Today, took my first-ever swim in the ocean. Surrounded by jellies, siblings, John, and my kids. Glorious. Spent two hours out swimming in the early morning and another two in the evening. Kudos to John and Chris for rescuing me from the riptide (aka strong-for-me current) more than once.
Warm, relaxing, scary, exhilarating. Can’t wait to do it again :)
But ocean water sure tastes nasty.
Went to the beach again after dinner tonite. Unlike yesterday, the water was warm and the waves gentle. We saw numerous dolphins playing in the surf, their backs dark and glossy in the evening light. We found an area with good shells and several chunks of jellyfishes (a first for me–I’ve only seen them in aquariums before).
I was telling Chris that I planned to stay out at the beach until dark tonite, it was just about then that we started seeing the lightning on the horizon. Then a surfer dropped by our group–with all of our young kids–and warned us that a storm was coming in fast and we’d best head back now.
Someone looked at me, standing knee-deep in the water on two metal crutches and suggested that sticking around wasn’t a good idea. So we headed out right then. By the time we’d walked the few short blocks to the beachouse the rain had started. Then, moments later, we gathered on the top floor of the house–with its broad windows–and turned off all the house lights so we could watch the lightning dance around us. Mom popped popcorn and the ‘movie’ was as thrilling as anything on the big screen.
We started our journey at 7:30 yesterday morning with a lift to the train station from Matt. We took a commuter train to Union Station, another train to Burbank airport, and then had a generous wait time until our flight. We then flew to Salt Lake City, had a one-hour layover, and finally landed in Durham, North Carolina just before midnight yesterday (local time).
This morning we drove for about 5 hours to the Outer Banks, and joined the rest of my siblings’ families and my Mom at a big beachhouse for a week of R&R.
So far, so good. We have feasted, played games, and teased the cousins. This evening we all took a quick dip in the Atlantic Ocean and affirmed that the water is just as cold here as in the Pacific (despite the Gulf Stream currents that C explained to us in such detail). :)
Tomorrow we look forward to Roanoke Island, an aquarium, seafood, a lighthouse and more beach time. It should be great fun :) I’ll have some flickr pics posted of our adventure soon….
The frogs, locusts, and other beasties are singing a chorus outside of our window. Their music is nearly deafening. But I suspect that I will still sleep well tonite.
:)
John, in the surf near Newport Pier when a big wave suprises him with a splash on his bare chest. And I am standing next to him, grinning ear-to-ear, droplets of salty water burning the edges of my eyes, and my crutches sinking deeper into the sand with each incoming wave.
I was all set to write a quick post to tell you about me & John’s first-ever podcast where I read a short creative nonfiction piece about the Magna Cemetery [Note: this cemetery is typically called the Pleasant Green cemetery, as this was the name of the town in the late 1800s. After the copper mine came to the area the town’s name was changed to Magna, the name of the mine’s biggest smelter. I suppose the area was no longer pleasant and green after Kennecott came to town]. As I was googling the cemetery in hopes of finding a good picture to add to the post, I found this juicy tidbit:
“Hauntings at Magna Cemetery: Much like the town of Magna, the Pleasant Green Cemetery reflects a sad history related to the settlement and hardships endured by the pioneers and immigrants who moved there to work in and live near the mines. Most of the people buried there did not have long lives, and mining accidents sometimes claimed multiple lives at once.
It is a fact that the Pleasant Green cemetery glows green during certain times of the year. For a long time, people believed this was due to unsettled spirits haunting the place, though now it is understood that it’s due to the mineral luminescence from the soil. This doesn’t make the cemetery any less eerie. From the toppled headstones to the overgrown bushes and weeds, it’s hard to believe this cemetery is being used and/or that the ghosts of those buried there aren’t feeling slighted by the lack of upkeep and respect.”
