A few weeks ago, I was speaking at a meeting in San Diego and found myself with a little free time. Naturally, I headed for the beach. There’s something about places where the sea meets the sand that draws me inexplicably. And, in truth, it’s not really the beach that draws me. It’s the power, the seeming endlessness and indescribable beauty of the ocean. I love to be near it, out on it or, even better, down in it.
I’ve visited this particular beach many times over many years, but I must have walked a little further down than ever before. And there – at the end of the beach – I found something really special – dog’s beach. Do
zens of dogs, sans leashes, running in and out of the surf and having the time of their four-legged lives. I grabbed a bit of video with my iPhone that you can watch here if you have the free Quicktime player you can get from apple.com.
As I write this blog entry I’m on a plane returning from another orthodontic meeting on our nation’s other coast as I make my way back to Colorado from Palm Beach. (It’s tough duty, but somebody has to do it, right?!) When the meeting ended today, I had a little bit of that precious commodity – free time. I spent it with some of the great people I get to work with; talking, soaking up a bit of sun and…best of all, breaching the gap between sand and surf for a swim and a weightless float in the warm, salty sea (thanks Ben.)
As I reflect back on the events of the past few days there is little doubt that I am blessed. But as I consider the fact that even now I’m making my way back to a family that loves me even when we’re not hanging out at the Four Seasons I feel even more blessed. Like the dogs at dog’s beach. Joy. (Only you don’t have to watch where you step. Well, okay, sometimes you do:-)