…began at the end of August when I broke with solitude for a wonderful visit with my cousin and his girlfriend. Jimmy, Darcie and I strolled around Westport, had a bite to eat and I gave them the 5-cent debut tour of my almost completed Turtle (homemade wooden mini-camper). It was a joy to share The Secret Garden and send them home with some raspberry plants.
September kicked off with a little road trip to meet one of my Alaska sisters in the Seattle area for 3 days. There was a lot of laughter and cussing at the map app as Laura and I navigated around Auburn for 2 days. We managed (without the damn app) to figure out how to take the Sounder train from our airport hotel into Seattle to check out Pike Place Market. It was so good to be with my sis, but we were both a little creeped out about being in such crowded places in the violent climate of our world today. Sad but true. (12 photos)
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Back To Solitude And Some Nature Nurture
The rainy season has begun here on the Washington coast, which means many thick foggy evenings and mornings, but also rainbows!
The temperatures are between the high 60’s and mid 50’s, hovering only about ten degrees between day and night. (Was 74 on Sunday!) On some days the skies are a solid blanket of light grey from dawn to dusk, horizon to horizon. Other days are bright blue with cool cloud formations that develop into stunning sunrises and sunsets. (12 photos)
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In many of my sunrise and sunset photos there are black dots or clear silhouettes of birds. During spring and summer it was a mix of ducks, geese, pigeons, doves, starlings, sea gulls, eagles, crows and Northern flickers.
Sunrise, crows & moon
The birds seem to travel on an mapped out skyway. In the morning they fly into Westport along the eastern skyway, and at night they fly out of Westport along the western skyway. So as I step out of my door and look to my right (over The Secret Garden) in the morning, the skyway of birds cross the sunrise. To my left in the evening, they cross in front of the sunset.
By now, in early fall, I’m seeing mostly crows and a few sea gulls. Early morning crow migration from their night time roosts, plays against the background of calm pastels or vibrant oranges, pinks and purples of the rising sun. As the sun begins to set, the crows make their way back to their slumber party among the inland trees.
I can’t help but wonder why they never stop to gaze at nature’s colorful background for their journey. Of course, I wonder the same thing of fellow commuters when I seem to be the only one to pull out of traffic to take in the wonders in the sky.
A 5-year, blinded by multiple deaths of loved ones, study.
After Paul died (Aug 2009) I spent my few waking hours out on the back deck of our home. From my lofty vantage point, I soaked up the panorama of our own overgrown lawn and gardens and the wild acreage surrounding them. Beyond all the love and support of our circle of family and friends, nature itself helped bring me back to life. In Memoir Monday 3 I wrote about my experiences with nature immediately after Paul’s death. If you missed it, you can catch up here: Memoir Monday 3 http://wp.me/p3i5jo-wA
When our home and property was stripped in the name of “estate business” and I no longer felt the essence of Paul within those walls, I ran away to the beach. I’ve told that part of the story before. Once again, nature brought me back to life.
Excerpts from the beach cave, February-March 2010:
I think about the cool agates I found earlier in the day and the beautiful sunset I watched from the beach. Ahhh, this is the life.
The beach was a comedy of errors today, with lots of treasures found. It started out cloudy with sun breaks, and yes, very windy. I had on my layers, rolled up the cuffs of my pants, grabbed a wad of tissues for the runny nose, and was off. Just yesterday I figured out to roll up my pants, instead of having them drag in the sand and soak me to my calves. All vestiges of vanity were left in the truck; I looked ridiculous, with a smile. I found 2 awesome pieces of driftwood right off the bat. Along with a half-dollar sized yellow agate, I seemed to be on a rock hunt today. So many beauties, mostly green, but I got some interesting layered ones and a big maroon rock with white streaks in it.
Weekends get busy here, and I usually don’t go down to the beach if there are tons of people, but I just needed to today. They were all wimpy tourists, and pretty soon I had the whole stretch practically to myself. A couple of women were griping about “slim pickings today”. I’m not sure what they were looking for, maybe twenty-dollar bills? I was finding a little of everything, including a teeny tiny sand dollar. You know me; I was having a freaking blast. Kid in a candy store kind of fun. Like that. Pretty soon I look up and I am alone on the entire beach, some dark clouds are hanging over me, but I keep doing what I do. I sneak down to the get a peak at the good stuff when the tide goes out, grab a shell or rock, and then race back to safety when the waves come back to try and get me. This is good good exercise. I also laugh at myself a lot and thank the waves and the ocean when they bring me a goody—out loud. You know, just being my own crazy self.
