Sea Glass Collecting

You walk barefoot along the beach, head down, studying what the ocean has deposited along its shore. Anyone can find pieces of shells and occasionally, a whole seashell that has been tossed up on the beach to be discovered. But you aren’t interested in the shells that can be found here. You are searching for a greater treasure. You are searching for sea glass.

Sea glass is basically pretty litter. It originates from colored bottles, jars, vases or any other glass that has found its way into the ocean. It takes years of tumbling to transform an ordinary piece of glass into the treasure called sea glass. The water and sand act like a giant rock tumbler to round the edges of the glass before it finds its way to the shoreline.

Leaning forward, your eyes scan the shoreline. You poke around in the lines of rocks and shells that the tides leave behind. That is where you will have your best chance of uncovering one of these gems of the ocean.

The sun breaks from behind a fluffy, white cloud and warms your skin. You continue slowly, still searching for a gleam in the sand that shells don’t offer. A wave breaks, and you turn to watch the water as it slicks the sand smooth in its retreat. As your attention returns to the tide line, you see a glint of color. Moving to the spot that has captured your attention, you just nudge it with your toe. You bend to take a closer look, trying not to be too hopeful. You have been disappointed so many times before. Can this be what you’ve been searching for? Your hand gently scrapes away the sand. Then you stand empty handed and continue your slow dance across the sand, still searching for the treasure called sea glass.