The Beach and I.
I have always been in awe of large body of water. You may even see it as a "two sided coin" kinda feeling. On one side, I’m in love with the vastness and character of the water (a beach in this case) while on the other side, my fear of falling into the water below me is palpable while driving across a bridge.
Growing up in Nigeria, the admiration and love for the beach was always snatched by the movies wherein a wicked witch lived down below and sometimes got mad enough to flood the streets and destroy properties. The strong holds of the adults who chaperoned you on visits to the beach, telling you not to go near the water, talkless of dipping a toe in it was another thing all together. Still, the sight of a beach always made me breathe iiiinnn while my face broke into satisfying smiles.
This love hate relationship came to an end about a decade ago when my family home was made a brisk 15 minutes walk from a beach in Lagos, Nigeria. Before the area became as densely populated as it is now, I would hear the waves when I sat in the pent house. A few months into moving in, I took the walk to the beach.
Initially, it was like an adventure. I'd leave home with a basket full of snacks, a mat, a book and a hat etc. I'd thoroughly enjoy myself sitting as far away from the waters as I could, read a few pages, take pictures and then leave at sunset. I had been to the beach, but had the beach been with me?
Gradually I formed my friendship with the beach. I'd plan my visits and keep the dates. I went lighter on my trips, the less things to occupy me, the more time I had with the beach. I took my time in letting go of my fear of soaking my feet in the waters without thoughts of being sucked in. I'd simply stare at the waters and soon realise how calming this was for me. A weekend spent at the beach mostly suggested I was ready to take on the new week.
As time went on, I’d long for the sights and free being of my stay at the beach. I’d make impromptu morning walks just to feel the serenity. Before long, She knew me as I knew her. I’d come to adorn her shores while her atmosphere calmed me.We had become buddies.
Then, I moved to another town; Abuja and couldnt visit a beach for a long time. While I cannot demean Abuja and its beautiful scenery; the lake it boasts of did nothing for me. And times when I needed to just sit and stare at something larger than me, I’d miss the beach even more.
I moved back home and soon fell into my a routine. I had no reminders of the beach as the noise in my enviroment suppressed this. Then recently, it had been raining steadily throughout the past weeks and the streets were flooded. Cars driving in it would make miniature waves of their own and then it hit me...the Beach!
She would no longer be ignored! How busy could I be anyways? I made a mental note to go by weekend. So yesterday, I went to the beach. Every step of my brisk walk was in anticipation of that white and blue spread with foamy edges. As I drew closer and the waves got louder, all I heard was "Giirrlll is that you?" I laughed and quickened my steps.
When I saw the beach, I broke into giggles, yes just like a kid. I took my time in walking forward, taking off my slippers and soaking my feet in. I could hear the words "It’s been so loong, have you lost weight?" LOL!
It was a beautiful reunion. I played and splashed. Then I sat on a nearby rock with my feet getting licked at intervals by the waves at the shore and just... listened. To the whisshsh and Crassh and imagined she was updating me on the latest gists. I took several deep breathes and relaxed. If 5 year old me had seen this, she would have laughed in my Dad’s face whenever he said, dont go near the water.
A few hours later, I made for home. As I walked away, picking my slippers now at different angles of the beach, I heard her say "Bye Girl, dont be a stranger". I smiled and said, “Never again.”
