Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
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By Uncle Billy
A look at the Walk
The Bay
I live about one block from the bay and dock. I went out there last night for a walk and thought how much everyone would enjoy sitting out there with me. First the walk is about as majestic as it gets. Much of the way is completely covered by trees that reach across from each side of the road and quietly over lap and inter twine leaving just traces of light beaming down. Air ferns hang down from the trees like stalactites giving the walk almost an eerie feeling, but it is much better described as enchanting. There are no streetlights so at night I need to take a flashlight along to occasionally make sure I am going in a straight line.
The temperature around is cool because of the location so near the gulf, and aided by the water and the dense vegetation where tonight a slight breeze just glides over the water, scarcely making waves. The homes on either side are breath taking from old renovated twenties homes to the new adobe mansions. Each one having it’s own story to tell and being a complete nucleus for the life’s of strangers we might never meet but could in the proper circumstances become life long friends. Trees and plants of every sort surround each home, which makes it hard to get the complete concept their structure and shape. At the end of the street the trees form a canopy that leads to the beginning of the dock, and has the appearance of a cave opening up to the sea. When you reach the dock it is so overwhelming it is a wide dock that stretches out 100 yards or so over the water. Then as you begin the walk down past each plank you are suspended above another world. Hovering above the water surface which acts as a gateway to a millions forms of life, both plant and animal that hide just below it. About one hundred yards on either side are private docks with boats suspended on the ends of them. The three docks are two thirds closer at the ends because they each come off of a Simi-circle shoreline.
Tonight as I stood out on the dock I could imagine and feel closeness with nature that was untouchable with just the mind and rested far below in my very essence. The sky was dark and star filled in the south and it was dusted with streaks of soft white and slightly glowing clouds as they formed a sun burst design above. In the west about a mile across the bay, there is a silhouette of what appears to be a huge island. Just over it, in the distance, intermitting flashes of lightening that each last for several seconds lighting up the cotton candy shaped clouds, sending a grandiose glow of light across the water all the way to the dock. The thunder is hidden by the sound chirping of crickets and splashes of water as the mullet jump making a sound like throwing a baseball in the water. It is like a very kind yet innocent invitation to come below and see their world. There is also a low very distant sound of cars going down 41 but the sound in barely noticeable because the heavy vegetation insulates it.
The smell changes by the moment, a fresh moist humid breeze mixed with the smell of fish and moss. Then every few minutes you get just a passing scent of the meat on the outside grills back on the shoreline and hear the laughter of people enjoying themselves.
Looking back toward shore it is dark but the background sky is glowing from the lights of town and the tall trees, Cyprus, palm and others make a Africa like backdrop against the long and quite dock stretching back to the shore.
The dock goes on forever and it is like another world out there that wants you to just stay forever. Standing there for a while I was amazed at the variety of added sounds, smells and sights that can hide from you unless you have an investigating mindset. Croaking frogs, water lapping against the peer, shore and rocks.
Two other sights that were so beautiful was the end of the peer to the north, it has a Shepard's staff shaped lamp post with a bell shaped dark green metal globe allowing the light to be directed straight down to the water, leaving a round glow on the surface. Then south you can see tall distant condos anchored by the small cantina and multi-colored umbrellas adding a festive spirit to the atmosphere and surrounded by lights make long glowing streaks of rippling light as they reflect and stretch back toward me across the water.
The walk and time out there is an instant relaxing adventure, it is like a microwave evening giving the effects of hours of rest in just a 30-minute endeavor. It helped me to appreciate how Ottis Redding was inspired to sing and record the song “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and why it is one of the few songs that has the ability to span time and feelings bringing nostalgia with it every time it is played. I am really content now with the ease living in the moment. The pressures of life have slowly fallen away like old vines that dried up and lost their grip. And in this very special moment, although we are living are separate worlds like the sea creatures below, we still can glimpse into each others quintessence and know that from our familiar history and origins we will always be connected and it takes only the slight nudging of the mind and heart to enjoy those memories.
Uncle Billy 
