At least once a week we all pile into the car and take a short drive over to what is becoming our little family's favorite gathering place. It's a small stretch of sandy and rocky beach nestled deep inside of our local reservoir. It's a quiet and beautiful place surrounded by giant evergreens and walnut trees. I guess in some way it has become a place of solace for each of us. A place of familiar sights and sounds - birds chirping, geese hissing, water rippling. I love sitting peacefully on a branch of driftwood while my husband stands near the children while they play.
My children love to feed the geese (surely, the friendliest geese I've ever encountered) and collect tresures from the sand. They imagine driftwood as boats and horses and sticks as swords and airplanes. They throw rocks into the water pretending that, they too, can make the rock skip just like their daddy can.
If we are lucky enough to make it to our place by late afternoon, we are treated to the most beautiful sunsets. We bring bread for the geese and find our spots along the shore. My son loves to draw in the sand and my daughter loves to test the geese (hmm, how close can I get before they bite off my fingers, I imagine she is thinking). My husband snaps a few photos as do I and then I find some driftwood and sit. I breathe deeply as laughter echoes all around me. Any sadness or anger I carried here with me is now gone. I am filled with joy, the joy of family. I love this place of ours.
