Since Ralph died on Christmas Eve in 2010, I hadn’t been to Harvey Cedars as much as we were accustomed to when he was alive, but over a recent weekend, when it was spring-like, I was down and found it both captivating and puzzling.

There was no one on the beach, not even fisher folk, although I was looking for people I had discovered on other walks. The usual creature population abounded, birds and little crabs, and the waves were serene, not crashing, calling me back.