And so we have reached the most important part of my memories. My choice of Myrtle Beach was no accident. I wanted to live by the ocean, and my expectations were fully met.
What was the ocean like for me? The ocean seemed so endless and boundless that everything else felt insignificant and minimal in comparison.
When you are by the ocean, all your problems and sorrows seem to drift away. Living with the ocean, you can observe all its moods. The ocean is absolutely different every time. It doesn't matter if it's morning, day, evening, or night—the main thing is to find even the slightest opportunity to come to it.
You can sit for hours, or you can just enjoy its presence for a few minutes. The ocean, like people, has a mood. You can feel it. You know exactly when you are afraid to go into the water because a wave might cover your head, or when you can safely go and lie on the waves, and the ocean won't hurt you.
You can spend as much time as possible by the ocean. Just not too far out. After all, there are plenty of sharks there too. There were cases when excited and inspired children ran out of the water screaming that they had seen a monster. But I was lucky. I was friends with the ocean. It protected me and my soul.
Throughout the summer, it was with me, for me, and under any circumstances. The ocean was my faithful friend and compass. When questions arose and I didn't know the answers, didn't know what to do, I was sure that if I went to the ocean and asked it, it would certainly help and give me a sign. And even on the hardest days after work, when I had no strength left, the ocean was the main cure for fatigue. You just come there and can walk for a couple more hours, enjoying the scent and the atmosphere, heading toward the dunes and back. To be happy there, you only need a towel, a shirt, a swimsuit, flip-flops, and sunglasses.
Having such simple things, you can become so happy. "If you want to understand life, stop believing what people say and write, and instead observe and feel."
One morning we went to watch the sunrise at the ocean.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, but as they say, everything happens for a reason, and that morning was not in vain. We armed ourselves with our things and went to spend the morning. And then we discovered a completely different side of the ocean. It was so calm and sad, leading to thousands of thoughts.
People who apparently live in this resort town are used to walking their dogs by the ocean in the morning, some go for a run, and others, like us, spread out a blanket, take a camera, and want to watch the sunrise.
During the day, we can see other people at the same ocean. These are tourists, families with children, mostly so loving and happy that they are on vacation. So carefree and sunbathing under the sun.
In the evening, you go out for a walk along the promenade and feel for a moment that you are also a tourist, that you can just walk around so freely and enjoy the moment. In the evening and at night, the ocean is different, frightening and magnificent at the same time. So different. You can stand knee-deep and watch for a long time as the salty, foamy water comes in and then recedes forever.
And if you try to build something out of sand, it almost immediately slips through your fingers. And it's not about the sand. Here you involuntarily start to think that this is exactly how life is. Nothing can be held onto forever. You can only try to remember. Moments and days passed and are passing, like that sandcastle, of which not even a trace remains. The only thing we can do is to leave the mark of past events and days in our hearts as much as possible. My ocean is remembered by me as mine forever. Beloved and immense. It gave me a different version of myself. Living and happy.