The two images I found of the cemetary are evidence of its forlorn-ness. One is from a Utah ghost site and shows an aerial view:
The other photo shows the front entrance gate:
It’s funny to me that I want to be buried in a place that’s so barren and ugly. But I also feel a deep connection to this space. It’s where some of the family oddballs are buried, and I think I would fit in better there than if I were interred in the perfectly-green lawns of a more typical Utah cemetery. And, it seems weirdly fitting to know that I would be buried in a place of legend, of mystery, of great sorrow, and of ‘luminescence.’
IMG_6114
Originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.
I’ve just uploaded a bunch of new photos to flickr (click on the pic above to view more).
Included in this bunch are pics of C on his first backpacking trip with the Boy Scouts and his Dad, E’s class fieldtrip to the San Juan Capistrano mission (John was a parent chaperone on the trip so these lovely pictures are his handiwork), and C’s 6th grade promotion ceremony earlier this morning.
Enjoy :)
I haven’t been posting much lately. As my family-of-origin can attest, silence is pretty atypical in the Jana-verse. :)
Some reasons for my silence:
1) the garden. taking all of my free moments. no wireless access there…
2) the kids’ swim season began. we had out first meet yesterday. six hours in the blazing hot sun. cheering the kids in each of their races, forking out money at the “shark shack” for popsicles, chatting with other parents. C&E practice every evening for two hours, which means a huge chunk of my day is spent at the pool sans junebug (my trusty laptop)
3) end of the quarter fatigue. wanting to shed responsibility, nap, and lie in my hammock (which just emerged from the closet for the summer)
4) our digital camera is sorta-broken. it’s now a battery-sucking monster (meaning, that you have to replace the batteries after using it for about 5 minutes).
5) i’ve been doing a lot of contemplation. thinking rather than writing. it’s a good place to be for now.
i expect that i’ll be back to my regularly scheduled daily postings soon. in the meantime…you can find me in the garden.
–I’m not sure which earned the bigger smile today, turning in my final paper of the quarter/school year, or the delightful cup of tea & cherry/almond scone I enjoyed afterwards…
–typing on my computer with ellycat draped over my arms like she is right now. One hand around her front legs and the other under her belly. and elly’s little motor is purring up a storm.
–up till midnite last night (typing said paper) and watching elly nibble bits of salmon off of Emma’s unfinished dinner plate. breaking off bits and then hiding under the table to eat them. sneaking around so I won’t “see” her.
–going to the beach in the early morning with the family yesterday. watching the incoming tide bowl over the kids and they both go under and emerge sputtering and laughing/crying. me, not wearing my computerized prosthesis, daring to go into the surf myself. the waves threatening to carry my crutches with the undertow. the water as warm as a bath. the call of the ocean beckoning me in even further. the promise I made to myself to reutrn soon and follow that call…
–vacuuming. Yep, my favorite household chore. I could vacuum all day long…
A poem from Jen
For the love of a tree, she went out on a limb.
For the love of the sea, she rocked the boat
For the love of the earth, she dug deeper.
For the love of community, she mended fences.
For the love of the stars, she let her light shine.
For the love of spirit, she nurtured her soul.
For the love of a good time, she sowed seeds of happiness.
For the love of the Goddess, she drew down the moon.
For the love of a good meal, she gave thanks.
For the love of family, she reconciled differences.
For the love of creativity, she entertained new possibilities.
For the love of her enemies, she suspended judgment.
For the love of herself, she acknowledged her worth.
And the world was richer for her…..
~ Charlotte Tall Mountain
You’re teaching class, standing up in front of 60 undergrads, and about ten minutes afterwards realize that your fly was down the whole time. And after the realization you’re not even embarrassed.
But I am pretty glad that today’s the last day of classes. If one is going to teach with one’s zipper unzipped, the final day of the quarter is a good time to do it.
french vanilla, french-cut green beans, french fries, french hotels, french pastries, french metro, french toast, french water, french cheese, french tea, french lace, french kitty, french film, french surnames, french bookstores, french chocolate (esp when served by sexy Brazilian men on the Rue Cler) and, of course, french kisses!
OoLaLa!
Isabelle provides the perfect backdrop music for a morning of grading term papers. Mellow, French, and rather haunting. Lovely.
