Here is the friends' plan: The beach, a budget, split costs; Three girls, one mother. I waited to act, thinking they might lose interest. But they persisted. [Leaving home brings a familiar anxiety: What if the world ends?] Long miles of highway, Some chatter and snacks. Music. They sleep, and I drive. It's like old … Continue reading Beach haiku.
I crave the mountains. Right up until the minute I set foot on a beach.
Now here we are at summer's sun-stand, the long solstice (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) of June, fruit of a cycle born six months ago at the onset of winter. It's still an anything-can-happen era with a why-the-hell-not vibe. It's the time to ask, again: If not now, then when?
When I started writing this, 143 days ago, I was sitting on a porch in Santa Rosa, Florida. It was quiet, because it was early, and the sky was just beginning to lighten. I was alone, save for the birds. There was coffee, the sound of waves, a flutter of breeze, an occasional car on … Continue reading After and before.
Perhaps what I meant was actually this: When my children were little, during the age of great dependency, I sometimes, oftentimes, struggled in my job as their mother. My struggles were laid bare most visibly on weekends, holidays and vacations. Particularly at the beach. **** Once, we loaded the last bag in the car at … Continue reading Starfish gazing.
Here's how I knew we were going to the beach and not to my grandparents' house at Hardy: when we turned from our street and drove past the Howard Johnson's (where we went to get ice cream), we turned and drove up a ramp, past the billboard picture of the girl with the dog tugging … Continue reading destin-ation.
By the time you are reading this, if I didn't make a mistake in scheduling this post and if you are the hot off the press, read as soon as it's published sort of reader, I'll be about halfway to the beach. If you're from here (meaning Memphis), then you know exactly, give or take … Continue reading Life’s a beach.
Hey, dude, I'm on vacation! But not to fear, here's a story I posted last summer complete with a menu that takes full advantage of what's at the market right now, pick of the season. happy week. Blackberry Summer (originally published 7.20.13) My mother's parents were farmers, and their farm had everything from peanuts to … Continue reading Hey, dude, where’s my menu?
