Anakin, You're so WRONG!...but then again, you're right.

Recently I awoke to a glorious, sunny morning, albeit a windy one. My bamboo wind-chimes were knocking out quite an active tune! (It’s gloriously hollow sounding – I love my bamboo chimes.)

…this picture doesn’t show how high the winds were. I live at the coast. It’s windy here most of the time. (In this instance, they were blowing towards me - hard to see that.)

But a nice, sunny morning is always a call for a walk on the beach. It was ju-ust a little chilly. Maybe around 45, but hey, it was warm for the time of year, and you know how that makes you suddenly act like it’s summer? Besides, a few weeks ago I ran into the 40-ish-degree ocean for charity, so how could I balk at 45 and sunny?

I know, I know, “Hey you Star Wars nerd; get to the point! What does this have to do with Anakin?”

…oh, if you don’t know that by “Anakin” I am referring to Anakin Skywalker who would later become Darth Vader, then you’d better just move on and come back and see me later. Better yet, check out this post defining this blog (sort of), or this one which, although not my best writing does refer to several other very good blogs I love. … or if you work in an office, you will appreciate this post because it covers the pitfalls of office emails.

~~~For all those of you sticking around to read my views that I need to share with Anakin…

In Episode II “Attack of the Clones”, Anakin is with Padme on Naboo, and while they are at the house in the lake country, he says, as they look over the water, “I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough, and irritating, and it gets everywhere…” I guess that’s a signal of what’s to come for Anakin, that he sees all the harshness and none of the goodness. Dark side, indeed!

Granted, I didn’t grow up on Tatooine, but I have ample experience of sand from living and working at the beach for the last 11 years. [odd sidebar: my spell-check just underlined Tatooine, and for a moment I found it odd that Tatooine isn’t a recognized word. Then I realized it’s because Tatooine is in a galaxy far, far away. Hah!]

Anakin, you are wrong. Although it is rough, sand is awesome for the feet! There is no better feeling than sand-between-the-toes – wet sand, dry sand, it’s all awesome, plus it's an exfoliant. Rock on. I don’t get people who walk the beach with shoes on. What’s up with that? And walking in sand is good exercise, using the whole core for balance.

If you're not walking in the sand, sitting/laying there is great too: It will take your shape! You can dig your own butt-size spot on the beach to relax and watch the fireworks. Where else? Nowhere.

Then again Anakin, you’re right. It does get everywhere, and that can be a pain. Since moving to the beach my vacuum has become my best friend. Even when you think you’ve wiped all the sand off your feet before entering the house, it will suddenly shower down out of the cuffs you rolled into your jeans while wading.

Particularly if it’s windy in a sandy landscape, the sand gets everywhere. Did you have many windy days on Tatooine? I mean just regular wind? Whereas on Tatooine you protect yourself from sand storms, here we just have to try to shield ourselves from the wind…if we can notice it in time. For instance, on my walk I found a nice-sized piece of driftwood…

I don't know why I collect driftwood. I don't do anything with it.

...And when I set down my mug of Earl Grey to take that picture, the wind picked its moment to kick back up, filling my cup of tea with sand. …well okay, less "filling" and more like sprinkling sand into my tea just enough to make it undrinkable. That was kind of annoying. (I tried to take pictures of the wind rippling the sand like mini-dunes, but you know, you just can’t photograph the wind.)

Maybe if every day all I saw was sand, I’d agree with you Anakin. As it is, I have to say sand is not a bad thing. I’d recommend you have an open mind, but your destiny is already sealed, and we all know your mind is made up, so that recommendation would be a waste of breath.

May the Force be with you.

In other news to celebrate: With St. Paddy’s so near, EVERY day is a day to celebrate. I’m posting this now because I probably won’t post tomorrow. I’m taking one final brewery tour of our local craft-brewery Dogfishhead in the afternoon, which means I have to actually do real work in the morning, not blog. Party on!