In the middle of my dance with the waves a little hail started falling. I look up to judge how far away my truck is (a long way) and keep on hunting. It has briefly hailed on me the last several days, no big deal. Next the rain came, in seconds it was pouring. No, I didn’t bring a damn umbrella down to the beach. I have a perfectly good hood on my coat…that was soaked through and dripping in my eyes within minutes. Of course, as it goes when you hang out with Murphy, the wind kicked up. The big meaty front parts of my legs are numb from wind and ice cold rain. My hands are now too wet, but I attempt to put my gloves on, no such luck, I shove them back in my pockets. With all this water from the ocean, water from the sky, well, now I have to pee so bad I’m almost in tears. By the way, I am STILL looking at the goodies on the sand, and even picking up a few. I am a diehard. The rain stopped by the time I wearily climbed the huge sandy bank and reached the bathrooms. Standing under the eaves of the building is about 7 wimpy tourists. I said, “You chickens!” One smarmy lady replied, “No, we just know when to come in out of the rain.”
So, I finally figured out to roll up my pant legs, but it is a moot point, since I am soaked from top to toes anyway. GRRRR. Now, fully warm (I finally changed my propane tank), I’m gonna curl up with a hot cup of coffee and my library books about agates, shells, seaweed, whales and other beach-living necessities. Home schooling at its best! (The common sense is supposed to come naturally.) Huh.
Each death that followed over the course of the next several years, plunged me back into darkness. Nature revived me again and again. I am held gently in the arms of solitude and nature. So many times I had no words to express my feelings of pain, guilt and loss. Instead, I’d reach for my camera to witness, record and share every angle of beauty that I could find.
My heart was lifted by this witnessing and sharing, and I felt like I could breathe again, that I could take the next step towards living.
And you responded with kind words about what you saw and enjoyed in my photos and words. You got it. These responses also helped/help bring me back to life.
Witnessing and photographing nature and other amazing and wondrous things is my sedative, my meditation, my prayer. I am reminded that, through all the pain of grief, beauty, joy and wonder still exists for me to witness and share.
Yes, it has been a year since I began blogging. Even though it was very lonely the first few months, you eventually found me and have kept me going with your support and encouragement ever since. The secret to bringing folks to your blog is so simple: Get out and visit, comment and “like” other blogs. That’s it. Go forth and make friends :>)
PHALL PHOTO 2013
Here’s how the first 6 months went for me. I didn’t know one blogger and had no idea how to blog. After a couple months of loneliness, I started searching for info about memoir and children’s writing and publishing. During my quest for info I started visiting other blogs, I made some friends. Adding photos to my posts seemed to bring more people to this little community. Popping in on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites, really brought some new faces to The Write Place.
I hope to add some highlights of the second half of my first year in the next few days, but for now, here is what I was up to my first six months…
PHALL PHOTO 2013
Six entries in March 2013, including things like:
I posted a quote that seemed to fit my state of mind as I began this new endeavor of public blogging, writing and (hopefully) publishing. “Do not hurry, do not rest,” by Goethe. As fast as I wanted to get started, I knew that I also wanted to take my time and not make a bunch of (public) mistakes.
I was unsure of what/how to begin, but decided to use my long dormant maiden name for my writing. I posted a poem inspired by my mother, who instilled the love of reading and humor in me. Another poem that I posted that first month reflected the pain of the sudden and unexpected loss of one of my sisters the year before.
Sunrise at Westhaven Beach, WA w/Coast Guard Tower. Phall Photo 2013
The post, Keeper Book Synopsis, http://wp.me/p3i5jo-x tells the genesis story of the handcrafted “Keepers” that my friend (Leslee) and I created years ago. My hopes are to publish the stories that I wrote for each one. I also finished typing a 2500 word story that I wrote for my children in 1996.
