A walk in the late afternoon along the beach where the light surf is washing up on the sand. I like to go this time of day and see what the sun is doing. People have taken off their shoes and socks and rolled up their pant legs to allow themselves to become wet while they mingle with the elements. The water has kelp leaves and other bits of sea grass mixed up in it, as it washes on shore and wraps around our ankles and feet.

This brilliant edge of the ocean feels like it is separating my consciousness from my sleep. The reflected sunlight is bouncing off the incoming tide, and transforming everything in front of me into gold. Even my mind now seems to be a special blend of thought and awareness that I don't normally entertain during the day.

The gentle wavelets are creating gold and orange bubbles that sparkle as they slide across this tiny landscape of smooth wet sand. Can I see each of my thoughts floating on the beach? The bubbles quickly arrive from out of the eternal ocean, suddenly appearing before me in a state of temporary existence. My mind is drawn to studying them. They come so quick and hover briefly here in front of me. They are so delicate and fragile. I want to touch them, but I cannot. I hardly have time to consider their existence. Then they pop and I forget them.

I feel more alive when I walk this thin boundary that stretches ahead and behind me. It is so narrow, but so distinct, this ocean edge that separates the two universes that I daily slip between. I'm fully awake at this time of day, but thoughts of sleep have begun to enter my inner dialog. Salt crystals from an afternoon spray of moist wind have dried on my eyelashes. When I squint to look toward the setting sun, the crystals appear to be rubies, diamonds, and zircons, that have come from the vast domain of consciousness and landed squarely on the edge of my sleep. A quick blink and rub of my eyes makes them go away.

In awhile I'll be back home in the forest. The interplay of sunlight will be gone for another day. The tips of the trees will catch this golden glow for a few moments, and become transformed into a rare and special view. Then the light will disappear and sleep-like darkness will settle over me.

I wake up in the middle of the night. I have been dreaming of gemstones dripping from my eyelids. Which part of the day has been the most real?