My Safe Place

Jessica Persico!
Mrs. Woodard!
ENGL 110-35!
Sept 18, 2014!

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Cobourg Beach!

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Pam Shaw once stated that: “After a visit to the beach, it’s hard to believe that we live in

a material world.” Society today gets completely lost in the whirls of materialism, but when we go somewhere that brings us back to reality, we get a sense of inner relief that gets rid of the cloud of materialism. That place for me is the pier at Cobourg Beach in Ontario, Canada.!
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As I arrive at the beach, I pick the same spot every single time. On the left side of the

beach, I place down my long beach towel in the soft golden sand. My friends gracefully run towards the cold, choppy water, but I stay back, as I want to walk along the shoreline to the place that sets me free. !
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Walking towards the old pier, I hear children’s lively laughter as they run around building

their sandcastles as I see pigeons flying gracefully over my head. Still walking on the wet sand, I pass volleyball courts filled with energetic people cheering loudly as they compete to win the game. As the wind blows, I feel a cool breeze on my face as my hair flies along with the wind; when it stops, I once again feel the sweltering sun kiss my tanned skin as a drop of sweat rolls down my face. I then realize, that I am almost at the pier.!
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The walk to my favorite spot is not the best as I have to walk along pavement and rocks,

but it is most definitely worth the displeasure. As I continue to walk, I hear the splashes of people jumping off the wooden docks followed by screams as they arise from the cold lake water. Then, the path starts to narrow and I hear the waves crashing onto the uneven rocks and water. As I arrive, I immediately escape reality while I look upon the breathtaking view. !
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The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the water with the reflection of radiant red

and orange that extended across the entire sky. Looking upon this view while listening to the

sound of water as the waves crest against the rocks sends a calming wave of relief that leads me to forget about every trouble that I have ever faced in my life; it slips my mind for just a single moment and I feel at peace with the world. As I continue to gaze at the sunset, in the distance I see a boat floating closer and closer to me, preparing to dock for the night. I look up into the sky and once again see birds elegantly flying over my head into the clouds past the old, white light house. !
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I close my eyes for a few minutes just to take in the entire atmosphere that I am

experiencing and a sense of enlightenment comes over my entire body. When I open my eyes, I am ready to take on anything that life wants to throw at me because I know that when I return, they will be forgotten.!
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Slowly I begin move, picking up my belongings and join the crowds that are all heading

for home, happy chatter filling the air as everyone talks about the fun they will have the next time they return to the beach.