Wear a mask and save another’s breath. Keep a distance and halt the spiral of death.

Words to live by? An understatement.

But we are social animals, we bipeds. So we adjust. We stay alert. And we live—most of us.

Our Long Beach boards are busy these summer nights. Bikes weave past walkers,

Couples bike two by two,

skateboarders glide, as if on sheets of ice.

Masks at the ready, the more seasoned among us are teens once again as they roll in the night.

I see some violations of social distance guidelines, but overall, most people are trying.

There is beauty in this community spirit. Singles, couples, families, all getting out to relieve stress, have some fun. Will our young look back at the stress of Coronatimes? Sure. But will they also be grateful for the family that got them through it? Absolutely.

Sadly, there are the “few” who don’t get it. They gather, mostly maskless in huge pods, abscesses of disrespect on the body of their fellow man. I saw an example of it on our beach Saturday night. You’ve read about it: https://tinyurl.com/y6xyh6ku

Masks were rare—as if they just didn’t care.

I heard party hoots, rising in unison, hot breath filling the air. Party-hoot warnings of death to some not even there.

It did seem most were out-of-towners; those arriving showed ignorance of keeping the bike lane clear. I had to navigate around groups, some numbering ten or so.

As a consequence, the beach will now close at 8:00 nightly and the boardwalk at 9:00. Non-Long Beach residents won’t be permitted on the beach Fridays to Mondays.

Long Beachers and others find great joy in responsibly using our beach and boards: Masking up when necessary, keeping a safe distance always.

So much fun can be had with care, with respect for life.

I captured many who seized the moment, without causing others’ lungs to seize.

A blaze of yellow bike-matching hair streaked across the boards…

…while a scooter dude cruised:

Some kept in touch while biking in the night.

Some lit up the night, like Island Park Firefighter, Jason Cruz, below. Jason responds to Long Beach emergencies, like the recent stranding of ten on a jetty. It was another example of risky non-compliance.

Imagine being on a jetty and the incoming tide stops you from getting back to shore? Can you imagine the crashing waves against rocks? The ripping currents?  It’s all about respect for rules, laws—life. One of those ten won’t be in these photos, he’s gone.

This night we had unicyclers loving life:

And others doing wheelies:

And firewheels…

…lighting up the night…

…make the boardwalk a Cirque du Lumiere:

Coronatimes cannot suppress the spirit of life. But that spirit needs to care—for life.

Under old glory and an ice cream cone were soft words of love, not hoots. Allan Fox added sweetness to the salty air:

For Allan’s samplings:http://www.allanfoxsongs.com/

There are many holistic ways to enjoy life, by just living—as if we are one.

If you love America, if you care about Americans, show it, live it.

The vulnerable of America can only survive

if we all work to keep them—alive.

Be well,

Leebythesea