Sometimes you have to get down to the nitty gritty

Yesterday, I was sitting in my chair in the living room, making cigarrettes, and watching a movie. Suddenly, out of no where, I got this urge to go to the lake (Lake Erie). It wasn't just anywhere... but a specific park. So I gathered my camera, batteries (because my camera goes through them so quickly), notebook, pop, and other misc. things, and headed off, with a slight explination to my husband. I passed at least 2 other parks on my way to this park, but I just had the urge to go to one that had a beach. One that I could feel the sand in my toes, while hearing the water lapping. Since moving to Cleveland almost 10 years ago, I had never seen the sun set on Lake Erie.

My urgency mounted as I got closer to the park. I was suprised at how many people were there. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't hot either, and Lake Erie can get mighty cold. Even during 100 degree days, the water is cold. People were swimming! Anyway, I parked my car, grabbed all my stuff and a blanket from the back of our SUV and headed down to the beach. It was amazing. I felt so at peace. I watched the birds walk in the sand, I watched the sun tumble in and out of the clouds, I watched children splashing, I heard gulls crying, I heard drummers practicing and chanting, I felt closer to God than ever.

Why I felt so close to God at this exact place, I don't know. Possibly because this is where people can converge as one. While I was there, I saw at least one pair of every "population", well almost every "population" in Cleveland. I saw whites, blacks, hispanics, gays, straights, kids, adults, seniors, tourists... There was no fighting. Just everyone, side by side, minding their own. I saw senior acting like children, spashing in the waves. I saw teenagers attempting to do handstands. I saw large people and skinny people, both scantily clad, both beautiful in their own right, feeling comfortable in their own skin.

I found another place, as the sun was setting, similar to a pier. Men were fishing. Children were laughing. People were eating ice cream. Sailboats were coming in for the night. It was simply amazing.