On the boardwalk

I’m not sure there’s a better way to spend a Saturday than tooling up and down a boardwalk on a sunny afternoon.

We got to do that this weekend on Venice Beach. The weather, the atmosphere and, especially, the people made the day extra special.

A couple of us rented scooters, another rode a long board, and a fourth walked with Benny the Wonder Dog.

The colors and the confidence of the people who sported them impressed me as we made our way through the cheerful crowd.

We paused at the bowl to watch skateboarders, some as young as kindergarten and others as old as I am, fly through the air. I winced every time someone hit the pavement but , like human Gumbies, they just got right up and jumped back on their boards.

I admired all the street art and the mellow hawkers displaying their work. A man wearing devil horns and bright red underwear performed feats of strength, and another balanced high above a ladder. An elderly man rode a purple bike as a giant boom box played hits from the 80s. I danced a little as he passed.

We passed on the psychic readings. We like to be surprised.

Later, as we watched the sun dip into the Pacific, I saw a green flash.

I took it as a go-light and the perfect ending of an excellent day.

Of course, any day that starts on the beach and ends with gelato is a perfect day for me.