On the beach

"No beach to walk on."

As the Enterprise and life spiraled to what seemed a fated disaster, that's what Captain Kirk said in a Star Trek first season episode called The Naked Time. It turns out he and his valiant crew would live to see another day--and episode of course. Maybe Kirk caught his beach later on, in the Nexus.

More important, have you taken your walk on the beach recently?

This summer has been interesting for me. I've been busier than usual. I've had the privilege to teach a couple of classes at Humber, and my VA business has brought me work and good fortune. Life's so good this summer, so busy, that there will no summer vacation.

Last summer, when my 'ship' was spiraling out of control, and when I had a beach to walk on: I didn't. I should have done so then more than at any other time. I needed it. In the moment, in his crisis, when our fictional character Kirk wanted to be assured he'd one day have a beach to walk on, he couldn't have predicted the future. Any more than I could have last year.

Though I don't have time to walk on the beach this summer, I'm not sad about it. I know that there is a beach. If you can, take a walk on your beach now. If you can't, take comfort in knowing it's there for you when you're ready for it.