A Magical Minute: Goats Crossing a Tobago Beach at Sunset

When was the last magical moment you experienced? For me, it was this past February. I think some of the magic was because this was a simple and new experience unfolding, in a place I have been to so many times before.

I was in Tobago, and after lunch one day, my friends and I decided to head down to the beach to soak up the rest of the sun. One friend was knitting, the kids were going between the water and building things on the sand. We were chatting, laughing, swimming and just really enjoying the present moment and each other’s company. The day was simply lovely.

At about 5:45pm we packed up our little enclave on the sand, to head home. My friends were all staying together, so after chatting a bit more in the car park, they piled into their car and left.  I got into my car, and I decided to pause for a second to check my phone. As I turned to pull my seat belt, something caught my eye. Something cream or white. It was short, so I only glimpsed the top of it as it passed the car. I leaned forward and glanced out the window properly.

Bahhhh!

I was a bit confused when I realized not only were there three goats purposefully walking by the car, but more were appearing and it seemed they were all congregating by the car. I turned completely around in my seat, to see more goats, all in a line coming from across the road. Their herder was bringing up the rear. I started videotaping with my phone and then suddenly remembered: I had my camera with me! I got it out of my bag and jumped out.

The sun was now setting. The sound of the waves rolling onto the shore was punctuated by the chatter and movement of a volleyball team practicing nearby. This formed the backdrop of this scene that the goats were walking into.

Bahhhh!

The herd was pouring onto the sand. Putting their heads down to graze every few steps and then quickening their pace when the herder got nearer. They were heading toward the shoreline. I had never witnessed goats traversing the beach like this before.

The volleyball players, practice halted, started exclaiming in delight and took out their phones to capture the scene. They were all clearly as excited as I was, to be witnessing this.  The goats then reached the top of an embankment and with a quick jolting jump they started spilling down the hill one by one, sand splaying as their hooves brushed against it. Some of them hesitated but most did it in one strong jump. I was smiling as I took photographs. My skin prickling with excitement.

The goats made their way to the water’s edge, heading to wherever home was. The background of the sea and the sunset as they walked diligently along was just so special. I stared in awe.

“These goats pass in the mornin and then again in the evenin,” I heard the coach tell the volleyball players.

Wow, I thought. Had I not stopped to check my phone, I would have not been one of the witnesses to this whimsical sight.

Walking back to the car, I felt energized. I started thinking about time and moments. I felt like I had just witnessed a random, whimsical pause. Similar to looking out a window just in time to see a butterfly flutter past a tree with flowers and leaves cascading down in a gust of breeze. An instant that feels like it’s in slow motion because you are so present, enveloped by everything that’s happening. In this case, the colours of the sky as the sun set, the ocean waves in motion, caressing the shore and the uniqueness of so many goats jumping comically and cutely on the beach.

I left feeling grateful. Happy. And perhaps lucky. For this was a reminder that magical moments are always around the corner. Even in a space that you’ve been to so many times before.

Have you had a magical experience recently? Please share it in the comments.