Eva Parker-Moore’s Six Oceanic Blessings
Six Oceanic blessings are granted to Eva Parker-Moore, as she is known to us tonight. In the
future she may go by other names, but we are good at extrapolating identity over time. There’s
no mistaking who we speak of today, nor will there be hereafter.
Of these six blessings, only one is pronounced tonight – the Oceanic Blessing of Infancy.
Caroline and Kevin, the guardians of Eva in her infancy, childhood and adolescence, are hereby
provided with the other five blessings, to be delivered in due time. These are:
The Oceanic Blessing of Childhood: to be delivered orally when Eva is six years old, when she
asks, “Mama, what’s this stuff about blessings?”
The Oceanic Blessing of Adolescence: to be delivered by hand, when Eva is thirteen years old,
when she says, “Mother please! I’d rather do it myself!”
The Oceanic Blessing of Adulthood: to be delivered by hand with the last two Blessings when
Eva graduates from school, when she hears “Congratulations Graduates of the Class of…”
The Oceanic Blessing of Middle Age, which is to be opened by Eva on the occasion of the
weaning of her first child.
The Oceanic Blessing of Death, which is to be opened by Eva at her discretion thereafter.
She will know when to do so...
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore in Infancy
Eva Parker-Moore, you are hereby Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea from
Indian Wells Beach on your adorable little forehead.
Of the sand with which I now anoint you, know that you can fall in it and be unhurt - always.
With this smear of Amagansett sand, you are marked, and let all other beaches take note,
Amagansett takes care of its own.
Of the sea water with which I now anoint you, know that when waves trouble you, run
screaming back up to your Mother and Father on the beach. Later, when you are older, you will
learn to dive under the waves, and if they still trouble you, to swim out beyond the whitewater,
to the calm dark deeper water, and thus be untroubled. And later, when you are older, you will
learn that when sea-pussies threaten with their churning sandy current, to swim sideways,
down-set, and be free of care. For the sea will never harm you, neither will the waves, nor the
sea-pussies. With this smear of ocean water, you are marked, and let all other seas take note,
Amagansett takes care of its own.
The people who love you and made you know this, and are marked as well, and yet, they will
be troubled when you do not heed their call to “get back in here right now, those waves are
too big, come in NOW,” and as you are not yet a willful child you must heed their call. Later,
when you are older, you can pretend you didn’t hear them.
But know this always: when the waves trouble you, swim out further, to deeper water, for the
sea will not harm you, neither will the waves, because you have been blessed this day with the
sand and sea of Indian Wells Beach, and let all other beaches and seas take note, Amagansett
takes care of its own.
Why this is so cannot be said, but I too have been so blessed, as has your mother Caroline, and
your father Kevin, and your aunt Kate, and many others like Bruce Treleaven who are present
here tonight. These are the Renowned Ocean Swimmers of Amagansett, the people who made
you and love you, and who have been blessed as you have tonight, and who know that when
the waves are troublesome, to dive beneath them, to swim out further to the calm dark deep
water, and who know that sea pussies are no more than a moment’s annoyance, and often
improve the body-surfing if you are wearing Churchills and can take off on their confused and
chaotic swells.
And so you may now consider yourself blessed, Eva Parker-Moore, and let this be witnessed by
all here in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, on this night of February 12, 2010.
Signed as witnessed, this day of _______________________________:
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore in Childhood
Eva Parker-Moore, you are have been Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea
from Indian Wells Beach as an infant. It is now time to renew that blessing, at Indian Wells
Beach itself, in Amagansett. Your parents know this and have brought you here, to the edge of
the water, for that purpose.
Of the sand on which you stand, know that you can fall in it and be unhurt - always. Wiggle
your toes down into it, and know that you are thereby marked, and all other beaches will take
note, because Amagansett takes care of its own.
