Not as pleasant as one had hoped.
The wind was so ferocious that we needed sunglasses and hats. But the hats blew off and the little ones got sand in their eyes and we were blown all the way back to the bach.
Even the roads in the little town were heaving with sand.
Look at these pictures. It looks so calm but these pictures don’t reflect the wind at all.
So we had a quiet day. Writing and reading and playing games.
Here is an experience I had in the airport in LA.
Talking to Strangers
✈️I was in an airport bar the other day. As you do. And was chatting with the bartender, as you do. We were talking about how bartenders hardly get to talk to anyone in the bar anymore; absolutely everyone in her section had a phone and was totally focused on it.
Your job has changed. I said.
Yup. I just dispense drinks now, she said, flicking a stray lock of wild pink hair out of her eye.
As we spoke my eyes were caught by movement next to me as a young man slowly lowered his phone, listening to our conversation. His eyes rose to mine with a smile of relief.
Within seconds we three were chatting like old friends. Where was he going? Oh, London. I love that dirty old town. What about you – off to New Zealand. That has always been on my bucket list. I have never understood bucket lists. Family in London? No, just a vacation. Two weeks. Awesome. You will love it.
💺We chatted on (the only ones in the bar who were talking by the way) and we had collected two more bar staff listening in and smiling. Making remarks as they passed. Then my eye caught the man next to the young man who laughed as he set his phone down and joined in and we discovered he actually came from London. But had a farm in LA and was building a house somewhere exotic and one thing led to another and soon the whole curve of the bar had laid their phones face down and I was catching eyes and waving people into the conversations with a question.
All it took was a tiny eye contact to start a conversation. Just a tiny raise of the head from
the phone and a querying eyebrow. A smile.
The young man left first – I wish I had met you four hours ago, he said, leaving for his plane. I offered my hand, he faltered a minute then took my hand and shook it with relief. Picked up his phone and his bag and waved himself out.
🛺I left a while later, after talking wine with the couple from Alabama and chatting with the London man with the farm whose wife loved all things natural – he carefully wrote down my web address so she could get in touch about her chickens.
The people paused as I gathered my bag. Calling out goodbye. Salutes. Handshakes. (I do love to shake a good hand). Offering hand sanitizer with a laugh. I turned away. Sensing the breath caught in midair. The moment of indecision as they watched me leave then reached for their drinks and grabbed their forks and turned back to their phones.
🍺I glanced back to see the bartender wave one hand goodbye as the other hand pulled a pint. We exchanged raised laughing eyebrows in acknowledgment of the outbreak of conversation.
And I was gone.
Talking to strangers is cool. Don’t you think?
But it is hard to strike up a conversation with a stranger who has their head buried in a phone.
I used to write in bars so no one would talk to me!!
C
The Kitchen's Garden 
26 responses to “Extreme wind on the Beach”
C…….THIS was the greatest post ever!!!!!!!! Good for you.
Jo
Our west coast beaches can really cop the wind and the current weather is full of gale force winds from the southwest. More often it is the nor’westerly that drives us off our beaches. Fingers crossed this will pass and you can all get to enjoy the beauty and vastness.
That is such a great story. I too love to talk to strangers. My husband laughs when I tell him about all the people I meet on my travels, especially in airports and on the plane. I often end up inadvertently selling them a book! One man was going home to see his wife and children after working in Azerbaijan for 6 months. He knew his daughter would love an Amanda book. (I always keep a couple of books in my handbag. You just never know!) Enjoy your time with the family. They must think you are such a cool grandma.
Great pictures, it reminds me of taking the dogs for walks on the beach in Cornwall.
One of the things I love about Spain, is that all the London rules go out of the window. You can make eye contact, you can talk to strangers and people are genuinely friendly without preconceptions!
I loved your story. Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome!
I love these chatting experiences and I think the skies were beautiful even if the wind was not –
Oh I enjoyed this experience in the airport. Usually being in an airport is such a total drag. I think it helps to be alone and to be at a bar–not sitting with all your paraphernalia huddled around you as you fling yourself into an airport waiting area chair–if you’re lucky enough to find one. I’ll be looking forward to “hearing” from your L.A. farmer.
Isn’t that just the worst when you get to the gate and there are only middle chairs left – usually with a handbag on them!!
Love the airport story!
Airports are so much fun! I have no problem with them at all.
I love talking to strangers, too. In grocery store lines, at the Post Office, in airports wherever. One time in France I was telling friends about all the people my husband and I had met on the Hop-on Hop-off bus and one of them said “Oh I guess I should pay more attention. I just ignore people.” I think people like that miss so much!
What a good experience. It’s so sad the way people stare at their phones often trying not to have any conversations, l just don’t get it, l love a good chin wag! Hope your weather improves for beach life.
Good story.
EVERYTHING about this post is memorable. I started by oooohing and awwwwwing at the beach shots. That sky! Wind certainly has a long way to gain speed before it lands on your shores. And then what an experience – enlivening that bar. They’re likely saying “That American gal sure warmed this place up!” Ha! When you are home do people think you are developing an American accent?
The older I become, the more I seem to be open to strangers in even stranger circumstances. It’s truely a wonderful thing. Loving your journey stories.
Oh I love this post Celi!! Really brings the memories to me ~ Jerry n I have traveled all over the world n it has been so great to meet n visit with people from all walks of life!!! ~ in the airports ~ at the bar!!! On the trains in different countries ~ sitting in the same cabins!!! Walking the streets in so many cities n sitting at cafe’s n watching the people!! Never a stranger for us!!! Ahhh ~ so much more of the great memories!!! I’m missing them already 💔💔💔 Love these NZ beach pictures even though they’re not the best weather!! The last 2 nites we had 1″ each of rain!!! 2″ of rain!! We had some winds but not the ones that caused damage here ~ more way South. Continue to have a good time!!!
Wonderful story. I’m chatting with ‘strangers’ all the time. Once when my John was staring intently at my forehead I asked if I had dirt on it or something, he replied he thought I might have ‘talk to me’ printed on it.