Image: The Beach - Peaceful
and Crowded in 1956 (here)
it used to be a big family event
thought off in advance and well planned
like transferring the house to the beach
activities and fun plus a big feast
all included the siblings mom and dad
surprises of surprises even the cat
a memorable event of decades ago
a celebration at the seaside we did go
the beach crowded the white sand flawless
only people with beach-balls nothing motorized
still very safe for youngsters and infants
wading close to shore amidst laughter and fun
the scene now is different open to dangers
they come with skiers boats and scooters
though confined to the deeper parts no less
with people or among them they often crash
the carefree days of old are now transformed
kite-flying or lazing on floats are long forgotten
Kim's at Real Toad's - Weekend
Mini Challenge - at the seaside
Beaches are more densely packed for sure, Hank. That celebration sounds wonderful. I remember when I would take my four kids to the beach, how much stuff we had to pack along - and we had no car! That didnt stop us. We loaded up the bikes!
ReplyDeleteMy, it would have been more enjoyable, Sherry! Biking it out can be more freer and fun with time in our hands!
DeleteHank
We are so lucky as the beaches we go to are like you describe in the first part of the poem!
ReplyDeleteLike Margaret, I am lucky to live where the jet-skis and such have not yet encroached. But I have seen and deplored them elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteYou've expressed it so well in the opening lines, Hank - that is exactly what it was like, planned with military precision, even for a day at the seaside - 'like transferring the house to the beach'! Beaches seemed to be always crowded, too. It's only in my later years that I have learnt where the secluded beaches are, which is one of the reasons I live near the North Norfolk coast, where there are plenty! Bring back kite flying!
ReplyDeleteThe choicest of location to stay, a very wise decision, Kim! To be on the beach, one could experience the freedom despite the crowd.
DeleteThat is such a picturesque scene of a day spent at the beach, with the parallel drawn with what it has become today. The old charm has been dispensed in favor of mechanical fun. That is an interesting juxtaposition. But definitely, I would love to have an outing like the one you describe with full preparedness and the cat.
ReplyDelete-HA
Those were the days, HA. Still it is possible if one can discover certain beaches still not crowded
DeleteI remember this too Hank, the great family event, ice-cream melting and sliding down my chin, the strange sound of beach-balls bouncing and the flying of kites.
ReplyDeleteHow innocent and wonderful life was then, or so I remember it, and I am sure it was so.
Anna :o]
Exactly Anna! It is nice to relive it all with the kids and grandies in tow! It would be fun to let them have a taste of what it was before
DeleteSigh such wonderful memories in this one, Hank! 💞
ReplyDeleteSure a heck of a lot more to watch out for indeed. We just skip the giant litterbox at our feed.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a reason why I keep away from beaches these days... those scooters and kites have changed the peace to something else.
ReplyDeleteGreat write, Hank! Maybe one explanation for my basic fear of water is nary a childhood memory of going to 'the beach.'
ReplyDeleteSooo very nice to read, Hank. All the while I was thinking of our times there. As a child, our family never went to the beach. We could have, going to the Platte River which was about 70 miles away. Now that isn't do bad, about like driving across Houston. As parents, we would take the kids to the Atlantic coast in New Hampshire or to one of the closer lakes. Later still here we'd take them to Galveston or Freeport, Texas. Then later with a new family we would take the granddaughter when we visited France. She loved the Cannes beach.
ReplyDeleteStill no Jet ski boats at beaches where I would be. Like your write, we generally had a beach ball but also toy buckets and shovels. Our Caribbean beaches are nice, as is Key West. Hawaiian ones are generally rocks instead of sand.
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Despite not having gone to the seaside when young Dr Jim, you were blessed with the privilege of beaches around. How very wise to take the time and efforts to bring the loved ones to these places.
DeleteA poem very true to life then and now. I live nearby to the beach and have seen the difference.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Too many people for sure. Nice poem.
ReplyDelete