hard we were cracking as the boys took turns making the game more challenging; "Backwards Hopskotch" and "Double Rectangle Only Hopskotch" were my faves - "Superman Hopskotch" was epic, but would lose it's beauty if explained.




Walk a little further and you hit the tidepools, enjoyed by all; loners, locals, the emo high school couple, the little boy wearing a wetsuit yet terrified of getting his feet wet, the mother reverently commanding her six year old daughter to slow down as she speeds over to investigate a cave (oh do you remember the wonders a cave could bring you as a child? You were the first to have ever discovered it!) and of course the inquisitive child that relentlessly pokes the poor yet patient sea anemone (amenome, anenemy?)


Inquisitive nature


We should never loose our curiosity, it drives us, it expands our horizons, it creates an interconnective mind supported by creativity. It still amazes me how I can continue to take in new life experiences, learn new things, study politics, biology, human nature, one hundred ways to prepare an egg,  create networks in my mind that expand from here to Tonga and every and any obscure destination in the world, and still, my head is so little. Who can possibly believe in limitations, when all that is going on in such a small space?


The Cave

Only accessible by crossing treacherous waters or climb the ruthless (five foot) cliffs


Ahh yes, I am still enamored by nature's curiosities, and I hope that I will never lose sight of them. Let not the world impressed upon us be the only one we see. Whatever my weathered retinas show me, I hope to see it through the eyes of a child. 

And so, I find a cave.



3 comments:

  1. This is how I pictured you already when I carried you in my womb;
    artistic, observing and wearing a hat :)

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  2. Elysia's Cousin,
    Not sure how I ended up on your blog but I did. I enjoyed your post here. I think the title drew me in after I judged you by your photographs, which have nice composition. I wrote a song once called "Keep Your Mind Like a Child's" which has a simple and similar theme to your post. It's nice to know other's feel the same sometimes. So, I thought I'd just let you know that you paint a good picture. Besides, I always like it when the Anon come out of hiding for a compliment myself, so I thought i'd act on that thought. Good work and thanks for sharing. :)
    -Ryan

    PS My favorite line was, "the little boy wearing a wetsuit yet terrified of getting his feet wet." This made me smile today, thanks again.

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  3. Ryan,

    Thank you so much for your comment, it warmed my heart. I'm glad to hear others share the desire of viewing the world with a child's eyes; captivated, explorative, fascinated and amazed by nature's simplicities, treasures often gone unnoticed by the busy, structured, efficient eyes of a grown up.

    And knowing your artistic background, your compliments to my photos are much appreciated :)

    ~N

    ReplyDelete