Bare bums on the beach. Montague Harbour, Galiano Island. Where all naked kids’ dreams come true. Once a very large shell midden – this beach is shells – all shells – broken into fine sand only in a few places – around the corners, past the points and on the channel side where the water moves quickly both ways – fast enough to grind these shells down over time – creating miniature beaches for kids and their kingdoms and queendoms of sand castles.
Hermit crabs catch your eye when the water is calm enough. Painted white reflections of sun gleam and cast light shadows from realms only the children know.
The two kids are playing. Bare bums dipped in salt water and coated with a thin layer of sea shells much like a Purdy’s ice cream bar dipped in sprinkles at the mall.
A bee lands on her face – her cute smile turns to a grimace, panic, and a wail. Someone had their Kodak ready just at that moment. I am able to look back at myself and although the child memory didn’t stick – the adult memory has created the before and after of this scene with the photo anchoring this frame.
Grainy. Film cameras. Blurred edges from light beams or finger nubs.
where rivers are born 