Aug 16, 2010 12:40 am

My daily early morning beach walks are rapidly becoming an endangered species--- the first day of school looms large before me. I washed off the shells I've been unable to resist taking home, and in doing so was reminded of this portion of a poem by Walter Raliegh that I became familiar with in the 8th grade when I read a lovely book about the Way of St. James (a medieval pilgrimage):

Give me my scallop shell of quiet,
My staff of faith to walk upon,
My scrip of joy, immortal diet,
My bottle of salvation,
My gown of glory, hope's true gage,
And thus I'll take my pilgrimage.