CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: It’s great to be in Laguna

Easter Week. Balboa Island. The soft lap of tidal wash against the wooden dock. Cool breeze on sun-warmed skin. Music playing on the portable radio”¦ a “summer place.” Our two brightly colored aluminum cups filled with cola sweat rings onto the dark wood of the dock near our colorful towels. Languid, we sweat onto the towels beneath our baby-oiled bodies. This was such easy bliss.

My friend Mickie Messini had invited me to join her family here for the week. We were staying at the vacation home of friends of theirs on Lido Isle.

We wandered Balboa Island, rode the ferry, pedaled our rented bicycles around Lido Isle, or just lazed in the sun on the dock.

This was a kind of freedom I did not usually experience. With three younger siblings at home and two parents who worked, this timeless ease was not too very familiar. It was saved for vacations at my grandparents’. But, then, this was a vacation. Just different. Plus, the luxury of it all had my eyes popping. I somehow knew I wanted more of some part of this even as I did not know just what it was for which I longed.

To live in Laguna Beach where I could every day see and hear the ocean was not something I had even dreamed at that time. Now, I can look back and see the seeds that were planted then and in the following adolescent years.

While I am frequently reminded of and enjoy the beauty and my good fortune, there is no time when these things are not more in the front of my mind than when I spend time with visitors enjoying our special place.

A recent example of this came when Suzette Rosenthal and I were teaching a mixed-media class at the Sawdust Festival’s Spring Into Art. It was blustery weather, but sunny; not ideal, but very manageable. With the news blasting about winter/spring storms in the east and mid-west, we were very aware of just how fortunate we were. Space heaters were fired up and our outdoor space tightly wrapped in clear plastic; Suzette and I were able to forget the winds as we enjoyed time together with eight other women busily creating.

It struck me that the class was a bit like the old-fashioned quilting bee. Here, though, we had the beauty of the Sawdust grounds, a sunny day on the coast, catered lunch and more. Sweet! We are lucky to have all this here in Laguna for ourselves and to share with others. A special thanks goes to all those who have made this possible, for it allows for others’ dreams to be realized in small part, too.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at Cherril@cherrildoty.com or by phone at (949) 251-3883.