Last night, our guests left at 12:30 a.m. “Happy New Year!” we shouted into the crisp night air, not worried about bothering the neighbours. We knew they were up, you see, from the music and the sounds of partying. “I feel like we’re back in Mauritania,” I groaned to Donn about 1 a.m. as we lay, trying to sleep, twitching to the beat. In Mauritania there are no noise regulations, and we were often kept awake by the music of nearby (as in, within 3 miles nearby) weddings, which inevitably began at 1 a.m. and went till about 3 or 4 a.m. Last night’s party wasn’t that late, ending around 2:30, but it was loud enough to murder sleep. At least for me. No sooner had I reminded Donn of our sleepless nights in Nouakchott, when his gentle breathing told me that, once again, an annoying techno beat had not kept him awake. Grr. Sooo jealous.
The result was that I was none too happy to get up this morning. Normally, of course, New Year’s Day is a time to sleep in and then eat a big breakfast, kind of like Christmas without the presents and the overexcited small children who didn‘t understand the part about sleeping in. But we had an 11 a.m. (okay technically not that early) appointment with 2 other families to go to the beach. It was supposed to rain, but I forced my heavy eyelids open about 9 to see sun streaming in through the chinks of the shutters.
I packed leftovers from our small New Year’s Eve party into a carry-all for our beach picnic, and we loaded Donn’s surfboard on top of our friends’ car. This was a great beginning to a new year for him, since he hasn’t surfed since we left Mauritania in July 2007.
We drove in caravan, 3 families in 2 cars, heading south from Rabat to a suburb called Temara. We drove too far south and had to backtrack but I didn’t mind. The ocean was a deep blue on our right, and the ditches and fields filled with tiny yellow or orange wildflowers. The sky was clear, the breezes light. We passed fields of tomatoes and potatoes, saw women carrying large baskets of greens slung over their shoulders, or herds of ragged sheep tended by an equally ragged shepherd. Through it all, the light spilled through the clouds on the horizon, and the surf pounded the sand.
We eventually found the beach our friend had in mind. Donn took his new board and headed for the water. There was a big rocky break just offshore, and the current was strong, but he had a good time getting used to his new board and enjoying being in the water again. That rocky break meant that the water just in front of our picnic spot was shallow and calm, perfect for the younger children to splash around in, and older children to dunk each other. Nearby, a Moroccan family picnicked also, the dad fishing in the shallows.
There were tide pools swarming with hermit crabs, sea snails, prickly sea urchins in dark purple or green, mussels, and tiny fish. A Korean friend took several children out onto the rocks and they came back with a Tupperware container full of sea life. The little creatures were fun to watch, although I think our Korean friends were planning them for supper that night. Donn stepped on a sea urchin and got 3 prickles buried deep under his skin.
The light gentled into late afternoon. A lot of people, family groups and couples, were on the beach now. The tide was coming in and most of the rocks and pools were submerged under the spray. Elliot and I went for a walk and saw a young man on a beautiful, spirited chestnut horse riding down the beach. I suddenly and completely reverted to being about 10 and loving horses, although in real life I’m pretty much over that obsession. It was a beautiful horse and he let it prance into the edge of the surf, stepping high, tail swishing. So romantic, I thought, and then, “But I don’t think he should ride so fast near so many people.”
In the meantime, another 3 horses passed us. One in particular caught my eye–all black, glossy, just like the horse of my girlhood fantasies. This was obviously a riding school, and the girl on the back of my dream animal sat stiff and uncomfortable in the saddle, holding tightly to the reins. They went on ahead and we followed more slowly, chatting about various things like ancient battles and Elliot’s prowess on Tribal Wars. I was watching the horses, thinking again that the young man on the chestnut horse was an idiot. Suddenly, the black horse with the girl on its back broke free and wild, headed straight at a family with a toddler, veered off at the very last minute, and galloped toward the small hill that marked the edge of the beach, tossing its inexperienced rider into a heap on the sand.
Some young men raced after it and caught it, then we watched as one rode it at a fast pace up and down the sands, whipping it frenetically. I guess he was trying to get some of the wildness out, but it struck me as hardly safe, on a beach filled with families. Donn said to me, “What kind of man hits a defenceless animal?” (Movie identification, anyone?)
