The recent cold temperatures here in Florida have brought back a vivid memory of an unusually chilly January day years ago. We woke up to a shocking 25 degrees—practically unheard of for our part of the state. The air was crisp, the sky pale and quiet, and everything felt a little surreal for Florida.
Despite the cold, we bundled up and headed to the beach
anyway. It turned out to be one of those rare days that stay with you forever.
The shoreline was transformed. The cold water and strong
tides had pushed treasures ashore in abundance—thousands of starfish scattered
across the sand, along with sea urchins and sand dollars, which are normally
rare and exciting finds. It felt like the ocean was giving up its hidden
treasures, washing ashore things that usually stay far beneath the waves. Cold
temperatures and strong winter fronts stir up the water, creating rougher surf
and shifting tides. This movement pushes shells and sea life from deeper areas
toward the shore, making rare finds suddenly appear along the beach.
There was something magical about walking that beach, the
cold air on our faces and the sound of the surf all around us, knowing we were
witnessing something uncommon. It was, without question, the best shelling day
we’ve ever experienced—and a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected
conditions create the most unforgettable moments.
Until the next wave,
Sherri