Witch Doctors, Sea Snakes and Chickens

No two days at my beach are alike. One day it will be rough, high rolling waves all the way up to the rocks. The next, calm, slow rolling water, the only discernible wave motion is a swish and rolling pebble rumble  as  water retreats to the sea. 

In a secluded spot, with no others in sight at any time, it is my own private beach. The perks of having my own beach are innumerable. The downside is a short list but a very serious one.  

What if something happens while I am out in the water alone? Can you hear the theme from Jaws? I certainly can. 

Yesterday was an exceptional day for beach enjoyment. The water was calm, clear (as usual) and so inviting. The day was hot but not unbearable as most have been for the last two months when I have trekked to the beach. A light breeze tingled and cooled me while not in the water. Usually, I don't traverse too far from shore, thigh high water is just right for safety's sake, and just long enough to cool off and return drenched enough to relieve the heat of the day. Being an exceptional day, it was not the usual. With so much stress from work, it was so relaxing to sink in the water, watch the water roll in at eye level. Keeping my eye on the horizon for jumping fish, fins, whatever might occur, the blue of the water and sky mixed together for several minutes. Looking up, enjoying a blue sky, which is normally non-existent in the desert, and looking back out to the water, letting everything go and enjoying everything around me, time slipped away. 

Three times I stepped into the water, to sit and enjoy and float in the overly salty water for more than a few minutes. The one above was the first. In between seashell hunting, sitting in the chair enjoying a snack and a bottle of ice cold water and curiously checking out the two small beach areas next to my favorite, on a calm water day. 

As I sat in the chair, many flies, which are rare for me to encounter here kept buzzing around even with the swat of the bandanna in hand for keeping sweat out of my eyes. Then, there he was, a huge, buzzing dragon fly, witch doctor, bringing a smile to my face. A witch doctor in the desert next to the sea, a huge one, granddaddy size. He buzzed around and away he went but not entirely, he came back several times before I left. 

Then, of course, the song was in my head...

My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to do
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to you
Oh, Baby ....

  Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
  Walla walla, bing bang
  Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
  Walla walla, bing bang...
  Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
  Walla walla, bing bang
  Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
  Walla walla, bing bang

So as I sat in the water, watching shadows on the rocks and sand below me, contemplating where some of the shadows came from as there were no discernible items to create them I could see, I found myself singing about the witch doctor. Then I realized if I was singing out loud, my voice was being heard under water, and my gaze went back to the horizon, looking for jumping fish. 

Of course there had been some all day, most were long, small and shiny silver, not worrying me too much as I was close enough to shore and the path was smooth for a quick retreat if needed. 

Somewhere along the way, I lost my train of thought and worry and drifted away in a stupor of perfection as far as a beachy day goes. 

Now if you have seen Lonesome Dove, one of the scariest scenes is when they cross the river and the Irish boy is attacked by water moccasins, and that is all I could think of, later, after the scream and hasty retreat out of the water. 

So if you scream at the private beach, and there is no one around to hear you, did you really scream? 

Out of nowhere, no wait, out of the water, at incredible speed, moving back and forth, like a serpent, shiny, silver, coming straight for my face.... 

Water splashing

Shiny blurr

Scream

hasty retreat

Clear water 

nervous laughter

and it was over. 

I have no idea what it was. I checked all over for a bite site, but none. I had relaxed enough, before the attack, afterwards all I could do was giggle and sit in the chair watching for a snake to emerge from the water. Nothing showed itself, no sea snake, no fish, no shark, nothing.

As a child growing up in Texas, the thing to do was to get back up on that horse and not be scared after being thrown for a loop. 

The witch doctor came by to check out how I was and then moved back down the beach. So I stood up, walked back out and sat down in the water up to my neck. 

It was heavenly, and again, I lost myself in the water and removed all other thoughts. 

A co-worker had heard there were sea snakes here, although none of us have ever seen one. 

During a trip to fish monger here I have seen more than a dozen sharks caught locally. 

So I am the chicken, or just trying to be safe while on my own private beach. 

Having had a stingray sting me on my ankle while at a beach, I would prefer to try to be a chicken than lost at sea or a beached whale, no one notices missing until the next work day. 

Love my beach days, and look forward to them every day.