down the shore

My best friend is visiting stateside, from Israel, for the week. It was so exciting to share the Shabbat Experiment with her. All day Saturday we spent outside, except for the few hours it took us in the morning to motivate off the couch… First, we went to the beach, or as I normally say, down the shore. Growing up, my family spent a few weeks down the shore every summer. So to me, on a perfect summer day, with the perfect summer breeze, there’s nothing quite like the feel of the sand between my toes, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, the taste of salt-water taffy, the briny smell of the ocean…the call of manic seagulls vying for people’s french fries… I love the Jersey shore. After a few hours of sand and sun, we headed back ‘inland’ for the rest of our outdoor adventure. The rest of the afternoon, we spent wandering around Rutgers Gardens. I did see a butterfly, which was quite small, and although I’ve seen a butterfly or two in my time, I doubt I’ve ever seen this particular one before. I was looking long and hard for a tree that spoke to me. And while I found a few trees that were interesting to look at, as soon as I saw this bit of green, I couldn’t wait to get close. These giant lawn chairs are definitely going to be my new thinking spot, when I’m up in New Brunswick. It’s just enough to make you realize how small you are in the world.