Features July-Dec 2002 |
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My feet in the warm sand, I sat on the concrete wall at Revere Beach watching the passing parade.
There was a young woman jogging on the hard sand by the shore. She wore shorts and halter-top. Holding tight her water bottle, looking straight ahead, she moved with the grace and style of a dancer. A gentleman was lying on his stomach, beach towel beneath him and a tee shirt covering his head. His radio beside him, was playing soft music that added peacefulness to the scene. Further down, on the wall, another man on his back wore navy blue bathing trunks and his head was on the rest of his clothes. His body glistened in the sunshine as he stared skyward towards the brightness of the sun. There were three young women coming from their car. Loaded down with backpack, towels and cooler, they looked around for a good spot to set it all down. They were ready for a day of R&R. A man and woman sat by a bicycle, which lay on the sand. Their child called from the water. Three boys with small boards were waiting for the right time to enter the waves and experience the excitement of sailing on the surf. School was out and they were enjoying their time away from books and blackboards. On a low sand chair another woman sat alone reading a book. Sneakers and a bag by her side she was oblivious to the surrounding show. The beach was dotted with striped chairs in colors of reds and blues and pink umbrellas. Coolers, plastic bags and blankets were everywhere. These things colored the scene and made up the resting places of families enjoying the day. A blue canvas lounge chair held another woman lying on her stomach. She was wearing the bottom of her bathing suit but had unhooked the top. She obviously was planning on a full back tan. The bottom of her feet were already showing sunburn as they dangled from the edge of her lounger. Along came another man, bare chested, belt below his belly and tattoo of the flag on his arm. He wore his cap backwards and he seemed to be staring through his sunglasses at the ladies passing by. There was an amusement park set up across the street. The Ferris wheel and roller coaster were quiet now. It was too hot to drive the tandem cars. The Mardi Gras waited for the evening when the sun was set. There were seashells and small pieces of driftwood on the beach. The sky was a beautiful blue with wispy white clouds. Sailboats could be seen in the distance, white sails against the horizon. Planes flew overhead every few minutes coming from or heading towards Logan airport in East Boston filled with people on the move going to exotic places. The tide was coming in and the surf was wonderful to watch. But it was the people at the beach who held my attention that day...all the beautiful people. It was a day to enjoy. August 1, 2003
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