Have you seen the green flash? No, not the Captiva restaurant by that name, or some sunset superhero who plays tricks on your eyes. It’s something people profess they witness on occasion from the beach at the ‘Tween Waters Inn Island Resort & Spa. I suspect rum is involved.
The green flash, they’ll tell you, is a true scientific phenomenon. I, a devoted island sunset observer from way back, have my doubts. Probably because I’m not scientific – wrong side of the brain for a writer to understand concepts such as “refraction,” “bending light,” and “atmospheric prism.”
Here’s the lowdown on this beach-time highlight. It happens at sunset, more often when the horizon is cloudless. Stare fixedly at the sun as it slips over the edge, and somewhere in there – don’t blink now! – the sun may send up a second-long flicker of green. Or not.
My suspicions stem mostly from the fact I have never seen the green flash. From ‘Tween Waters, I have applauded pink chiffon and whipped cream-layered horizons. I have sighed over gilded seas ‘neath silver-lined clouds. I have stared so intently my pupils dropped the course. I’ve even tried rum, if you can believe that!
So, no, I am not a member of that elite club of green flash alumnae, or , as I like to call them: “liars.” But that does not stop me from watching sunset at the beach. It is, in fact, as good an excuse as any. Who knows? Maybe tonight….