Joy.

I have been to the beach more times this winter than I had gone during the whole summer. California is a wonderland. When my sister Alison and I decided to head to Laguna Beach one warm winter day, it seemed that everyone else in southern California had the same idea. We could not find parking whatsoever, so we headed south on PCH a ways,

the sound spectrum.

hoping to find something somewhat close to the main beach. I am a frequent visitor of the Sound Spectrum (www.soundspectrumlaguna.com), a locally owned music store, offering both used and new records, CDs, posters, t-shirts, and other memorabilia. I knew for a fact there is always available parking down there, even though it is quite a hike from the main beach. We didn't feel like trekking all that way, and after parking, we just walked straight toward the ocean, hoping there would be some way down to the beach from the street. And, hallelujah, there was! Steps right down to the sand! After the descend into paradise, we laid our giant purple blanket down on white sand and noticed the beach was almost vacant. Why? we wondered. It was absolutely perfect. We also noticed something else that surprised us: dogs! People had their dogs down here! The only dog beach I knew of close to us is in Huntington Beach. I read the nearby sign and it said they actually allow dogs from October to March and I knew right away I had to bring my little Tucson down here. 

So, a couple days later, we did! I brought my sister and her best friend, my best friend and our two dogs, Katy and Tucson. As we walked down the steps a second time, Tuc couldn't hold his horses! The teeny dog almost pulled me right down the steps, he was so excited! He had never experienced the beach and the ocean before. As I unhooked his leash from his collar, it was like unleashing the Tasmanian Devil. He spun off, leaping over rocks, splashing in the shallow waves, flinging sand all around himself, a black flash zipping in every direction. He was simply overwhelmed with excitement. 

I put my purse down on the same giant purple blanket that we had placed in the same spot as last time, pulled out two green tennis balls and launched them toward the water. My little pup's ears pointed straight toward the sky and tail spinning like a propeller, tongue flopping, he chased the heck out of them. Chest deep in the salty waves, he bobbed for tennis balls, retrieved them like a proper retriever, raced them back up the beach and waited for more. 

my tucson havin' some fun in the sun.

Katy, the little princess that she is, watched comfortably from the blanket, keeping an eye on her little buddy and barking orders at him when he got too out of control. 

We all chased the little dog while he zigzagged in and out of our legs, coming barely within our reach. He knew we wouldn't be able to catch him and he teased us relentlessly. 

People walking up and down the beach watched him in delight too, not expecting this teeny dog to be so energetic, playful and fond of the ocean. They all secretly wished their dog was as cool as mine.

Watching him myself, I saw pure joy in my little boy that day. And with that, I found pure joy in myself. I was so happy watching him be so happy. He had no troubles in the world. A simple day at the beach has the power to make a dog's whole life. I'm positive with every fiber of me that he had the best day of his life that day. I could see it. It doesn't take much to please a dog. A tennis ball and someone to throw it. 

The Energizer bunny masked as a dog appeared to have run out of juice by the end of the day in the sun. He slept in my lap the whole drive home, wet and sandy, the wind in our faces as he wouldn't allow me to roll the window up. I love that silly dog to death. 

Sometimes it takes so much for people to be happy. Maybe not even happy, just content. It's the simple things in life that we need to find joy in. Like playing with our puppies in the sunshine. Watching the waves. Spending time with people we love. It shouldn't take much.

p.s. i do not own the photo of sound spectrum but I do own the photo of my puppy!:)

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