Of the sea water which races up to your toes, know that when waves trouble you, you are
almost at the age where you need not run screaming back up to your Mother and Father on
the beach, but not quite yet. You are growing older, and soon you will learn to dive under the
waves, and when they still trouble you, to swim out beyond the whitewater, to the calm dark
deeper water, and thus be untroubled. And soon you will learn that when sea-pussies threaten
with their churning sandy current, you must swim sideways, down-set, to be free of care. But
know that the sea will never harm you, neither will the waves, nor the sea-pussies. Your
parents, and the very seas of Indian Wells love you, and all other seas will take note, because
Amagansett takes care of its own.
So today, and always, know this: you have been reblessed this day with the sand and sea of
Indian Wells Beach, and all other beaches and seas will take note, because Amagansett takes
care of its own.
Grow older and stronger and wiser in the ways of sand and sea, Eva Parker-Moore: become
another Renowned Ocean Swimmer of Amagansett, like the people who made you and love
you, and who have been blessed as you have today, and who know that when the waves are
troublesome, to dive beneath them, to swim out further to the calm dark deep water, and who
know that sea pussies are no more than a moment’s annoyance, and often improve the bodysurfing if you are wearing Churchills and can take off on their confused and chaotic swells.
Signed as witnessed, this day of _______________________________:
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore in Adolescence
Eva Parker-Moore, you are have been Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea
from Indian Wells Beach as an infant and as a child. It is now time to renew that blessing, at
Indian Wells Beach again, and you are here again at the edge of the water for that purpose.
Of the sand on which you stand, know that you can fall in it and be unhurt - always. Hope that’s
worked out OK so far. Wiggle your toes down into it, and know that you are thereby marked,
and all other beaches will take note, because Amagansett takes care of its own.
Of the sea water which races up to your toes, know that when waves trouble you, you are at
the age where you need not run screaming back up to your Mother and Father on the beach.
They could care less at this point, kiddo. You are old enough to handle yourself in the surf, and
if you don’t know by now how to dive under the waves, and swim out beyond the whitewater
to the calm dark deeper water, then take a deep breath and just do it. Sea-pussies should be
old friends by now. Welcome their express-train out to the breakline where you can catch a
nice ride. For the sea will never harm you, neither will the waves, nor the sea-pussies. The
water of Indian Wells loves you, and all other seas will take note, because Amagansett takes
care of its own.
So today, and always, and everywhere, remember that when the waves trouble you, swim out
further, to deeper water, for the sea will not harm you, neither will the waves, because you
have been reblessed this day with the sand and sea of Indian Wells Beach, and all other beaches
and seas will take note, because Amagansett takes care of its own.
You have it in you to be a Renowned Ocean Swimmer of Amagansett, like the people who
made you and love you, and who look to you to carry their love of the ocean onward beyond
their pale little precincts of vigor. Age has dimmed our vision, but yours remains clear. So know
that when the waves are troublesome, just dive beneath them, and swim out further to the
calm dark deep water. And if you don’t already own a pair of Churchills then you should take
your parents and their friends to task. But I bet you do by now, and, they’re blessed too.
Signed as witnessed, this day of _______________________________:
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore in Adulthood
Eva Parker-Moore, you are have been Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea
from Indian Wells Beach as an infant, a child and an adolescent. It is now time to renew that
blessing as an adult, in the company of your friends, and you are here again at the edge of the
water – some water, for Indian Wells Beach is not the only beach in the world - for that
purpose.
Of the sand on which you stand, know that you can fall in it and be unhurt - always. If that
hasn’t worked out OK so far, please don’t blame the sand. Wiggle your toes down into it, and
know that you are thereby marked, and all other beaches will take note, because sand is sand.
Of the sea water which races up to your toes, you know by now what a good friend it is.
Waves, sea-pussies, all manner of aquatic entertainments are familiar to you by now. The water
of many oceans, not just Indian Wells, loves you, and all the seas have taken note because
Amagansett takes care of its own.
