A Swan Song/ Paradise Lost

I so wanted to share some of my upbeat fun memories of my vacation in Florida..
But how can I when this story dominates  the entire world news.....
This week saw even more sadness rendered by the oil spill in the Gulf..
The president came to the Gulf Coast, meeting with Governors from  coastal states..

In addition to folks cancelling vacation plans to the region,
the economical impact is being passed down to employees..
small businesses are closing..
employees are being laid off..

The end of an era is here..

No longer will families frolic along the shore..

or fishermen enjoy a freshly caught meal from the sea..

no longer will our beaches be known as the most beautiful in the world..
where Photographers.. both amateur and professional, abound..

, 

capturing happy families memories of a lifetime

No longer will our beaches be know as the whitest in the world..

the sugary white sands will be tainted with alien globs of tarballs..

our sea creatures from the deep are coming closer to shore for oxygen..
trying to escape  the oil polluted depths..
fewer turtle nests have been found..
every day the "news" is not any better..
after two months.. the oil still spews forth..
yellow booms are everywhere..

destroying  life as we once knew it..

I was asked if my trip was a swan song..
in  a way it was..
I needed to replenish my senses with the feel of the beach..
to hear the rush of roaring waves..

and the gentle  lullaby of softly lapping waves....

the smell of the sea air.. both daytime warm..

and nighttime cool..

I needed to feel this heavy  humid air on my body..
caressing , and teasing my cheeks with soft kisses....
fluffing my hair..even on an overcast rainy day..s

breathing it deep  in my lungs..
carrying the essence of pure BEACH to my very soul..
to feel the texture of the sand between my toes..

hearing the squeaky sound like no other..
as I scuff my feet through the fine sugary white granules..
and the wet sand stuck to my feet from wading..

I needed to drink and absorb the changing colors of the crystal clear waters..
from emerald greens, to turquoises..

finally blending into the deepest shades of blues from purples to navy.

all set against the bluest Florida skies...
often punctuated with billowing white puffy clouds..

I needed one last look at perfection..

Paradise..as I knew it..

before it became lost forever..

Sand sculptures say it  all..

a special thanks to my sister of the heart Margo who graciously allowed the use of several photos..
other than the Presidential related photos, all others were taken by Moi..