My Ideal Beach Job

I am sailing from St. Lucia and St. Vincent in the Caribbean and am mostly offline. This newsletter is another “vacation story” that I filed before leaving with a fun business twist. While you are reading this, I will be sailing and snorkeling and enjoying a beautiful part of the world with wonderful people on every island.

My friend and colleague Jack Friedman called me several years ago with an offer I could not refuse. Jack ran the Director Roundtable and hosted programs around the world on challenges facing boards of directors. Jack had me speak or moderate many of the events. Jack had free United Airline miles and wanted the two us to fly somewhere fun for vacation. Rio de Janeiro was my suggestion.

Our first stop in Brazil was the Falls at Iguazu. The falls are the largest waterfall system in the world with 275 separate cascades. Truly a wonder. At midnight, I stood on a walkway over one of the falls and looked down the face of the falling river to see a rainbow illuminated by moonlight.

On to Copacabana in Rio and our hotel on the beach. We were there in August – their winter. The weather was like the best New England summer weather. Great beach weather for me.

Jack did not like the beach, did not drink alcohol, and was more interested in his books than the beautiful Brazilian woman. I went to the beach by myself. “Don’t take anything valuable on the beach,” was the headline warning. Theft was a constant threat.

I walked across the waves-of-the-sea sidewalk onto the beach and rented a lounge chair for my first beach day. The beach, sky, and mountains were beautiful, but I was apprehensive and not sure where the risk of theft would come from. After I had settled into enjoying the scene and reading my book, a bent over, almost shriveled guy, came by carrying a green plastic water jug – one you use to water garden plants. He said nothing but gestured towards my feet – covered with sand and stretched on the lounge chair. I didn’t know what he wanted and waved him off.

I watched beach volleyball played without using your hands. Americans will say that is impossible, but in soccer crazy Brazil that is how you play beach volleyball.

The next day I went to the beach in the morning. After a while, I noticed the guy with the plastic water jug. He poured water from the jug onto the feet of a woman laying on a chair like mine. He didn’t ask her for anything and just walked to another person.

Later that day, I say him filling his water jug with sea water. He came by me again, and I nodded that it was OK to pour his water on my feet. What a delightful experience. The fresh water cooled my feet and my whole body. He walked away. The following day I went to the beach later in the afternoon. He came by and cooled my feet again. I am now thinking about this guy, how he is living his life, and the value he brings me by this small offering. I didn’t see him speak a word to anyone. I will give him a the tip before leaving.

Saturday was my last day. I went to the beach early afternoon and remember looking forward to having the cool water poured on my feet. More local residents came to the beach that day even though it was winter. Not far from me, six beautiful young woman were enjoying a day on the beach. Their bathing suits were what you would expect on Copacabana Beach.

When they wanted to apply suntan lotion, they removed their tops, what there was for a bathing suit top, and asked the guy with the plastic jug to apply their lotion everywhere – everywhere. Yes, he cooled my feet for the last time that afternoon. Yes, I gave him a big tip.

As I walked off the beach, I said to myself that when I return to Rio and Copacabana Beach I will bring a plastic water jug with me. I have seen my ideal beach job.

Red Rudder

I visited St. Michael’s on Maryland’s Eastern Shore where they have preserved many of the traditional boats that worked and sailed the Chesapeake Bay. I think of my photography as compositional art rather than images of interesting scenery or people. I hope you enjoy this image centered on the red rudder of a traditional wooden boat.