I Must Go Down to the Sea

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

- John Masefield

This past week we had the privilege of enjoying my boss' condo on the beach in Florida. What a wonderful time of rest and relaxation we had!

As for the poem...my Dad read and quoted poetry to us as we were growing up and as I sat on the beach one night, this poem came to me and I quoted the first stanza to my Sweet Girl. It reminded me of how I need to be teaching her the poetry that my Dad taught us kids.

Trying to get us all smiling for our annual beach picture.

Uncle James always let's us bury him or make him into a mermaid or something fun!
Ear to ear grins from Sweet Girl in the pool

Pedicures by the ocean...

Watching the Blue Angels practicing (free!!!) and oh so cool!


Mmmmm watermelon...
Posing on the boardwalk


Playing in the sand....

Sweet Girl's first "snow ball" and mine too (I hate to admit it!). She chose banana flavored (ewwww)...

and finally...we found three sea dollars! I've never found one and this year we found THREE! How beautiful....

Ahhhh the sea...I'll miss you until next year.