Walk On The Ocean

Posted by TAWNY at 9:39 AM

Thursday, July 1, 2010

At work I like to listen to a little thing called Pandora. Today, as I was listening to my "Counting Crows" station, a song entitled "Walk On The Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket started to play. I was suddenly taken back four years in time...Pictured above is Amy Goffin Robison and myself at Anini Beach in Kauai. It was our last day on the Island, and we spent it with Debs Jacobberger scouring the beach for tiny Anini shells. As we drove from the north shore of the island back to the west shore where we resided, "Walk On The Ocean" started to play in the car. Read the lyrics closely and imagine yourself leaving an island paradise; not knowing when you'd be able to return:

"We spotted the ocean at the head of the trail
Where are we going, so far away
And somebody told me that this is the place
Where everything's better, everything's safe

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

Half an hour later, we packed up our things
We said we'd send letters, and all of those little things
And they knew we were lying, but they smiled just the same
It seemed they already forgotten we came

Now we're back at the homestead
Where the air makes you choke
And people don't know you
And trust is a joke
We don't even have pictures
Just memories to hold
That grow sweeter each season
As we slowly grow old"

When the song started, we came around this bend in the road and the ocean was in full view. The car got quiet as we listened to the lyrics. When I finally looked around to the car's occupants (Amy and Debs), tears were streaming down their faces - just like me. There were so many lines in the song that seemed hold some meaning at that moment.

After we were done crying, we started laughing - laughing because it was completely ridiculous that this song sent all of us into spontaneous sobs. It was all pretty embarrassing.

So now when I hear this song, I feel a small tinge of sadness. And then I remember how silly it all was. Listen to this song for yourself. You won't regret it.