Friday, March 19, 2010

California' dreamin'

California dreamin'
There's this thing people do in Pacific coastal places. I grew up with it but I'd forgotten.

When the sun begins to set, you stop and watch it. You can't rush the setting of the sun. It happens on its own time. It's slow, and you know what's going to happen. But still you stop and make a moment of it. 10 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour: whatever you're able to give. The sky turns, the sun goes down, you breathe, watch and take it in.

I saw this on a trip last week to the San Diego area. People and cars lined up along the streets and beaches: all of the benches filled with sunset watchers. Businesses with back doors open as an employee steps outside to take the moment in. You stop, and it's a moment of beautiful reflection. It's a moment you make, to stop, to wonder in the beauty, to reflect.

I love this reminder to take in the moment, whether or not you have a view of the sun setting over the Pacific ocean or not. And just be. Be in that moment of beauty, perhaps with the one you love, and just be.

What a great reminder: thanks California.

4 comments:

danger garden said...

So true! When we were in Santa Monica last fall I saw this happening. People were running to cross the street to see the sun set. It was fabuluos. Thank you for the reminder.

Best Wishes, Marie said...

i love the ocean.

the way it looks. the way the temp drops at the sunset. all of it.

Best Wishes, Marie said...

i just posted on my blog. marie

Rob said...

What a great post.

I have a lovely view of the west hills and I often pause to watch as the sun sets over them. There's something so blissfully serene in the setting sun. I adore it.

As a child from the east coast, I'm still struggling with the whole sun sets over the ocean thing. Where I'm from, it rises over the ocean :)

Still... it's beautiful.