You know that poem, "Footsteps"? Well, I had a bit of a similar experience today...

I'm on a long run on this rainy morning and I pass by Bradford Beach. For the second time this week, I feel pulled to turn into this particular beach as I pass by. Both times, D-dad was strongly in my thoughts. Still running, I approach the water's edge and follow it towards Sagamore Beach where I decide to return to my route along the road. There is not another soul on the beach as far as I can see in either direction and the tide is coming up.

A little bit after I cross the second of two little jetties between Bradford and Sagamore Beach, I notice there are shoe prints in the sand beside mine. I stop to look where they had come from and see that a few strides behind me, the footsteps emerge from the breaking waves. Comforted, I continue to jog, looking towards the ramp that would lead me back to the road. I start to pull away from the shoreline and look down again at the sand to be sure of my footing now with the softening surface. To my surprise, paw prints are now my companion. Completely in shock, I again look for the source of this newcomer and search for the fate of my previous company. I don't remember if I found where and how the dog came to join us on the beach but, for about 10 feet, man and dog walked together. Then, the human footsteps parted ways and started towards the ramp where I, too, am headed, leaving the dog prints which continued a ways ahead towards the cliffs. I don't bother to reach the canine's destination because my human predecessor is much more intriguing. After about 5 lone steps, the sand becomes a bit more dense and the footprints disappear.

Out of the sea and into thin air.

http://www.sitoaperto.it/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=617

I still don't know what it was. It could have been any man and his dog walking earlier this morning when the tide was low. But what timing... it comforted me, anyway.