Montauk Pioneer - August 22, 2008

It's everything it's supposed to be, a mid August day in Montauk. The breeze is gently blowing off the ocean, the sound of the surf caressing the beach, the gulls gulling about, it's all perfect. In the distance you hear the neighbor's stereo playing old tunes that travel through the air like flashes in time and your morning coffee is percolating. Is this not what you wait all winter for? You go for that short walk to the beach at Ditch Plains and although the surfing conditions are sometimes marginal there, some giving it their all to make it happen. The ladies are tanning and giving smile as you stroll by, just letting you know they appreciate the morning too. Out on the horizon is a charter fishing boat, it's a full sunny day, not that rough and you hope they are catching the fish they have been waiting all year to catch.

You walk back home a very short distance that makes you realize the magic of Montauk, that is the ocean or bay is always a short walk away. You look at the deck and you see the remnants of last night's bbq that your roomie had with his long time friends. The talk is pure kicking back Montauk summer talk. What's happening, who's busy, what tasted good at wherever, and of course who's looking really good lately? But today is another day of just a few August days left. Should you play bocce like you did yesterday winning $20 bucks from Billy and Jimmy, or should you wonder over to the sailboat and let it do its magic with the wind is just right.

You sip your coffee, wow it is such a perfect day.

After a quick cool summer morning shower you find what's still clean to wear, because today is definitely not a laundry day and you head for the door. You think of Kevin out playing golf at Montauk Downs, knowing he was there at 6 a.m. to get a good tee off time. You think of that night in his Jacuzzi when everyone just got in, sipped beer and caught up on the summer time activities. Then your mind goes to how many of these August days are left, perhaps less than a dozen, and then you must wait 330 or so days for it to all come back. You don't think about work, you can't think about money, you think about the actual joy of life, in the moment, absorbing it in the shade of the coolest of summer breezes on an August day.

If you were a child you may gather your pail and shovel and build the ultimate sand castle with a big ditch full of water. But you are in mid-life, and quite frankly, time is slipping away, but today it seems to be standing still in total enjoyment. There are no clouds in the sky to ruin this day, there is nothing but the steady pulse one feels when all feels just so right.

You put your feet up and take it all in, you run around like a chicken with your head cut off to do what you think you should but how often do you stop to smell the full bloom roses? The music from the neighbor shifts into an old summer classic sound that takes you back to that first summer when you experienced love and all its magic.

If you don't have a good Montauk tan by now you never will because by mid August everyone in town with a tan looks like a movie star. Those sunglasses are on, the hair blowing in the breeze and the smiles makes every guy feel like Thomas Magnum. I think sailing is what I am going to do today. I am going to buy some ice, a few cold beers, some chips, and invite Kenny who's been working triples and doubles all summer but is off today to come out and enjoy the Block Island Sound and look at our Montauk from the sea like all the fisherman do everyday, going to and coming from work. The moon is no longer totally full but it's still amazing. Maybe tonight I'll do another BBQ, after all it's August.

The last thoughts are to my Dad and Mom enjoying nights like this years ago in Montauk. Sipping their martini's that my dad made with the joy of a new Christmas toy, they always toasted to another beautiful Montauk day and meant it. Now I totally understand what they meant and by now so do you, enjoy it right now, it's as good as it gets.