In Prosperity and Adversity

Another delicious Summer evening. To sit outside on our small dutch balcony. It is almost windstill now. One brush of white cloud in the cooling sky. In the South I see the silhouette of a gull standing on a high chimney. You can hear the squeaking of young seabirds nearby. Through the open door the singing of of an opera: Carmina Burana: Willemien is doing her Blipwork. And I sigh for a moment. It has been a beautiful day, a bit cloudy. But good enough for multiple beach pleasures.

When I came down at the seaside around midday, many tourists had already taken their places. Many enjoying their leisure bath. And - though I do not like the crowds - I love to see this “Dolce far Niente” of people in so many different ways. Not only how to position yourself and your family towards or away from the sun. But also in relation to the sea, following the lowering tide. Or taking into account the rising tide later in the afternoon.

There are also many visitors from the nearby camping sites, who address themselves directly to the surf. They are the bathers and swimmers, builders of sand castles, digging canals, playing with their dogs or laying flatly on their back on the emerged sandbar.

And among them you can find and meet me. Strolling and looking around with my Lumix at hand. A kind of private beach reporter, embedded, but also walking his own walk.Taking his daily salty dive on a distant and more quiet part of the peninsula. Sometimes other walkers pass by. We greet each other and smile. We know the better parts from here on to the South..

On my way back just before leaving the waterfront I saw this remarkable couple. Endearing and perhaps moving. Seemingly sitting there in the rippling water in childish delight and relaxation. But who knows the subject of their intimate conversation? That should be left to the secret of their hearts. Especially on hollidays full of outward bound transparency everywhere shadows remain, half visible, half invisible and fortunately unknown. Veiling the inner drama of human existence.