Title: can you see me from the water
My grandparents are in their late 80’s as of me writing this. When going to visit them a few months ago I remembered an experience that I had with them growing up. When I would travel with my Mom and Dad to visit them, they would always call my parents' cell phone to tell us they were waving to us from their balcony. And as we whizzed down highway 287 I would look out of my passenger window trying to see them through the tree line. I would of course wave back to them but, I can’t recall actually seeing them. I knew they were waving, I believe they were.
My grandparents are in their late 80’s as of me writing this and can no longer travel with the rest of my family to Long Beach Island (LBI). It is a vacation spot I have gone to since I was a small child. I have tons of memories of my whole family being there together. I never thought it was a rare occasion but, in fact, it was. My father passed away in 2016 and my aunt's mother passed away a few years ago. Both had their ashes scattered in the ocean just off the coast of LBI. Since my fathers passing it is unavoidable to feel melancholic but that feeling to me is more often than not galvanizing.
July 8th is a hot summer day unlike any other. From 11 am - 5 pm I moved sand around the beach. A five foot sand pile born out of 5 hours of constant labor using only a bucket, a shovel and my hands is created. I returned to it a few hours later after the sun has set.
A video of my hand waving is projected onto the sand pile and then me and my family take a moment and watch it.
My grandparents are in their late 80’s as of me writing this they can not walk on the beach.
A stranger comes up to me and asks if she can take a photo for her friend who can’t come to the beach.
of course