The last entry of March 2013 says, in part, “I woke up this morning, well, it was really almost 11. Anyway, I was looking around and my eye caught on some star wands that I need to give my granddaughters, from a mutual friend. Soon I had a story rumbling in my head and I was off. I have been writing and editing all damn day long, and half the night! I made some coffee, finally ate a snack, packed some things for my move [home relocation] tomorrow and wrote like crazy. I completed a children’s story 10 words shy of 4000 words. Crazy. It just came out. Does it happen like that for you? And, hey, I have no illusions that this would not get whittled in half by a real editor, but I’m good with that. It is the process that is so…gripping, so addictive.”
April- 12 entries. This was my third month going to the local writer group that I joined, and I posted, “Have been checking out and “following” several other writer blogs. Have been “invited” to join a writer site that allows us to give and receive feed-back. I am learning about the current trends in writing and publishing…” Another entry, Good Grief, A Widow Writes A Memoir, http://wp.me/p3i5jo-V explains some of the things I was learning about memoir writing and how painful it can be to write about Paul’s illness and death. Still is.
Breakfast for fawn. Across from my driveway. PHALL PHOTO 2013
I posted about a writer retreat and a writer conference in Homer, Alaska, which is also home to one of my sisters and her husband. I began taking a writing class taught by a local writer, and I met several other writers there. I posted a poem that I wrote for Paul’s 60th birthday in 2007. I made an ambitious attempt at a blogging schedule. Hilarious, if you really know me; the “s” word and me are not close.
I signed onto several more social media venues and shared some sites with helpful information for writers. I touched on some newsy information in one post, about the way technology is taking away our privacy. I wrote a poem about the deaths and injuries in the Boston marathon bombing and the explosion in Texas. I posted a short story about a child molester/monster.
Kites down on beach. PHALL PHOTO 2013
I moved Maggie (my trailer/cave/home) from the bay outside of Westport, into Westport proper and closer to the beach. The worst shock and heartache of my life happened on the 26th, when my grandson died. Still dealing with the other recent losses in my life, I stopped blogging for awhile.
May- 13 entries. I lost my mind a bit, but returned to blogging late in the month, with 2 poems on grief and loss. Lady In The Cave http://wp.me/p3i5jo-1N and Treasured Souls http://wp.me/p3i5jo-1P were followed by a post complaining about the new parameters for the medical definition of grief. I wrote a few other poems/essays and shared some of the writing/publishing information that I was learning. Still very few visitors or followers on my blog, but I kept on. This was my first poetry/photo combo post: Beach Bird Bliss http://wp.me/p3i5jo-2c and it made me realize how much readers enjoy photos along with the words.
Fresh seed pod on tree. PHALL PHOTO 2013 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS19
June- 22 entries. This was a very busy writing month and I had some fun with the essay, Things That Go Rrrrr, Crash, and Drip In The Night http://wp.me/p3i5jo-4w. I also got better at working with photos and started posting photos for Word Press Daily Prompts and Weekly Photo Challenges. I posted quite a bit under Writing Journal as I learned about and organized for successful memoir writing. The post, New! Dedicated Memoir Page and Sneak Peek of Prologue http://wp.me/p3i5jo-3m tells the story of how I got from the house that Paul and I shared, to living at the beach. What I Would Tell You Now http://wp.me/p3i5jo-3v is a letter to my late husband, written long after he was gone. I also started writing and submitting book reviews this month.
Butterfly on Flower in my friend’s garden. Phall Photo 2013
These are busy days, but I will try to post the summary of July-December 2013, in the next few days… Still not smoking and happy about it, over 2 months later!!!!!!!! Was thrilled to know that one of my sisters quit smoking 4 days ago too. So cool.
My one year bloggiversary is coming up on the 17th, and I will write a summary of my first blogging year on that day, but today’s post is about a completely different summary and adventure.
As most of you know, I’ve been living near the beach in Washington State for over four years, and I’ve been a widow almost five years. They have been some hard years, with too many losses of family, friends and pets. Among those losses (after my late husband’s death), I lost my sister, my little grandson, and my aunt. Just as I picked myself up off the floor from one loss, another death flattened me.
