Rain and wind, not a snow flake in sight, but we have solitude on this North Douglas beach walk. It’s high tide on a windy day so the waves reach almost to the beach grass. Gulls hunker at the edge of the grass, like they are waiting for a favorite restaurant to open. In a sense, they are. In a few hours the retreating tide will expose gull-tasty goodies battered to the surface by the surf.

Aki has never been so close to a surf line. The little dog cringes at my feet, then shoots ahead to where she can escape onto the grass. Even though I know better, I feel a tinge of fear when, near me, a two-foot high breaker rakes back beach gavel in its undertow. “Wait for me little dog.”