Tuesday, July 8, 2014

write, share

 
Hop in the van, go past my dream house with the tiny pool, past the manatee-in-a-raincoat mailbox, past JB's Fish Camp, all the way to Cape Canaveral National Seashore. You come too...

Flash Grammy's lifetime Senior Citizen National Park pass to the ranger. He peeks in to check if she's with us...yep, go on in. 

Drive sloooowly past sandy scrub. Hear for the millionth time in my life, "This is what it looked like the whole way to the beach back when..." Picture my dad and mom as teenagers hanging out at the beach :)

Wait, there's one! No cars coming! Grab the camera and fling open the door! Run across the hot pavement. He's having a snack, but will patiently pose for a picture...
Dad gives him a little pat and says, "Bye, old fella."
 
Find a pulloff with beach access. Only two other cars. Around the bend in the walkway and just sand and ocean as far as the eye can see. No motels, no restaurants. People waaay down to the right. What do they do in case of emergency?
 
The kids check the bathroom situation, a concrete outhouse with no running water. They decide to wait 'til we get to the condo. Back in the van to find a place to cash in our winning lottery tickets.
 
New Smyrna Beach, Florida. My once-a-year home away from home.
 
 
Bought stamps and took $3 from my mission envelope for one of my first-grader's lemonade stand. Saved $6 in my envelopes.  Chapter 2 is based on the Ten Commandments and how they relate to financial peace. Today's scripture is Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor
and the borrower is servant to the lender. NIV

2 comments:

Kate said...

Enjoy your vacation!

Linda Mitchell said...

Responding for Teacher's Write:
1. What works and why? love, love, love "you come too". Best invitation ever...universal and appeals to all ages. I love the photo of your Dad and the "old fella". Such a sunny piece as I sit inside the grey-green gloom of a rainy morning in No. VA. Great setting for a story....and, wonderful characters: Granny, Dad, both as teens and the turtle, kids checking the bathroom. Narrator. All are related and connected to the beach.
2. What doesn't work and why? I'm so uncomfortable with "doesn't work". I think if it's your writing....quick write, draft, scribbled thoughts...it's working. I do have some questions. What was the temperature? I assume hot? but, is it hot-hot like I imagine Florida? Or, is it mild hot because it's morning...is it morning? is that why the beach is deserted? If you were sketching this scene in colored pencils would you start with cool tones? warm tones? why? Does the beach have that fresh salty fragrance? Or, does it smell of washed up seaweed....tangy and decomposing?
3. If this is a beginning does it hook? compel to keep reading? I'd love to know why Granny and Dad as teens tie into this specific trip to the beach.....I'm smelling a circle-of-life type story here with the narrator and her kids. yes? Let me know!