Yet I’ve also had some real joys these last few years; I reunited with a dear girlfriend and several family members. I have a new grandson. Both my nephews, and several other family members, have had babies. I’ve reveled in the healing atmosphere of my wild west coast beach, while I gained energy, balance and perspective in my solitary world (with the help of family and friends).
One thing I haven’t done, is make room (in my heart and head) for the possibility of becoming part of a couple again. Since you’ve been trailing along on my blog journey, you know that I’ve finally done that recently. Kevin and I were reunited on New Year’s Eve, about 38 years after our first and only date. He is my sister’s brother-in-law and the son of Mrs. M, who I broke out of the nursing home in Oregon this past November.
You may also recall that Kevin tried to catch me at the airport, before I left Alaska, all those years ago. He missed by 15 minutes. Now I’m ready to leave Alaska again (after caring for my folks for a couple of months) and Kevin will be waiting at the airport for me in Washington. He has been faithfully courting me long distance, with a romantic Youtube song every morning, and an hours-long phone call every evening. Do you really think there is any chance that we’ll miss our connection this time? Me neither.
Eagle River, Alaska PHALL PHOTO 2014
Every time I come to Alaska, I fall in love with the mountains. You’ve seen the photos. Of course, you’ve also seen my camera-love of the beach too. I can’t give up either, but tomorrow I will be moving from my parent’s home below the surrounding mountain ranges of Eagle River, Alaska, to Kevin’s home, nestled between Mount Rainier National Park to the north and Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to the south, with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in all directions.
Eagle River, Alaska PHALL PHOTO 2014
My next post will be on my one year bloggiversary. I’ll also give you an update on the new views of mountains and maybe a few other things…
“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” ― Rumi
It’s funny, but I think that you like the truth better than any tale I could weave, and I can weave some fanciful ones. But, surely it is the real heart and real emotion that we need the most…
Whether it’s, “Oh, my gosh, I never knew!”
or, “That’s just how I feel too!”
The best and worse of me, resounds in you. P.H. 2013
I just wrote that for you:>)
Traveling home is very different, on many levels, to each of us. It also changes with the reasons that we go home. Since 2007, there has been a different reason each time that I traveled home. My late husband, Paul, came up with the money for a ticket, and then insisted that I go that first time. The visit was initially to see my dad, who had a health scare, but then, also to make up with a family that I had distanced myself from for too many years. That was good. And hard. And it lightened my heart to have my reading, gardening, rolling- with- laughter mom back in my life.
Another visit to the north was a casual one, almost a vacation. Fishing in Homer with #1, a sister who took me everywhere when I was little, says I was HER baby! A long-time friend of hers verified the news. I made up with a sister that I hadn’t seen or spoken to in at least eight years, and made headway with another. I helped dad with his yard sales and listened raptly to tales from his childhood in Kentucky. I loved the way his faded southern accent peeked in and out of his reminiscing. Of course, mom and I reveled in working the garden together, and I, in watching her dance in front of the green house in her jammies, to the loud music coming from within. Joy.
In 2012, my visit was filled with pain and heart-ripping sorrow. My direct sorrow was laced with regret. The sister I had reunited with just eight months earlier, the sister who had been sending care packages of craft ideas and love ever since, the sister I’d been sharing texts and long-missed phone calls with, was gone. The gratefulness that we DID connect, didn’t come until much later. My secondary sorrow was the torture of witnessing how the loss hit my parents; the death of one of their seven, a crushing blow.
Then, too, the twin to my lost sister, their birthday is tomorrow, lost her literal other half. There are just no words for the pain I felt she must be suffering. Still suffers. Another sister was a close business and personal buddy with our lost one. Another sister was out of the country. The brothers stood by, strong shoulders for our tears. My heart tore in painful strips of crumpled, tear-stained ribbon. I tried to capture and identify my pain and soothe it, but the ribbons flew in all directions; my parents, our twin, each sibling, even dear friends who fed and flowered us so well. A tattered ribbon of pain from my husband’s death flew in, and tangled with the rest.
