A Day of Lasts and Firsts

Yesterday we did our last trip to the beach before school goes back.

Such a beautiful beach on such a glorious day. 

MrF was disappointed that there was no surf, but it was brilliant for playing, splashing, diving, attempted body surfing, winging those skim balls at each other, and taking a walk along the long, sandy beach.

We went to our new favourite beach, Point Addis, and I was always going to walk to the point and back (upping those OperationMove k’s) but suggested we all take a stroll before another swim.

So we walked. And walked. We knew something about the beach further up. Something special that Crazy did not. 

We could see hints in the distance, lone figures enjoying the surf, feeling free. We wondered how long it would take before Crazy noticed too.

Pretty soon she did. “That man is NAKED!”

She walked further away, head down not sure where to look. I thought it would be hilarious if I..... could I, I never have before, my body image is so, so messed up, really terrible, but hey, everyone else is, well, when I say everyone else, it really is just a handful of guys and most of them are a little ways away. Could I really do it?

But, what if I did something that I am so uncomfortable with, just this once. 

So..... Crazy turns her head and ....... I wish I could have taken a pic, I will never forget the look of utter, gasping horror on her face

Image Source

And then I kept walking for a bit, something like this going on in my head.

“Oooo, it feels so incredibly free, that sun and breeze feels so lovely, I would love an outdoor shower, didn’t Stella McCartney build one? Oh god, my stomach is so white compared to the rest of me, I wonder what my bum looks like, shit, don’t look down! Landscaping woman, would it hurt you to landscape! Just keep walking. I really didn’t think Crazy would run away like that, I think there were words of “don’t talk to me, you don’t know me” floating behind her on the wind as she pegged it up the beach.

Shit - those guys are getting closer, that’s cool we are all a bit naked, it's all natural, man they are old, actually I did forgot to put suncream on everywhere, just in case I think it is time to put the togs back on.”

Looking at pictures of your arse is incredibly confronting. If joining OperationMove wasn’t enough incentive, this is, has anyone really watched their bum and back walk away from them? Things move that I never knew would.

Crazy seems to have recovered, and I think I have too, but I just cant help staring at my bum. Perhaps next time I will sunscreen all over just in case.