Posts Tagged "BEACH"

MY BEACH HOUSE

One day, I will have a beach house.

I am blessed to live in south AL which is next to North FL. The beach we usually go to is Panama City Beach.
which is about 80 miles away.Then there is Destin, a little more upscale, but equally as beautiful. I swear, when I cross the state line from AL to FL, I can begin to feel the pull of the beach. Even the dirt looks different…there is sand mixed into it–stretching the shore of the great ocean as far as possible.

This is my great desire. I want to lay my head down for as long as I choose in my own beach house. I do
not want to stay in a motel and have to check out by noon. I do not want to pack my clothes in a suitcase
to take home. I want to wait until I’m good and ready to leave. I want a place to leave my clothes, so
when I come back, my softest shorts and loosest top and my old flip-flops are there and waiting for
me–like old friends.

It seems easier to make plans and talk of the future when we are staring at a far horizon with endless
waves in front of it. Tomorrow seems very far away. It is easier to talk of insignificant things. They
can just fly away on the wind, if need be. It is easier to just be together without saying a word–both
listening to the roar of the waves and the calling of the gulls…..minds full of things to say…..but
not wanting to stop the concert going on around us.

It’s alot about the water which surrounds you wherever you may find yourself. It’s not at all like a dip in the
pool…which starts and ends…you get in and you get out and you walk away, without so much as a
thought, until you want to dive in again. But, the ocean is different…it surrounds you with itself.
Through the windows of the shops and the balconies of the hotels, or the open-air decks of the
restaurants, the ocean glistens in the distance. You can’t escape if you are anywhere near. As you drive,
and if you need to look at a map, there is a curved piece of white land and then lots of
blue to indicate where the land stops and the ocean begins.. i like to be just that close to the blue.
I can breathe here…and think. But, not just think–think through. Is it the cool wind that blows
that clears my mind? Or does the sun just bake my cares away? Mystery, that.

There is the sand. Most beaches do not have this kind of sand. Not even on my beloved Maui. The sand
there is more akin to dirt…brownish dirt…with sticks in it. But, here in Florida, along the Emerald
Coast, it’s different. Here the sand is white, and its texture is like fine sugar. It is so soft and
flies on the breeze like a powder. It is soft…and squishy to walk on…until it gets wet…then it is
rock hard. You can walk and walk and walk on this wet sand as you stroll near the breaking waves. Piers
and hotels and sandcastles fade from view as you walk. And when you stop…you can’t believe how
far you’ve traveled. When you return and take a shower for the day…you will notice how soft and smooth
your feet are. Great exfoliator, this sand!

It will not matter what kind of place I can find. The outside may look forlorn and the furniture may be a
little shabby. (That’s chic, you know). The floor boards may creak and the walls may be in need of paint.
Matters not. For the show is outside. Inside is the place that holds your belongings…of which you
need little. Inside holds a bed for sleeping. But, it’s outside where the beach ‘happens’. Outside is where
the beauty is. Outside is where the air is full of salt and spray. Outside is where the Creator sketches
and paints another masterpiece in the sky each evening. Each is more beautiful than the last. Outside is
where the breeze is like no other. For this wind comes from far away places…far across the sea…far
beyond the horizon. And, whispered into this wind are the dreams and hopes and wishes and prayers that
are made by millions just like me. And, they are blown first to this shore and then to that. Listen!
You can almost hear them! Feel free to add your own…it never fills up.

My little cottage…oh, how I’ll fix that little place up! I’ll bring in driftwood and shells…lots of shells. And, the ones that have little holes in them will be strung to make huge mobiles that I’ll hang from the ceilings. Maybe I’ll find some of those colored glass balls that wash ashore at times. And, there will be art. Beautiful pictures taken of beaches around the world…some made by me. Because, surely this feeling I feel is felt by women elsewhere. This wanting a place to escape to…a place of clean air and cool sand and the sound of waves…it has to be a universal desire…there are beaches and oceans and people the world over. Surely they are all dreamt over.

