Monday, June 29, 2009

Summer Dreaming

This weekend we attended a wedding for a distant, longtime friend's son who lives in our neighborhood. Throughout the years we bump into each other and chat for a few moments and then wander out of each others lives. He is a single father and has raised his son to be a fine reflection of his own person. As I sat and gazed upon this child entering adulthood, I had a sweet smile remembering him as he was growing up and enjoying seeing whom he had become.
His father has always made us feel as if it were a privilege to be our friend and has made us feel our lives were special.

The invitation came later that expected and I wonder if we were put on the guest list as a last minute afterthought. In fact we would not have been at all disappointed if we had not been invited, yet when the invitation arrived, we felt that we should attend. There was a moment the week of the wedding I asked myself why we were attending and said to myself that they would not miss our presence, yet having had two of my children married, knew that it was quite improper to cancel after you have RSVP'd.

We arrived to this beautiful setting in San Marcos,the Twin Oaks School House, TWINOAKSWEDDING.COM ,and enjoyed the delight of color displayed in the floral decorations on the outdoor gazebo and the breeze that gently blew through the eucalyptus trees cooling a rather warm day. I was in wonderland looking at all the special places made for enjoyment, wandering through the grounds. We did not know anyone, so I felt that I had time to browse around.
There were grapewreath lined arches with clinging vines and wicker settings around a fountain
on the lawn, and a beautiful tent venue that had these great crystal chandeliers that resembeled jelly fish. The food was delicious and the table settings, beautiful.

We were seated with strangers, but quickly were deep in conversation. I had seen this woman sometime in my life here in town. I know that our lives have crossed. Isn't it interesting that we were brought together at this celebration?
The other man seated at our table happen to also live in our neighborhood. I was surprised when I realized who he was. A very handsome widower, an ex teacher. I never knew his wife, however, I knew of her and her life impressed me much in her walk with the Lord.

I wandered into the school house and enjoyed my exploartion along with being serinaded by the music being played within. It was such a pleasant expierence that I decided to sit and take it all in, as if this moment was made just for me. I don't know if anyone saw me, but I acted like I owned the room, closed my eyes and was just there.
What a wonderful day we had.

Summer Has Offically Arrived

My July-August issue of Victoria magazine arrived a week ago with the words "Create Your Own Summer Escape", with a beach scape on the cover, "Favorite Beach Finds" chalenges me to explore more than just my little town in Southern California, about 10 miles from the beach.

I feel as though the summer will slip through my fingers as the sand does when we grasp it , and then open our hands, not knowing if we will make any plans to escape to enjoy ourselves alone.

I feel drawn to the seaside as the article entices me,to sit and listen to the sound of the waves crashing and rolling into the shore. To feel the sun beating hot on my back and feel the sea mist depositing salty residue on my sun darkened skin, to read a book, and extend my polished toes into the warm sand, to dance with the tide as it enters and exits the shoreline, and at the end of the day, gather my belongings and walk hand and hand with my love to the local mexican restaraunt along the boluvard and eat a tostada in the shape of a huge bowl and experience the essence of summer in this beach town.

So often we just "live" our days repeating the everyday, tending to our handwritten schedules and miss the adventure of the moment.

I picked up a book, I am not sure where or how it appeared, but the title grabbed my attention, ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssAsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss Year By The Sea, thoughts of an unfinished woman by Joan Anderson.
It reminded me of a book, Gift From The Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindburgh, whose words are
quoted in the chapter titles. I must read this one again. To be able to sit with the sea within sight and write one's feelings and experience what the shore delivers and presents to one'ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss would be delightful. Would it become a chore to do these things?

I dream of the sand and the surf and the sunshine on my skin and the freedom to do nothing but enjoy it all.

8 comments:

Modern Crush said...

Funny how we live by the sea and it becomes so mundane. But to others it is a magical special escape...

erika said...

I want to soak it all up!

Pamela said...

Missy, I love your descriptions of the sensations of the sand, water, and sun. I would love to see some pictures of your experiences at the beach. You have always done a great job capturing the fine details of your experience in your photos.

For some reason even when I lived close by to the ocean, I never got tired of it. Most summers I would go almost everyday (sometimes twice a day!) and feel just as excited and rejuvenated as the last time that I was there.
Now that I live so far away from the ocean I have had to learn to find the simple pleasures of this new landscape. Despite the amazing beauty of all of the trees, mountains, and wildlife of Tennessee, I am not as deeply moved in the same way as I am near the ocean. To be close by the water again will be magnificent! :)

Vista Gal said...

The ocean and the western sunset call out to your spirit and soul to return to that which is within your heart.

TUTU Monkey said...

Thanks you for stopping in!! I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!

I have enjoyed you blog.....I love your Birthday Crown a few posts back!!

Take care!!

Linda Jo said...

Can't find your email anywhere...not on your blog, nor your profile. Thanks for visiting my blog. I lived in Anaheim Hills in the mid-80's for a short time. And while there I did miss RAIN!

Irma's Rose Cottage said...

Just discovered your blog. Loved reading your posts. Loved your birthday crown. I hope to one day make one. Will be coming back for more visits.


Hugs :)

Irma

Vista Gal said...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!