Each year, when we are near the end of our visit in South Walton, I carefully collect a small cup of white sand from the beach and it gets placed in a special blown-glass vase we have at our home. The sand goes in along with the shells I have picked up on sunrise walks on the beach each morning. The vase has a special place in our home, where we keep the most precious momentos of our life and family.
A little of the white sand, along with one small shell, sits in a small open container on my desk at work. I placed it in a spot where visitors can come and touch the sand and enjoy how white and pure it is. Ever person who stops at my desk touches the sand and comments on its texture and color. I love to tell them about this beautiful place we visit each summer, and how much we love it there.
This sand is magic. This small container of sand is a momentary escape when the day gets hectic. This sand can make you feel warm when the weather turns cold. This sand can instantly bring back memories of the best days spent watching the kids splashing in the clear water, chasing ghost crabs or building carefully engineered castles.
I love this small container of sand.
This year when we visit, I plan to bring my small container of magical sand, and give it back to the beach that has given us so many memories.
-Barbie