Dear Reader:

When I reflect upon the lessons that the ocean has taught me throughout my life… I look at it now with new respect and awe. It has taken me a lifetime to recognize it… but the ocean has been patient… knowing one day ” I would get it.”

I think my earliest memories involved anxiously waiting until after our afternoon naps were over…to go to the beach because the ocean would have gifted the little children with tidal pools left behind ( or we called them wading pools)

By adolescence… nap times had disappeared -shovels and buckets replaced with rafts and surfboards … now the bigger the waves… the better! We craved the ” danger zone!”

In the first months after my initial cancer diagnosis… it was Ebb Tide… that drew me to the beach. Ebb Tide describes the outgoing tide-the period between high tide and low.

Symbolically ebb tide is that place where we are caught in a decline… trying to decide whether to go forwards or sideways- it is difficult to find resolution … we’re stuck. We don’t know which way to turn… we realize we aren’t in control of the pending situation and ” AHA” … we realize we never were! It is in this ” wave length” that we must remember … the tide will rise again to take us safely back to shore. ( And it did! )

The day I learned the most important life lesson from the ocean was when I read Tuesdays with Morrie… that was the day ( title picture) as I looked out at the horizon at Edisto Beach with my Ya’s. I suddenly remembered that one little side story in the book…that instant epiphany ( that surpasses all understanding) I was not isolated in my fight against ” little c” … rather I was part of something so much bigger than just me!

Once there was a little wave bobbing along in the ocean.. having a grand old time! He was enjoying the wind and fresh air… until he noticed the other waves in front of him , crashing against the shore. ” My God ! This is terrible” the wave shouted ” Look what is going to happen to me!”

Then alongside him another wave appeared, calm and cool but curious as to why his new wave friend looked so distressed. He asked ” Why do you look so sad?”

The first wave replied” You don’t understand! Look! See for yourself ” “We’re all going to CRASH! Soon we will all be NOTHING! Isn’t it TERRIBLE? “

The second wave replied ” NO! Don’t you understand? You’re NOT A WAVE… you are part of the OCEAN!”

So until tomorrow… Never forget that we are all parts of something bigger than ourselves… the greater WHOLE… the UNIVERSE… God’s entire CREATION!

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday was the boy’s last day of camp and Mollie said they told her stories all the way home… still so excited!!!!

… And don’t forget! Today is July 1! Say Rabbit! Rabbit! And may July be good to you!