it's there, just too far away to touch now

the hot sun marking bright and dim

the sand scalding on the feet in the bright

cool and refreshing in the dim, the dim almost too cold for sun warmed shoulders

the feel of peeling skin on the nose

the hollow clump of feet overhead, now and then a bicycle on too late rumbling by

the constant murmur of voice and an occasional piercing shout

sand on the towels

sprinkles of cold droplets and a splash of sand from scrinshing feet passing too near

the gulls calling back and forth

the crinkle of wax paper and the taste of peanut butter crackers and yahoo

comfort of mom close by

the excitement of waves just beyond

a sister to share time and adventure

a brother to bother us

a memory too close to bear

and so very distant on that long ago shore