Forklifts and Phosphorescent Waves

Those were the 2 most unusual sights on the beach this past weekend, and both on Saturday night.
Have you ever seen phosphorescent waves? I've been going to the beach all my life, and I'd never seen them before Saturday night. As the waves gently broke on the shore, they glowed in the dark with an electric-like green glow. When we walked through the surf, we left short-lived, bright green trails like the tails of shooting stars. With each step on the wet sand, the ground lit up underneath our feet, reminiscent of the light-up shoes our kids used to wear. It was absolutely awe-inspiring!
The forklifts were there, along with trucks and trailers, removing all the beach chairs, umbrellas, and even the little white storage units that hold the cushions. They were working at break-neck speed to try to get them off the beach before Gustav hit. They worked through the night, and were still at it at 1am. Sunday morning the beach looked....empty. But in a beautiful,expectant way. All the people on the beach kept looking out towards the gulf, as if expecting to see Gustav pulling up any minute! Yet the sun was shining, the breeze felt normal, the only sign that something was amiss was what was NOT on the beach (those chairs).
The change in the water from Friday to Sunday was impressive. Friday evening the water was smooth as glass. Like a solid sheet of glass placed over the entire gulf. It was so quiet, that if you closed your eyes and listened, you wouldn't know you were at the beach. Saturday morning was similar, but you could at least hear the waves some. In fact, Patrick was expecting to take Bob's boat out but the marina wouldn't allow any boats out of the dock as they were in "Hurrican Mode". Saturday night, the "electric" night, the waves picked up some, but they still broke gently along the shore.
Sunday was a bit different. It wasn't that the waves were huge. They weren't. but they were fast and furious, almost mean! There weren't many people in the water, because as soon as they stepped one foot in, they would be knocked down on their butts! It was as if to say, "Hey, leave me alone. Can't you see I've gotta storm brewing?!" Thinking about it, it was like it went through the stages of labor....calm, cool, collected, it gradually built in intensity, then in transition it turned into a royal bitch! (Not that I know what being a royal bitch is like!)
We had a terrific weekend, though it was cut short by the mandatory evacuation at noon on Sunday. So off we went, choosing to go through Birmingham since we'd been told I-55 was crammed with traffic. We think we made the right decision, even though it took us 7 hours to get to B'ham! I would've LOVED to have stayed and watch the storm, and if we didn't have a family to consider, I probably would have tried. I just love the beach, and the power of the waves when they're all stirred up!