Healing Sea

On the last day of my thirties, I decided to visit the ocean.

Like I mentioned in a previous blog, my wife threw me a killer surprise party for my 40th birthday, which even included a keg. And my friends and I tried pretty damn hard to finish that keg, which led to my massive hangover the next day. There was no barfing or anything, but it was such a strong hangover, that it even seeped into the second day. So during the late afternoon of the second hangover day, I decided to pack up the kids and drive up to Gloucester, MA. We got there after 4pm, which is free (bonus!). Then we walked along the giant sandbar that stretches towards the lighthouse at the end of the harbor. Beautiful.

Relief seemed instantaneous. As soon as I dipped my feet into the water, the dusty, greasy ringing in my head subsided. I plunged headfirst into the shallow waves and my whole body shuddered, shaking off every negative symptom of my body and mind.

The ocean truly is healing. Just look at it, and feel the release of worry. Touch the water and be cleansed. Sounds pretty corny right? Well then just go to the ocean yourself and tell me that it doesn't make you smile, and inspire a long, deep breath.

From a writer's eye, just think of all of the healing stories about water that have been recorded throughout history. There was the legend of the Fountain of Youth. Or how about that 1985 Cocoon movie, with Steve Guttenberg and Wilford Brimley? And let's not forget most common example of all-- the Holy Bible. The whole idea of baptism! We're saving your soul with water here, folks.

Water powers-- what a great idea for a story. A body of liquid that can heal you. Or maybe it's not water, maybe it's a food, or any object, like a shirt or a phone. Well that last idea is just too much. Maybe there's some publisher out there who wants to sell books about a cellphone that can cure your ills, but I'm not writing that one. However, the healing idea is one that I'll toss around for a while anyway...