Life's a Beach

Sunday is a day of rest Part 2

After checking email this a.m. and updating yesterday’s events, I had a shower and my daily ration of multi-grain Cheerios and headed out to the beach. The water is an unbelievable tourmaline color and the horizon seems to go on forever. Due to the coral reef surrounding the island, the water is surprisingly shallow, even when one is hundreds of yards from the shore. So one technically sits or floats in the shallows rather than swims. The salinity is high so there’s no problem there. The Hyatt has a fleet of floating toys with which guests & families can venture forth into the Philippine Sea.
The water is blissfully warm & a welcome retreat from the day’s heat. It is hard to sit on the beach and look out towards the water, even under an umbrella with sunglasses borrowed from Naomi. It is just too bright on the horizon. While “drifting” in the water, I met 2 young shipmates also here on the Mercy; One from Long Beach & another from San Antonio,Texas. Sometimes the world can be a delightfully small place.. While I was down at the beach a Japanese wedding party came down to take some shoreline photos. I managed to unobtrusively snap a couple myself. Ahh the beauty of a long lens….
After a couple hours on the beach, I moved to a poolside Chaise lounge & umbrella, finishing my Sunday Crossword. Staving off Alzheimer’s, I hope. You know, use it or lose it!
I couldn’t sit poolside long without getting in to the water. There are several beautiful pools here. Rumor has it that the pools here are our Physicist Capt. Fong’s favorites. I used the “River pool” which passes under a grotto bridge and has 2 waterfalls. After swimming several minutes, I stood under one of them, effectively pummeling myself with the stream in massage fashion. It felt amazing! I got out, dried off and read poolside until rain showers chased me inside. It actually was a good thing because I had been out nearly half the day.
Today I managed to obtain 2 things that I wished to leave Guam without acquiring; a sunburn & mosquito bites!! Despite liberal & repeated application of my reportedly water and sweat proof 50-SPF, my forehead, back & shoulders are sporting an unflattering turista shade of pink. The brief shower brought out the mosquitoes & I have several large welts. Ugh!
The beauty of my surroundings & respite from the week’s hectic pace & stress associated with accreditation are most welcome.
This uneventful day was a precious gift.