Don't Forget to Enjoy the Sunsets!

On Thanksgiving Day I captured this photo of the sun gloriously tucking itself into the ink-blue ocean for the night. As I stood on the rocky beach enjoying the scene, I noticed I was surrounded by other people who were doing the same. Everyone stood in silence, a sacred ritual of sorts; the flaming sun demanding attention as it made its final exit for the day.

This experience reminded me of a fond memory from a few summers past. We had just spent a fabulous day at the beach at Point Lobos with my brother-in-law, his wife, and five children. We were walking back from the beach to our car in the parking lot when we noticed three white haired elderly people getting out of an old model Jaguar. Their lively chatter and laughter portrayed that of younger years. Our attention was further drawn to them as we noticed the two gentlemen and one woman take out an elegant white table cloth, a chilled bottle of wine, and three Champaign glasses which they set up at a nearby picnic table overlooking the ocean. Seeing their joy and excitement, our curiosity got the best of us, and we asked, “Are you celebrating something special?” Their time-softened faces, filled with smiles, turned our direction. One of the men proudly said, "Yes, we ordered a beautiful sunset!"

The reply made us all smile. We couldn’t help but catch their contagious mood for the upcoming sunset. How poignant it was to see these young-hearted-golden-yeared individuals celebrating THIS sunset as if it were their first. We all watched as the sun bowed low, issuing in a blazing sky that brought the day to a close.

What a sweet memory this experience is to me, a reminder to enjoy the simple things in life and to surround yourself with those that do the same. It made me believe if you were to do these two things--growing old would seem irrelevant. Love for life and people are timeless.

Wishing you many beautiful sunsets!