I rarely photograph bits of humanity on the beach, but could not resist this. A tiny bit of a child’s toy washed up with the tide reminds me of all that is wonderful about the beach for a child: sitting on the edge of the water digging for clams, learning to sweep up the last waves into a pail, making new ‘summer friends’, and discovering the simple joy of mud between the toes.

There is no better childhood than one spent by the ocean.

Whenever possible, I discard trash that I find along the tide line. This, however, I let wash back into the sea.