Is This Heaven PT2

It’s amazing what people see when looking at what seems to be apparently the same scenes.

Case in point. I was recently on OIB at the community center overlooking a beautiful stretch of beach. It was still quite cool (lower 60’s). I stayed on the walkways out of the sand while my wife took a walk on the beach. A few people were coming and going.

A young couple from Nevada with small children were making their way onto the beach, towing their chairs and coolers when one of the youngsters said to his Mom, “There are a lot of old people here.” “Shhh, be nice” she said. I looked around and sure enough there were several couples walking and/or sitting on the beach that most people would have called “old”.

One of the “older” couples came walking off the beach, looked in to maybe be in their late 60’s or early 70’s, I’m not very good at age anymore. She was helping him balance his way up the stairs. He looked over at me and said, “I guess the tourist are starting to come back.” “Yes” I said, “seems like they are.” “Before you know” he said as he stopped to rest a minute, “there won’t be be room to walk for all the kids.”

My wife and I have been coming to the OIB area for 30 years or so and dreamed for years of living here full time. About 10 years ago we bought a condo and started coming down a couple times a month. About 5 years ago we moved here permanently. I hear my friends talk about how crowded it’s getting and how expensive things are, how rude some people are and how noisy it is on the beach and in restaurants, shops, etc.

I don’t think they are seeing what I see or for that matter hear what I am hearing.

Let me tell you what I really see. When I watch my wife walking down the beach I not only see the mother of our children nor just the grandmother of our grandchildren. I see my beautiful bride as she is walking and admiring the ocean. The struggles we’ve been through, the achievements we’ve had only make her more beautiful. My heart still skips a beat when she tells me she loves me.

The couple walking up the stairs and resting for a moment to catch their breath, I’ll bet they see each other totally different than we do. I imagine they have been through a lot together also.The “young” people from Nevada with the noisy kids. I seem them getting hooked on the beach too and starting to dream about retiring here also.

Welcome I say. Come on down. You will love it here. It’s just a piece of heaven.

How does my beauty of a wife see me? I can’t walk on the beach with her anymore. I can’t chase her around anymore like I used to. I can’t do a lot of the things I used to do but somehow I know she sees the man that loves her and not what everyone else sees when they see me.

Take a real good look at your surroundings. Maybe you see them so much it is hard to see what is there.

We don’t live in the condo anymore. We have a house on a golf course in the Sunset Beach area living out our dream. No we are not rich in the way most people consider rich. We have been through our struggles, sometimes having more than we needed, sometimes less than we needed. We have made good decisions and we have made bad decisions.

Life is a rollercoaster ride. Slow climb up, fast ride down but exciting none the less.Wherever you might be in your ride, the next turn will be exciting. Don’t let the little things get you down. After all we haven’t seen what’s around the next corner.

Look and see it differently this time. It just could be wonderful.