Yesterday I said goodbye to an old friend.

I am born and bred a New Englander.  Although I have not always lived close to the Ocean, it has been within a few hours drive for most of my life.  I swam in it at least once a summer.

As an adult, I love the winter beach.  It is my favorite time to be with Ocean.  I put on my wet boots, bundle up and go walk long the shore.  I take in the power of the waves and wind.  We laugh together, sing together, sit together.

Yesterday, on an unusually warm day (60 degrees) I headed to the NJ beach to say goodbye to this companion in my life.  Walking her edge, I stopped to write a message in the sand.  She snuck up behind me and read it, wiping it away as I wrote!  I laughed at her power, her humor, her joy, her dance.  It was a beautiful farewell.

And as I left, I turned to bow to Her.  Before me was a picturesque scene.  Into my mind rushed a Georgie O’Kieffe painting of clouds that hangs in the Chicago Art Institute.  Here she was offering me a blessing of safe travel, of home, of NM and all that will be.

When we honor Earth, Air, Water, Fire we are blessed in return.  #WaterIsLife