"Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.” —Kristen Butler
Cecile and I congregated with friends at Seabright State Beach for our annual Sunset Barbecue. This sandy beach sits between Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Harbor. Aside from being a well-known spot for barbecues, and dog lovers, and to catch some stunning sunsets—as witnessed by the photos I posted—Seabright also offers a warmer climate than other local beaches. That being said, we have learned over the years that it is best to bring along warm clothing as the temperature drops as the sun goes down, and this evening was no exception. Everyone brought a side dish or appetizer (cheese & crackers, fresh fruit bowl) raw veggies and hummus dip and drinks to supplement the barbecued hot dogs and chicken skewers. Our friend and neighbor Mark Brodsky volunteered to cook while wearing his Albert Einstein T-Shirt that read: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” I must digress by adding that I found myself wanting to finish Einstein's quote which included its meaning…”For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” My personal belief is the universe was born out of the imagination of intelligence and power higher than our own.
Before we took to our foldable beach chairs to enjoy our barbecue someone from the group yelled out, let’s do Tashlich), a lovely ritual generally practiced by many Jews for Rosh Hashanah. Tashlich means “casting off” in Hebrew and involves symbolically casting off misdeeds of the previous year by tossing pieces of bread into a body of flowing water. Stated another way, it is the act of seeking absolution for not being the kindest and most pleasant version of oneself. So off to the surf we went, each of us tossing a piece of pita bread into the surf. I must say having been raised Catholic, this seemed like a more appealing alternative than going to the revolving door of the confessional to have a priest absolve me of my sins. If nothing else, the seagulls certainly appreciated our efforts.
As the sun began to break the horizon line, it acted precisely like a quote I once read by Pamela Hansford Johnson:
"The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.”
Peace Everyone!
