Lee and I arrived at the beach house yesterday afternoon. The weather was overcast with signs that rain had fallen earlier. The temperature was very warm and humid. In fact, the air was so heavy, you could feel the weight!
After opening and cooling the house, we began the arduous task of unloading the zuccini, tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers, and cabbage brought from Lee's bountiful garden. Our burden was made lighter with the wonderful chair-escalator along the outside stair. I would send baskets down to Lee, who, in turn, would fill them and send them to me to take inside the house. We worked very well as a team.
I slept a little later than Lee this mornng and found him on the front deck having his third or fourth cup of coffee. Imagine my surprise when he announced that he was going to walk to the beach, and enjoy a walk on the beach! WOW!
Lee has not been able to do this since summer 2009! He became ill in November 2009 and since then has been unable to enjoy that walk to the beach and on the beach. Last year he was only able to get to the beach by riding his golf cart to the beach and on the surf side. Even with that, he was exhausted before returning!
So, this morning, when he announced his plan, I quickly responded that if he would wait for me to refresh my coffee, change from PJ's to shorts and top, I would love to join him! We walked down the street, past the five or six houses along the way, crossed over Beach Drive, through the public access area, climbed the very steep dune and stood along the surf and enjoyed the view. As we were standing there, I made Lee's picture standing beside an impressive sand castle, left behind earlier. He stood tall and competent, with the roaring surf in the background. The sunrise was splendid and I could feel the warmth as I focused my camera on his smile. A lovely lady came by and offered to take a picture of us together. It was a time of pure joy as we left the sandcastle to begin the walk back to our house.
We could not linger long, because there were "gale -force" winds blowing, and the surf was roaring as a result of the storms yesterday. As we left the beach, arm in arm, it was with a renewed anticipation of our time together. We felt stronger, healthier, and for the first time in four years, we knew this would be a wonderful beach vacation to remember!
More Later........................................Brenda
Friday, June 28, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
It's Summertime!
Summertime is very special! It is the most care-free of all the seasons. I suppose it is the memory of my childhood with the expectations of the free and happy days at the end of the school year that continues to evoke that anticipation. Those were long ago Summer days when there were no schedules to meet............just get out of bed and spend the entire day enjoying being young, happy and looking forward to each day.. There were, of course, some small chores to be done, but most of the time, I could play with my friends, swim in the city pool, have sleep-overs with my city cousins, and of course, count on the usual Saturday morning movies. It was a time of neighborhood softball games, Popsicles, bike rides or lazy afternoons reading a good book. There were, of course, the occasional rainy days or storms, and that was when Mom would bring the hundreds of comic books stored in the closet to read.
I feel fortunate to have been a child during the time when parents were wise and knew it was best for children to learn play on their own. We were not obligated to go to Summer camp, or join the local baseball or softball team, nor were we scheduled for other activities at that time. "Helicopter" parents would belong to the future generation....my parents believed in "freedom play" for the child!! The only thing I can remember that was "mostly mandatory" was Vacation Bible School." Everyone looked forward to that, even it it did mean we had to forfeit some of our mornings.
It was a time without the distraction of T.V., digital and high-tech. We only had our imaginations to rely on. One only needed to find six or eight neighborhood kids to have a game or some sort of adventure without the interference of parents. Living in the rural area of Caldwell County felt safe and secure. All the bad happenings were "up North" or somewhere else in the world. Mom was always at home, Dad was at work, and on Summer nights the windows were open to the coolness of the night and the doors left open with only the screen door latched.
So once again, Summer is here! As with those long removed days, I am anticipating the joys that it will bring. We began our 2013 Summer with a Memorial Day week-end with some of our family members. These days, I am still fortunate to have those grandchildren and great grandchildren to spend my Summers with. We are looking forward to two weeks at the beach in July. One week with Lee's children, and one week with my children. We cherish these times and always look forward to each week.
There is more work to do during our Summer months now. Lee loves to have a garden, and so far, his garden is beautiful with the promise of a bounty of harvested vegetables and fruits! He is enjoying his strength and his endurance to be able to complete his work in the garden. We will spend a major part of June, July and August canning the green beans and tomatoes, freezing corn and other vegetables. If we are fortunate enough to miss a Summer storm with hail, there will be peaches and apples. Our harvesting season will end with the wonderful muscadines, when, in additon to rewarding us with sweet nectar, will remind us of the next season......Fall. Refreshing and beautiful Fall!
I suppose in my reflections, all I am really trying to say is that life today, the memories of yesterday, and the promise of days to come are all part of the blessings of life and all it has to offer. And so it is, that we will continue to greet each season of the year with the same excitement; because we know that when it passes, there will only be the memories. So it is, that we will keep those memories joyful, tuck them away in that part of our memory to be recalled again and again.
On June 23rd. We will celebrate Lee's three-year anniversary of his new lung! We will leave the latter part of the week for our annual July 4th vacation with the family. Life is a celebration! Happy Summer All!
More Later....................................Brenda
I feel fortunate to have been a child during the time when parents were wise and knew it was best for children to learn play on their own. We were not obligated to go to Summer camp, or join the local baseball or softball team, nor were we scheduled for other activities at that time. "Helicopter" parents would belong to the future generation....my parents believed in "freedom play" for the child!! The only thing I can remember that was "mostly mandatory" was Vacation Bible School." Everyone looked forward to that, even it it did mean we had to forfeit some of our mornings.
It was a time without the distraction of T.V., digital and high-tech. We only had our imaginations to rely on. One only needed to find six or eight neighborhood kids to have a game or some sort of adventure without the interference of parents. Living in the rural area of Caldwell County felt safe and secure. All the bad happenings were "up North" or somewhere else in the world. Mom was always at home, Dad was at work, and on Summer nights the windows were open to the coolness of the night and the doors left open with only the screen door latched.
So once again, Summer is here! As with those long removed days, I am anticipating the joys that it will bring. We began our 2013 Summer with a Memorial Day week-end with some of our family members. These days, I am still fortunate to have those grandchildren and great grandchildren to spend my Summers with. We are looking forward to two weeks at the beach in July. One week with Lee's children, and one week with my children. We cherish these times and always look forward to each week.
There is more work to do during our Summer months now. Lee loves to have a garden, and so far, his garden is beautiful with the promise of a bounty of harvested vegetables and fruits! He is enjoying his strength and his endurance to be able to complete his work in the garden. We will spend a major part of June, July and August canning the green beans and tomatoes, freezing corn and other vegetables. If we are fortunate enough to miss a Summer storm with hail, there will be peaches and apples. Our harvesting season will end with the wonderful muscadines, when, in additon to rewarding us with sweet nectar, will remind us of the next season......Fall. Refreshing and beautiful Fall!
I suppose in my reflections, all I am really trying to say is that life today, the memories of yesterday, and the promise of days to come are all part of the blessings of life and all it has to offer. And so it is, that we will continue to greet each season of the year with the same excitement; because we know that when it passes, there will only be the memories. So it is, that we will keep those memories joyful, tuck them away in that part of our memory to be recalled again and again.
On June 23rd. We will celebrate Lee's three-year anniversary of his new lung! We will leave the latter part of the week for our annual July 4th vacation with the family. Life is a celebration! Happy Summer All!
More Later....................................Brenda
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