No Lifeguard on Duty (Walking the Beach at Night)
Originally published on Patreon 10/21/2023
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My new neighborhood is one of a kind. Unencumbered by an HOA each lawn is free to flourish in its own style. Now that we're settled into our rooftop nest it's time to start poking at all the corners and sharing the beauty with you.
On one of the last warm nights of the season we decided to be brave and check out the beach at night. Coming from Chicago, night time wanders on the sand are heavily frowned upon. However our new neighbors assured us no one cared here and as long as you weren't causing trouble you can totally go chill at the beach whenever. It's probably technically against the rules but it's not like anyone is going to specifically call the cops on us for it and in northern Indiana they have bigger things to worry about once the sun goes down than a resident taking a stroll.
There is a stone bench at the beginning of the path for you to sit and shake out your shoes from all the sand collected before continuing to pavement when you leave. The abandoned flip flop gave serious Halloween vibes but I like to believe it's the community bug whacker for those times you have to sit and shake out your shoes. Bugs are approximately 3 times bigger here than in my favorite urban bubbles.
While I type this the road we walked down to get to the sneaky beach path is getting an overhaul so this might be the last time it looks exactly like the cover photo.
During the day the sandy path cuts between private property through a canopy of loose leaves. Signs along the way remind you of beach safety rules and warn you that no one will be there to save you. However, the sign at the end of the path does have an emergency life jacket and life donut hung on it should the need for it arise.
They have been there every time I show up without vandalism. It's a detail often overlooked but a solid marker of a well maintained beach community.
However at night it feels further away and only visible with a flashlight. The sign is a proper reflective street sign so any light will pick it up but now you have to search for it.
However you shouldn't need it since the water itself prevents you from entering the water. Without light the lake extends into a proper abyss. My edges to the west had enough light pollution to blot out the stars but without much activity east it got absorbed into the hungry water. Before my eyes adjusted it was just a gradient wall, almost solid enough to reach out and touch.
But the water stopped me.
That night it was still. The water slunk up the sand with a gentle slurp, interrupted every fifth lap for an exhale, the smallest break rolling over to reset the surface. It mirrored the distant light in a sheet of silver. That sheet moves and bends like a cat hunting your toes under the covers. I'm eleven and I'm afraid to find out if the shadow is clutter or creature. I avoid the waters edge. There will be no need for a life saver tonight.
My camera was able to capture none of this. A snipers dot at the end of a smoke is the only context I can provide.