Collecting Sea Glass

Some years ago I read Anita Shreve's "Sea Glass", enjoying the journey along the New Hampshire coast with Honora Beecher, a young newlywed who compulsively collected sea glass along the beach as the story unfolded. Sea glass are broken pieces of glass from undetermined, unknown sources that have possibly been tumbling for years through the ocean's currents. They arrive on the beach, edges buffed and softened by the sand and water, as a small treasure for the discerning eye.

For many years our beach walks in certain areas have involved the search for shark’s teeth. Every now and then we would pick up some pieces of sea glass. When we returned home we tossed them in with the shells, rocks and other highly collectible items that remind us that there are calm sunny places to go to in any weather.

On our recent visit to Nags Head Beach we began to see that beach in a different light. There were no shark’s teeth in this area but there was an abundance of sea glass. So we collected a number of very pretty pieces to add to our collection. I have a short video that shows how the glass looks on the beach. It’s not impossible to find sea glass but you have to look carefully. The ocean will replenish the beach with a new supply of sea glass several times during the day and at night. You just have to show up and take a careful look.

When you search for sea glass it's almost impossible to think of other things as the waves crash on shore, birds scamper across the beach and each step takes you to a treasure or buries it under your foot deeper in the sand where it will churn and continue to be buffed by the sand and salt until it is discovered on another day. This is a great way to add enjoyment and relaxation to your beach walks. At the end of a vacation, your collection can easily travel to a place in your home that can continue to remind you of that perfect vacation at the beach.

Travel Well!