Bryan came rushing back to our beach compound as we watched him with questioning eyes. He doesn’t usually move that fast. Granted, he’d just been doing his daily racewalk on the hard sand, practicing for the upcoming local meet, but this was WAY faster than normal.

We were on our September family holiday together in Avalon, NJ. On his walk, Bryan discovered a mystical drawing in the sand which intrigued him so much, he came back to his chair, got his cellphone, and grabbed me by the arm to take me to the artwork in the hopes that I could explain it to him.

As we walked, he chattered away excitedly. “It must be a drawing from the Temple of Ra”, he deduced. “But what does it mean?”, he queried. Perhaps it was pointing to a treasure in the sand. These references come from movies he loves – “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “National Treasure”, “The Mummy” .

We walked the whole way around the beautiful graphic, exploring it from every angle. It was a huge drawing. Sadly, the ocean was starting to claim it as the tide rolled in. “Quick, buddy. Take a picture before it disappears”, I urged.

Who drew this lovely image to give momentary joy to passersby? I wanted to thank them for this incredible beach art. The work was entitled something like ” Illustrated Illusion”, or at least that is what I surmised as the letters faded into the surf.

For Bryan it was the window to a mystical world – a message just for him which he needed to decipher. He mulled this over in his mind for the rest of the day. Whatever it was, whatever it meant, it gave Bryan great excitement over what it signified and it gave me joy to revel in the intricate design which an unknown artist gifted we late- summer beach walkers.

How wonderful to express artistry in the sand with no hope of recognition or thanks! Art for art’s sake. What a gift no matter the takeaway – a pretty picture or a mystical message meant for Bryan alone. It is priceless to be surprised by joy!