So today, and always, and everywhere, remember that when the waves trouble you, swim out
further, to deeper water, for the sea will not harm you, neither will the waves, because you
have been reblessed this day with the sand and sea of the larger world you now inhabit, and all
beaches and seas take note, because you are a Renowned Ocean Swimmer of Amagansett, like
the people who made you and love you, and who look on you as she who carries their love of
the ocean onward beyond their pale little precincts of vigor.
Oh, and, take care of your Churchills. They are our wings in the water, and when you carve
down that glassy face of hurtling Atlantic surf, you will share a kinship that is older still than the
blessing which today you renew.
Signed as witnessed, this day of _______________________________:
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore in Middle Age
Eva Parker-Moore, you are have been Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea
throughout your life. It is time now to rejoice in that blessing, at whatever beach you may find
yourself, and to prepare yourself to pass it on. You are here again at the edge of the water for
that purpose.
Of the sand on which you stand, you know you can fall in it and be unhurt - always. Wiggle
your toes down into it, and dip your baby’s heel in the healing salt water. Know that you are
both thereby marked, and all other beaches will take note, because Amagansett takes care of its
own.
Of the sea water which races up to your toes, revel in knowing that when waves trouble you,
know how to handle yourself in the surf. For the sea will never harm you, nor your baby, and
neither will the waves, nor the sea-pussies. The ocean water knows you both, and loves you
both, because Amagansett takes care of its own.
So today, and always, and everywhere, remember that you are untroubled by waves, and that
your baby will be blessed as well. The cycle of the wave is the cycle of rebirth and you both
have been blessed this day by the sand and sea, and all other beaches and seas will take note,
because Amagansett takes care of its own.
You are the scion and beloved of Renowned Ocean Swimmers of Amagansett, and your
children will be as well. Like the people who made you and love you, your blessing is to be one
with the waves, and it is now your baby who will look to you to share your love of the ocean
onward beyond their pale little precincts of vigor. Age will dim your vision, but your baby’s will
remain clear. So teach the little one that when the waves are troublesome, to just dive beneath
them, and to swim out further to the calm dark deep water. And get your child a pair of
Churchills – not now, silly, when they’re eight or ten years old or so. And when you do, and
you see them pretend not to hear it when you yell, “Get back in here right now, those waves
are too big, come in NOW,” you will know that they are blessed too.
Signed as witnessed, this day of _______________________________:
The Oceanic Blessing of Eva Parker-Moore When Facing Death
Eva Parker-Moore, you are have been Oceanically Blessed by the anointing of sand and sea
from earliest childhood. It is now time to rejoice in that blessing, at the time when you face the
last dark wall of water. You need not be at a beach: you carry the sea and sand with you in
your deepest soul. Wherever you may be, rejoice in knowing how to dive under that wave, and
how to swim out to the calm dark deep water. For the dark deep water will welcome you
home, as it has countless times before, throughout your life. The dark deep water knows you,
and loves you, because Amagansett takes care of its own - always.
So today while you are here, and tomorrow when you are not, and always, and everywhere,
rejoice in the knowledge that you are friend and familiar of the ocean, that your life has been
blessed by the mother of us all. The wave’s cycle is the cycle of rebirth, and the tide turns, as
always it must.
And know that, while the waves you rode may seem utterly erased, your riding of them is
ineradicable, as are all the rides of all the Renowned Ocean Swimmers of Amagansett. Those
rides are written in the indelible ink that records all the rides, by all those who ride waves.
They are remembered by the sand and sea itself, and all the other beaches and seas, too, know
of your rides, because Amagansett takes care of its own.
So one last time, dig out your old Churchills: when you hold them in your hands, all the
mountains of ocean surf through which they’ve churned lie in your lap. Listen, now, for the
distant sound of the waves. They call you to return to the source of your blessing. You read
these words on a far-distant day when so many of the people who made you and loved you
have heeded that call, have dived under that last dark wave, and have swum out to the calm
dark deeper water.
You need not fear to join us: you are blessed. You’ve always been blessed, Eva.