Visual Perfection

September 19, 2008

The sand warmed my inner being. My toes curled in and out, griping the earth below. After a moments pause, another figure jumps up beside me. My eyes rise to find my mother. She stands, with a peaceful smirk, waiting for my company. Slowly, I rise and my hand meets hers as we blindly walk toward the water. I am left in complete ignorance until the cold liquid awakens me from my mindless actions. My spine is confronted with a life threatening shiver that stuns my whole body. A quick inhale leaves me stiff and unstable. The waves can see my fear and are quick to attack. Pride fills my mind after I service the oceans first punch, but the back wash keeps me humble as I fall to the ground. Right hand out, ready to embrace the fall, I prepare for the ocean to take me away. A sudden jerk from my mothers grasp pulls me back to safety. It is not until I gain sturdiness in my body that I realize that the water only reaches my ankle bone.

Head tilted back, I see my mother looking off into the distance. Her expression shows a strictness I am unable to grasp, seeing as I am only two years old. My concern for her serious face causes me to tug on her hand for acknowledgement. Her gaze is dropped and she looks down into my worried eyes. A small giggle is accompanied by a motion with her finger that suggests I look at what has occupied her for so long. My eyes follow her finger and are led to the most beautiful site in the world.

Yellow, orange, and red controlled the sky with the dark blue outline that comes from the sea. The sun has a forgiving glow that allows for eyes to enjoy its grace. The sound that comes from the distance is peaceful and seems to put all thought to rest. The sunset, so captivating and breathtaking, allows for nothing else to override its importance. The scenery does not allow for the people along the shore to look at anything else. I am so captivated in the beauty that I cannot break my stare. Silence seems to overcome the world for an immeasurable time.

Time stands still as I turn my head to see what stands behind me. I am the only one in motion and the only one that seems to be looking as anything but the sun. Right behind me, I find my father and brother sitting in the sand remaining in the peace and quiet. They had just been playing in the sand and between them rest a castle that reaches higher than their heads. The hypnotizing sunset stops their progress on the near perfect castle and they now gaze past my profile. I find it hard to understand how my swimsuit does not catch their attention. With its pinkish tint mixed with every color known to man, it is a hard thing to miss. The tutu that hugs my waist brings even more flare to the suit with fabric pointing in every direction. And yet, my swimsuit seems to attract no attention. With some frustration, I turn to my left and lean back to look past my mom. Beach goes too far for my eyes to see. The endless sea line makes the world look even bigger than it is in real life. The scenery to my left cannot keep my attention and my gaze drifts back to the right. Yet again, I am confronted with sand that stretches for many miles. Even though these sights would have kept me staring for many hours before, now that I had seen the unforgettable sunset nothing can quench my eyes thirst. Spite possesses my heart as I look back to the sky that had ruined what I thought beauty was. I am unable to keep these feelings, however, when my eyes return to the sky. This image will always be in my mind and to this very day, nothing has amounted to its glory.

The sun inched below the sea line and the world is able to return to its business. Now that the planet could continue its rotation, my family went back to the rigorous activities we had dropped. My father and brother continued constructing the castle with the help from my mother and me. My hands dive into the ground and pull up a sand ball. The sticky sand covers my fingers and changes my skins color as well as its texture. Trying to help, I lob the ball onto the castle walls to make them stronger and more detailed. The sudden his from my brother proves that my help is not wanted. I retract my position and make my arms support my wait as I lean back. Legs crossed, I take a posture that is much too mature for any two years old to take. I am, once again, looking over the peaceful sea. It is at that point that my mind begins to race. “That image was so intense and life changing, I will never be able to forget it”, I think to myself.

To this very day, that image is encrusted in my heart. My first memory just so happens to be my best memory. My present character is based on that day. I am always looking for beauty that could amount to something close to that sunset, and yet every image I pass falls short. I am glad that I saw beauty so early in my years; now, when I am confronted with true beauty again, I will know what I am looking at.