If there was such a thing as smell-o-vision or smell-o-mail or smell-o-blog, I know the first smell I’d share with you. It’s the smell of the tide going out, wafting through a gentle breeze on my beach. There’s nothing like Saturday morning on my beach. It stretches for miles and is totally empty at 10 am. This is because Saturday morning is change day on the Cape. The renters are sweeping their cottages and piling their vehicles high with sandy pails and damp boogie boards to try to make it over the bridge before the traffic backs up. The new renters can’t check in until 2 pm until all the cottages have been cleaned and readied for them.
What does this mean for those of us that live on this beach? Four hours with not a soul in sight. I walked the total length of the beach and all I’ve seen is a lone shore fisherman casting off of Scorton Creek. Probably another resident who has discovered this secret time to come and cast his line in perfect peace and stillness. I watch as he throws his line forward, then slowly reels it back again. Repeat. Repeat. The rhythm allows thoughts to run freely through his mind. Perhaps he’s thinking about the lawn he has to cut this afternoon. Perhaps he needs time away from a demanding work week. Or perhaps he just wants to catch a keeper. No matter. The magic is in the smell of the morning and the absence of everyone but him and me on this beach. Out in the distance there’s a huge barge being pushed by a tugboat trying to get into the canal before low tide at noon.
I can tell you. I can show you. But I can’t “smell” you. Lol.
And so, as another day goes by, as soon as there’s “an app for that” I’ll be the first to get it and share the smell of the tide with you, and…I have written.
PS- to my friends lucky enough to live here with me – go out and enjoy the smell – or at least open your windows.
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