The Beach

This is an example of how we can use present tenses in descriptions and to tell stories that happened in the past. I hope you like it.

The Beach    

The year is 1988, and I'm in the passenger seat of a 1987 Golf heading for the beach.  Songs flow from the radio, bringing us into the right mood. The light, cool and salty sea breeze serves as refreshment on an otherwise sunny and hot day. The thermometer reads 103F, and the seagulls we see in the distance certainly agree, for they're thirstily diving into the sea and joyfully taking off to the perfect blue sky of Rio de Janeiro. Much like the birds, we are simply responding to a call from Mother Nature.    

Along the way, we bow to the statue of Christ, the Redeemer, serenely looking upon us from its sacred place atop Corcovado Mountain. Farther away, packed with delighted tourists, the tramway joining Urca Hill to Sugar Loaf Mountain can be seen. As we near our destination, the crowd grows thicker. We all gladly share the crisp air coming from the ocean and the sublime scenery bestowed upon us on this glorious Sunday morning. The smiles stretch wider as we draw closer to attaining our goal: beating the heat and having a lot of fun in the process.     

We are now driving  along the shore. The sound of crystal clear water clashing against the foreshore replaces the radio, and a gust of wind sprays tiny drops of water onto our faces. Surfers, windsurfers, jet skiers and bathers alike ride the waves. Kids build their castles. Gorgeous girls in skimpy bikinis make it even easier on the eyes. Bronze-tanned guys play volleyball or soccer, or lie on the sand, enjoying the view. On the sidewalk, a black and white mosaic made of Portuguese stone, bodies on the verge of complete nakedness bustle around kiosks in search of a cold brew or coconut milk. We park our car and ready ourselves to go into nirvana.     

The year is 1998; the day is Thursday. I'm awakened by the thunderous roar of a 747 blasting off from La Guardia Airport. It's late. My class starts in an hour, and I have homework to do. I'd better hurry.     

RSB  

NYC, 1998.