Ode to Joy*

Once upon a time, when I was but a lad, we were vacationing in the lovely state of Maine. In Wells, Maine to be precise.

The place we stayed is no longer there, at least not as it was. It was a motel, cabin, sort of camp ground affair. Not on the beach, in fact it was about a mile back from the coast. You could see the ocean and smell the intertidal zone, what some (and I was one back in the day) call the "smell of the ocean," but what is really the smell of where the land and the sea meet.

When we weren't down at the beach we were running about the grounds of the place. It had a great lawn, trees, and was a lovely, rustic place. I loved the feel of being near the sea. While it would have been nice to be right down there on the beach, such things were well beyond my parents' means. But we had fun. Every summer we went to Maine, usually for just a weekend.

A dream was born on those lazy summer days near the sea. I was determined, someday, to live in a place like that.

Today as I walked down the driveway to get the mail, I was nearly overwhelmed with emotion, a feeling of utter joy ran through my entire being. I remembered that dream (which I do every year, every summer) of living near the sea.

The wind was just right, I could smell that scent from my youth, coming from the salt marshes not far from where I live. Less than a mile really. While I can't see it from the house, I see it everyday going to and from work. Salt water, seagulls, the mournful sound of the buoys out on the bay at night. My dream has come true.

I live near the sea, and I cherish that. More than I could have dreamed as a child.

It's beautiful here.

My home lies on Bristol Neck, we are surrounded on three sides by water. Not far to the south and to the southeast lies the mighty Atlantic. I work on an island. Wow, my dream came true. I am blessed.

And that's some lovely music right there. A favorite of mine.





* With apologies to Ludwig.