when time stands still...

The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, the sand a thick, grainy blanket of white beneath our backs. The turquoise water was clear and cool, the sun’s vibrant rays beaming their warmth down upon our bare skin. It was the beginning of a life-long bond and the peak of our youth. With no thoughts of responsibilities or regrets, we lived the days from moment to moment, reveling in the beauty of freedom. Our skin was tanned a perfect shade of golden brown, our striking blonde hair radiating with the blessing of so many afternoons exploring the native lands beneath the Caribbean sun. We lay there on that afternoon, in a perfect state of relaxation, recounting memories of the previous nights. Nights of dancing under the stars in the market square, getting drunk on the mixture of abandoned inhibitions and fresh coconut drinks. Nights when the sweltering heat was only soothed by immersing our sun-drenched bodies in the refreshing coolness of laughter-filled pools. We retold stories of the previous afternoons, spent shopping for trinkets in the outside markets and sliding shiny quarters into sparkling slot machines of the air-conditioned casino. We talked of the beautiful new friends we’d met and the sexy new stilettos we’d purchased with the slot machine winnings. We talked of blessings in disguise and the miracle of kindred spirits. And then we did not talk at all; we lay there in silence. With the gentle crashing of the waves luring us towards slumber’s calling and the promise of new dreams to fulfill, we laid there. Across the sandy beach towels printed in bright designs of abstraction, her hand found mine. As our hands clasped together, the fragility of each us faded as the strength of our bond was born. We sat there in contentment, staring out at the picturesque horizon and talked of those rare moments in life when time stands still. Moments when the world fades away, and the moment is all that exists. The words she said to me that afternoon have filled my heart for many years now. “This is one of those moments when time stands still.” With natural and pure smiles upon our faces and our hands still clasped together, the camera flashed. In my most treasured picture of us, time will always stand still.

*Dedicated to Baylor…my soul mate and best friend. Through laughter and tears, broken hearts and vows of forever, she has taught me some of the most important lessons in life. To cherish the uniqueness of my soul, to embrace my dreams with passion, to revel in the luxury of strangers, and to dance with abandon through this journey of life. But most of all, she has taught me to treasure those moments when time stands still.*