By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings
What this world needs now, many would say, is everyone to be vaccinated and continue to wear masks and socially distance. Of course. Alas, I would add that in addition to advocating for public health, we ought to also be looking at the Beach Ladder.
What, dear Joyful Musers, is a Beach Ladder? Well, there is a picture accompanying this column that should illustrate just exactly what a beach ladder is: a jumping off point, a chance to saute in the ocean, a creative platform by wish to change the waves to a diving – or jumping board.
The aforementioned picture was taken two weeks ago by my friend, Mone Cassier, who happened to be on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. She texted me this photo and I’ve thought of very little ever since. I celebrate this guy, I adore his joie de vie – I embrace his creativity, his glorious time in the waves. In short, I love him.
And, now, as our weather warms, will I invest in a Beach Ladder? Well, how fortuitous, I already have. I have two in the garage, one is a step ladder, the other a little larger. Perhaps I’ll bring them both – one for high tide, one for low. And as one awaits near my beach chair, I’ll hang my towel upon it, perhaps use it to create a display of shells or rocks I find on the beach.
The Beach Ladder is filled with endless possibilities. But today, dear Joyful Musers, I invite you to do as this wonderful man did – and jump off, jump in, celebrate the joy wherever your ladder takes you. Bliss is in too short a supply these days; we must, we simply must, create more.
And why not take that first step, with a Beach Ladder, of course. Climb that rung to bliss and then jump off, just jump off.
Stay safe, musers, wear your masks, get your vaccines, stay the course six feet apart. And when it gets warm? Oh, do grab your Beach Ladder and go. Aloha.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.