This sea is vast….and this wind goes on forever. And, this sunshine bakes it all to just the right doneness
so it is perfection for whomever comes to walk its sandy shore and wet their toes in the waves as they lap
at the shore. The sea….it is miraculous!

Oh, don’t be sad, sweet Maui. You own my soul. You are the place I am the most alive. My love for you
is still true…even if your sand is not the best. But, let’s be honest here. Even dreams need to have
a little dose of reality. The chances of my ever living on YOUR shores are very, very slim. I do not
ever think it could happen. But, it could be possible for me to have a shanty in FL. Not likely…but
closer to reality. So, I’ll dream in possibilities and promise to visit you, sweet Maui, as often as is
possible.

One day, I will have a beach house…and I shall be content.

Posted by tonja on Sep 9, 2011 in General, Remembering | 6 comments

AHHH! IT WAS GREAT !

The beach is wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! What beauty God has made for us to enjoy!

Really and truly this is THE most beautiful sand…anywhere! Shirley and Tina and I went down for a quick weekend stay…here at Shirl and Sue’s (her sis) beach cottage! They have been doing some decorating and it looks fabulous!

Now, Tina and Shirley are dear to me and I love them, but frankly, I’ve been a little disappointed in them. The 3 of us went on the ‘ultimate girls trip’ to Maui in 2007. I had such a wonderful time and came home and made a scrapbook just as soon as I could. They, however, have yet to finish theirs! Can you believe that? So, that was their plan to do while at the beach. Shirley had 2 more books she wanted to do, and a project for a couple in her church. So, they pulled out all that stuff and worked and worked and worked.

I watched and offered them my completed book and other valuable tips and techniques. But, they were all over the place! I just got in bed and tried to connect to the Internet and check in on my friends around the country. Never could connect, so I read a while and then went on to bed. Don’t even know how long they worked. But, the next thing I knew, they were saying ‘ come on, we’re going to get some do-nuts.’ I told them I would be ready in a minute. But, no! They said ‘we are going just like we are…..pajamas and all. And, we did! Stood in line 20 minutes, but finally got some of the wonderful do-nuts. This place has been here since I was a little girl…and it only gets better.

This picture HAD to be cropped…for modesty”s sake. But, I DID have on my undergarments!

After we got back to the cottage, we dressed and went out to see what treasures we could find. Lots of treasures in those parts, and we needed some. And, so we shopped for a few hours at an outdoor mall, Pier Park. Then we had lunch/dinner…and we were able to eat outside. Such a nice day!

Did a little more exploring, then back to the cottage. The 2 Princesses continued working on their scrapbooks. And, I worked on Shirls’s project for her friend’s anniversary. I finished it up for her…and they still did not finish the scrapbooks!

Off to bed; then, early, early I heard them stirring around. But, I pretended not to. Besides they had no business being up so early, anyway! They were packing up their UNFINISHED scrapbooks, and we washed sheets and swept floor nd packed car. Time to head toward Dothan. We needed to leave early enough that Shirl could drive the extra 2 hours to Moultrie. And get there before dark. We had spied one more shop that we wanted to check out. So, that was figured into our plans, as well. Found some really pretty things there, but stayed a mite too long.

I said, “Shirl, since you didn’t feed me any breakfast this morning, and it is past luch time, do you think we could stop andget something to eat before we leave?” Y’all she turned around and gave me the evil eye. And, she drove right on past the food places till she got outta town. Then she turned back around and said, “Did you say you were hungry? Well, I’ll be happy to stop when I see a place.” And, she knew good and well it would be all the way to the city limits of Dothan before she saw anywhere to eat. So, here it is…my lunch!

I know, isn’t this terrible? Not a bit of nutrition anywhere in sight. But, I made do, and soldiered on. That’s just the kind of girl I am. But them…they just laughed maniacally in the front seat. At least…through my chocolate-induced haze…that’s what I THINK happened.

It matters not. I love these girls. And, I love the time we have together! Our quick trip was fun and refreshing to body and soul! And, Shirley? She made it home before dark.

Posted by tonja on Feb 22, 2011 in Friends, General, Remembering, Travel | 7 comments