Beach Glass

Story ID:	383
Written by:	Virginia Allain
Organization:	none
Story type:	Travel
Location:	Isle of Skye Scotland
Year:	1988
Person:	Virginia (Lord) Allain and Karen Martin

Walking the beaches on the Isle of Skye, my sister and I began picking up beach glass. The smooth edges and soft patina of bits of china and glass intrigued us. Blue and green glass weathered by salt water and rounded by repeated abrasion on the sandy shore made each piece unique.

As the wind blustered and squalls threatened, we persisted in our trek along the shore. Finding patterned china was a special treat as we imagined a Scottish crofter discarding a broken dish into the sea to wash up for us to find. Fearing the impending storm, we climbed to the roadside to wait at a bus stop for transportation back to the bed and breakfast.

An elderly lady assured us the bus would be along shortly. We found it difficult to understand her accent, so our attempt at conversation faltered and we stood awkwardly waiting for the bus. While waiting we pulled out our bits of beach glass and began comparing our finds. The lady peered at the odd assortment spread across our palms and inquired, "Is that your money, then?"

We did not want to embarrass her but just stammered out that it was glass that we found on the beach. At that point, the bus arrived and with relief, we pocketed our beach glass and climbed aboard. The beach glass, displayed in a bowl on my bookshelf, remains one of my treasured souvenirs from that trip.