This is Glimpses, a monthly column in which I explore a photo I’ve taken and the story it calls to mind. A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, but more to those who were there. These are the hidden words.
This month, I share a photo taken on a beach in Hyogo, Japan, and celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early. This post is dedicated to Hiro, my partner, who subscribes to my newsletter even though my English is too much for him. So, this month I have written something shorter and easier to understand, and tried to create something simply beautiful.
A cold twilight on the beach. The sun is slow, so I’m making him wait. Like we often do, we had rented a car and come to see the sunset. He drove, and I chose the music. There aren’t many people around, so parking was easy to find. I take pictures of: the sunset, the sand, the waters, him. He takes pictures of: the sunset, a crab, and me taking pictures.
He’s nice to travel with—always happy to stop on the side of the road so I can take more pictures. He’s patient when I sit in the car looking them over, a little dissatisfied. He doesn’t think much about the photos he takes and is never dissatisfied.
That day he’d announced, “It’s cleaning day!!” We had spent the afternoon refreshing the house in a comfortable routine. He cleans the shower and I clean the toilet, and we both think we have the better deal. The vacuum gets stuck with my hair (I’m surprised there’s any left on my head), and he suggests I become a monk or a baseball player and shave it all off.
On the beach, my hair sticks to my face in the wind. His sticks straight up. There are only a few people nearby. They step into the sand and tease the water. One girl is alone, wearing a giant sweater. There are kids in puffy jackets and tiny shoes. Tired looking parents. And us, against the sunset.
this was so sweet I love it!!! <3