Her friends crowded around the downed rider, and soon she was on her feet again, and then on horseback, although not the same horse. Thankfully, they moved off down the beach, where if they killed any toddlers at least I didn’t have to witness it. I imagine that the horse was spooked by the other horse’s antics, although my obsession was never developed enough for me to actually know much about real life horses. We exchanged wry looks with the family of the mercifully unhurt baby, and headed back to the cars.
We drove home through the rose-coloured dusk, quietly happy after such a pleasant day. An auspicious start to a new year. Plus it took me an extra day to finish and post this, which is pretty much how things work around here. How was yours?
16 comments
January 2, 2009 at 10:20 pm
judith
I stayed inside all day, trying to rest enough to cure a sinus infection, so I would be healthy enough to attend long-range planning meetings the next two days. Your outing with friends sounds lovely! I’ll try to pretend that’s what I did. 🙂
January 2, 2009 at 11:51 pm
jolyn
Can’t help but mention that my son is into Tribal Wars as well. My husband and I don’t get it.
Your day sounds wonderful. Too bad you didn’t get a nap on the beach!
Oh – the movie “Animal House”.
January 3, 2009 at 12:44 am
Wacky Mommy
We’re watching The Black Stallion tomorrow night. I shall think of you.
Nice way to break in the new year, Planet Nomads! Not so nice for the horse, though.
January 3, 2009 at 1:24 am
LIB
We were on the Oregon Coast, where a storm raged. But, we were snug in our motel room and only ventured out for some clam chowder.
Quite a contrast between MY beach experience and yours!
January 3, 2009 at 2:11 am
Kim
I had not really recovered from our New Years Eve festivities. I haven’t stayed up until that late in YEARS! So New Years Day was pretty much a wash for me. I slept in, got up and went over to friends’ for lunch, came home and took a nap, skyped with family, went to bed. *yawn*
January 3, 2009 at 4:34 am
Steph
I loved your description of your day. I would’ve totally been watching the horses too.
My childhood horse obsession did get fed for a few years, so I have enough horse experience to be horrified by their actions too.
Horses can spook at anything, including a stiff rider’s nerves. So it’s hard to say the rider of the chestnut did it.
But the “remedy” of racing the horse back and forth, besides being dangerous to anyone on foot, is not something most horse people would recommend. It’s not training; it’s punishment. And probably venting of anger. The horse learns nothing, and now he’s afraid of you to boot.
This is probably WAY more info than you wanted about horses. Sorry. I guess my obsession lingers. 🙂
January 3, 2009 at 1:19 pm
meredith
Yesterday, we went to a museum in a rock quarry (see blog) and tonight, we’ve invited over as many Americans as we could round up to celebrate a little more 2009.
January 4, 2009 at 7:33 am
Linda
My husband and I stayed in on New Year’s Eve and were in bed and asleep before mignight. The excitement is hard to bear around here.
January 4, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Mary Witzl
Your New Year’s Day was much more exciting than ours!
We walked up to a mosque, through lemon groves, then came back home and cooked an early dinner. Did laundry. Played cards. Perhaps not a thrilling day for our kids, but we were pretty happy with it.
January 4, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Tonggu Momma
The punishment the horse experienced saddens me. I agree with Steph — the horse then learns nothing but fear of the rider and possibly others.
As to our New Year’s activities… we had friends over for a quiet night of celebration. Well… as quiet as it can be with four children under the age of five present.
January 5, 2009 at 6:34 pm
AuthorMomWithDogs
Ditto Tonggu Momma on the horse incident.
That aside, I’m so jealous of your being able to go to the beach. We’ve been under siege with several snowstorms in succession.
January 6, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Beck
I wonder if your next door neighbours used to live next door to me? I think that’s how they celebrated New Year’s LAST year. And then they jumped their dirt bikes over a front yard bonfire.
That horse story! YIKES!
January 6, 2009 at 11:31 pm
LG
And then we went to Banc D’arguin camping for New Years, and had a million beef and veggie brochettes on the grill and some fresh fish that Nathan caught between arrival time and meal time… then us “retirement” age folks fell asleep while the younger ones played Rook, then Elliot led a charge to light fireworks (aimed at the tent) and most fortunately for us, they fizzled. And New Years Day was spent fishing and swimming and searching desparately and without success for a private spot behind a dune or as Dave so nicely put it, “a berm”….
January 8, 2009 at 11:21 am
ladyfi
New Year’s Day on the beach – how lovely!
We spent it ice skating on our frozen lake.
April 23, 2009 at 5:31 pm
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