Before I could decide what to do, the clover slipped out of my hand. I couldn't find it again among my pile of discards.
I thought to myself, 'Yeah, right. If it's such good luck, why did I lose it?'
Days later, when the neighbour girls found their own four-leaf clover and squealed with delight, I coolly nodded while thinking to myself, 'Suckers.'
Recently
I was walking on the beach Wednesday and very quickly came upon a bright yellow piece of sea glass. My first yellow sea glass ever. It was beautifully buffed, fan-shaped, with parallel ridges running across one side.
(Click either image for a closer look.)
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| NOT THE YELLOW SEA GLASS. BUT THIS ONE GLOWED YELLOW IN THE SUN. A REMNANT OF SAFETY GLASS WITH REINFORCING WIRE INSIDE. |
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| ALSO A GOLDEN BROWN AND NOT THE YELLOW PIECE I FOUND. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE A SAND DOLLAR. |
I've been having some brain chemistry problems recently. Nothing unusual. Just the way my depression works.
As I happily held my glowing treasure, I thought, 'Maybe this is a good sign.'
I then immediately said to myself, 'Don't be ridiculous. There's no such thing as a good sign! Just be pleased to have found it!'
I continued collecting for a while. I decided to put all the glass except the yellow piece into a pocket of my leather fanny pack/bum bag (that's a story for another day). I continued walking and pulled my camera from another pocket so I could snap a picture of my treasure.
I then realised the yellow glass was no longer in my hand. I searched my bag. It wasn't among the other pieces, nor was it in any other pocket. I back-tracked, walking the same stretch of beach three times. I never did find it.
I thought to myself, 'I'm so glad I didn't believe in it like I believed in that four-leaf clover.'
I continued walking and collecting until I stumbled upon our wonderful friend Elena. She was enjoying the sun while waiting for her kids to finish volley ball practice. So, Wednesday, I found a treasure on the beach after all. An even better treasure.
And now, let's all sing along with Mitch...
I haven't thought about Mitch Miller in ages. What do you get when a bee stings you on top of a mosquito bite? Yes... sting along with itch. I'm here every Thursday night. Please tip your waitress generously.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI can't believe I had never before heard that groaner. I can always count on you!
Maybe as an antidote you ought to listen to our dear Doris singing 'Que Sera, Sera' (he types, resignedly - sigh!).
ReplyDeleteRaybeard:
DeleteDefinitely more my mindset... and so much more lyrical than "Shit happens."
You, yourself, are the treasure sweetheart; didn't anyone ever tell you?
ReplyDeleteMy Gran was the four leaf clover finder of the family.... she'd go outside, close her eyes, and walk a few steps. Then she'd bend over and come back up with one.
Jacqueline:
DeleteAw, thanks. But, treasure? More like piece of work!
That is one of my earliest memories of songs (also Buttons and Bows ;-) and I can even picture myself sitting in the stairwell into the church basement where I heard it. I don't think i was in school yet. Anyway, I'm one of those folks who can easily find 4 leaf clovers, but I've never thought they brought you good luck... that's up to you.
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteMy mother sang Buttons and Bows one summer vacation when my father made a wrong turn in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. "East is east and west is west and the wrong one we have chose..."
Well, I should say so Elena vs Yellow seaglass.....uhm....toss up! I do believe your friend wins out but gees don't stop looking for that elusive yellow. I appreciate your addiction so much.
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteElena or even cobalt blue seaglass? No contest. Always Elena...
But still, cobalt blue seagulls!!!
It is nice to imagine and even believe that a four-leafed clover would really bring us 'luck', eh Mitchell? There would be a rush to every patch/field/lawn around!!
ReplyDeleteWe just have to train ourselves to pause and take a look around at what we have within our reach on a daily basis. We are lucky and don't know it most of the time.
Now to that seaglass!! You lucky bugger!! Yellow is a difficult one to come across....most of the time! That second one is stunning! You have a good eye.....I know I know....the other one ain't bad either!! have a great trip!
Jim:
DeleteI like you're way of thinking (as usual): The "finding" is the exciting part... not the "having."
Awwwww :)
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteAnd to top it off, Elena always keep an out for seaglass (for me) when she's on the beach.
Fun story, Mitch. I remember searching for four leaf clovers when I was a kid, and in fact the thought crossed my mind recently when I encountered a group of them.
ReplyDeleteLinda:
DeleteI've never come across a group of four-leaf clovers. Of course, I haven't even scanned for one since my childhood reality check.
I'm reminded of a line from a song on the old "Hee Haw" TV show, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." The thing about luck is that it basically requires a belief in predestination or at least some kind of unseen power that ordains such things. That becomes a dead end street. Luck is a scattered thing like a tornado devastating the countryside and leaving one house untouched. No matter what you believe, s#&t happens!
ReplyDeleteMs Sparrow:
DeleteThat song is sadly one of my all time favorites. Doom, despair, agony on me...
We are of the same mindset (you poor thing)!
"An even better treasure." Amen and the answer to it all!
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteExactly!
I like that story, because it has a happy ending!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I imagine that one day soon you'll spy a group of kids screaming gleefully about their piece of yellow sea glass and you'll say, "Suckers."
In Spanish, this time.
Bob:
DeleteI think I actually saw three women discover it after I dropped it. Something they found got them really excited. I won't tell you the Spanish words that popped into my head.
What a sweet ending and a sweet man you are.
ReplyDeleteYet I want to hear the fanny bum bag story.
On the note of brain chemistry, I can relate. One minute, life is glorious. The next, a Mac truck is about to bull-doze me over. Damn depression. But there are always treasures within view.
Robyn:
DeleteBum bags or fanny packs? The story is coming soon. I'm grateful but sorry you understand first hand about brain chemistry. I don't have a Mac truck in my life. I walk into a brick wall. Today's not bad, though. Hope yours is the same... or better.
Mitchell four leaves of clover always brings luck. Have a nice weekend..
ReplyDeleteWith regard to 4 leaf clovers, the good luck is in the finding and not the keeping.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteI really do like that way of thinking. Jim of Ocean Breezes (http://jabacue.blogspot.com.es) has a similar way of looking at things.
I just knew you would use that song. I recall looking for four leaf clovers when I was a kid but I never found one. The sea glass is so pretty. You will find more, just as nice.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteI thought it was a big deal to find ONE four-leaf clover; many of my readers find them in bunches.
I have never believed much in this kind of thing. Until, I got cancer and suddenly my big Catholic family was saying novenas right and left for me. One novena was supposed to be answered in the affirmative by the finding of a rose or a penny. Crazily, I kept stumbling on to pennies for days. And then, I started getting roses from strangers. It was enough to freak the hell out of me. But, I gotta be me. I still am doubtful.
ReplyDeleteMaria:
DeleteWhen my mother was in intensive care some years back after being hit by a car, a woman I worked with (a narrow-minded Fundamentalist Christian) told me she would pray for her. I graciously thanked her. The next day, my mother's condition improved and the woman had the nerve to tell me it was HER prayers that accomplished that. Apparently god only listens to HER. However, may pennies and roses pour from the sky for you!
Gummi bears from the sea!
ReplyDelete