COLLANEvrosi

I remember when mum used to wake me up at dawn so that we could
find a parking space.

I remember walking along the pebbly shore to get away from the crowd.
I remember the low tide in the morning and at sunset.

The sound of the waves cradling me while I snoozed until I was
awakened by the hot sun.

I remember perfectly groomed hands hastily applying sun lotion on
my skin.

I remember being in the water for hours with my twin brother, playing,
fighting, making up.

I remember being jealous when a new child would show up on our
same empty beach, and dad’s tender voice trying to distract me.

I remember mum stretching out in the sun for hours and dad being
bored just like the rest of us.

His child-like eyes and his imagination.

We used to look for seashells and colored glass along the shore for
hours.

That empty bottle that would turn into a little sea world inhabited by
the pebbles, seaweed and seashells we collected.

I remember diving from the pier and the sea urchins that stung my feet
when I touched the bottom, and those same, perfectly groomed hands
patiently removing the thorns from my feet.

I remember the mortadella and gherkin sandwiches and the yogurt we
ate with melon.

I remember the seagulls gathering together at sunset when we tossed
pieces of bread at them... Dad would always toss them so far away.

I remember the low tide in the morning and at sunset.

I remember feeling the salt on my skin when I put my t-shirt backk on,
and walking to the car at the end of a day at the beach.