April 17, 2026
Evening Reflections
Little Miracles at Burton Chace Park…
There is something about a marina at sunset that strips everything back down to what matters.
Tonight I found myself at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey as the sky melted into shades of amber and rose. I did not plan anything profound. I just showed up. But the evening had other ideas.
It started with a cormorant. He was standing on the dock with his wings spread wide, not flying, not hunting, just standing there, completely owning the moment. Like he had just figured out he was Batman. I could not help but laugh out loud.
Nearby, a sea lion had hauled himself onto one of the floating docks, probably hoping for a little quiet rest. Two seagulls had other plans. They chased him right off. No negotiations. No compromises. The sea lion slipped back into the water with what I can only describe as dignified defeat.
One gull stayed behind, standing alone at the edge of the dock. The water behind him rippled with the last light of the day, gold and silver and gray, and I stopped walking because it looked exactly like a painting. Like someone had arranged it just for me to see.
Then a pelican landed among a crowd of seagulls and just looked around. That slow, bewildered blink that seemed to say, how exactly did I end up here? He stayed just long enough for me to appreciate the comedy, then spread those enormous wings and was gone.
Up in the trees, a little squirrel was doing his best to be noticed, bouncing from branch to branch as if to say, hey, do not forget about me up here. I did not forget. I held up my note and let him photobomb it perfectly.
And then there was the sea lion taking a solo swim, just a dark head moving quietly through the silver water. No audience needed. Just living.
As I turned to walk away, the silhouettes of the trees rose against the burning sky, still and ancient and beautiful. I stopped one more time, just to feel it.
May your heart never stop noticing the little miracles around you.
Tonight, Burton Chace gave me about twelve of them. I did not deserve a single one. I am grateful for every last one.
Capturing beauty, sharing light.
-April