Our (now) single twin flew home, soon after the beautiful memorial, into the loving and healing arms of her husband and son in Arizona. When I flew back to my beach a few weeks later, the ribbons of pain flew behind the jet and tangled between my feet as I disembarked. They knotted in my hair as I walked the beach, searching for my lost loved ones. A little over a month later, a phone call; my mother is in the hospital, and so, I packed my ribbons of pain for another flight to Alaska.
The ribbons of pain were no longer filling every space in my parents home. But as I cared for mom, cooked, cleaned and organized, the ribbons fell from every drawer, cupboard and closet; still there, but moved aside to make room for daily living. The ribbons filled pillows that we rested our heads on each night. We used them to wipe away the tears that flowed, unbidden, from our eyes. I was there for over 4 months, which allowed special time with the four siblings who live near.
Eight months after the return to my Washington beach, I lost my 3 year-old grandson and the fresh ribbons of pain, added to the others, almost smothered me. My mother’s sister died October 1st, adding still another tangle of ribbons. I feel them right now. Those ribbons of pain make it hard to open Maggie’s door; my little RV cave is packed with them. I am safe, as long as I keep them away from my nose and mouth. I’ve accidentally swallowed a few and they almost choked me.
Mom is having hip surgery January 3rd, and a brother is having a potpourri of surgeries in the next few months. I fly out on the 2nd and spend the day in Juneau, the capital city that I have never been to. I look forward to walking up to the huge Mendenhall Glacier, that presents its blueish glory, just a few miles from the airport. There are other wonders close by that I hope to explore. Are you excited to see the photos? I am too! If you have a friend in Juneau who can give me a quick tour between 2 and 6 that day, please let me know.
I’ll be back to my beach in mid-May and I’ve promised to visit Mrs. M soon after. She’s doing well, by the way, and is doing outpatient PT now. I also have a long list of family and friends to visit on my return. Those ribbons that I’ve been writing about? They have been keeping me inside the sorrow of those lost loved ones, and not allowing me room to be with the loved ones who are alive. I know that. I’ve decided to drop them out the airplane on my way back from Alaska:>)
“Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”
― Charles Dickens
Here’s a beach sunset from a few days ago. Enjoy, please:>)
Played hooky from life today and spent six hours within 15 miles from my home, exploring and taking photos. Went with my friend and Gertrude, his dog, of course. What is nice, is since he is driving, I can shoot from my window or jump out to take closer shots.
He’s a good sport about being the photo shoot driver. We laughed ourselves silly when, on one deserted street near the cranberry bogs, I kept asking him to go forward, no back just a few feet, no up a little bit more. This is often our M.O. on the beach, but it was weird being on a public street doing the stop-start-reverse-forward thing. I also showed him some of the cool things I had found on my lone expeditions.
PHALL PHOTO 2013
It was very cold on the beach, with frigid winds slapping us when we got out to grab agates. The sun was just right (when it came out) and we found some great ones. I got some shots of a sail boarder in the same area by the jetty where I took the shots of the surfers last week.
Also, here’s a few other beach findings. Mama Plover and her 13 babies, weird orange brain fungus, jelly fish that looks like it is a landed space ship, a smaller one with an orange glow inside, sea grass with orange base–only a small section of grass looks like this. Seems to be a orange thing going on down here at the beach.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
TO BE CONTINUED…Part two in next post.
As soon as I can, I will put the whole series up at my photo site. For now, I hope you enjoy these samples.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) This week: “It’s understandable if you want to turn off your phone, lock your door and pull down the shades with this Gemini Full Moon in your 12th House of Secrets. Of course, you’re more likely to be swamped with activities that require your attention, but finding private time and space is a must. When you can get the quiet you seek, your mind will start popping with ideas that might even seem like miraculous answers to critical questions.” Jeff Jawer
My horoscope for Sunday, Dec 8, 2013 — “You Crabs are amongst the most sensitive creatures in the entire cosmic zoo. However, if something reminds you of a past disappointment, your inclination is to shy away from interactions that restimulate the pain. Unfortunately, the very act of shielding yourself from rejection can also fulfill your worst fears by restricting the flow of love and acceptance. Don’t make a decision based upon an event from long ago. Instead, open your heart and allow yourself to feel what’s really happening in the present moment.” By Rick Levine
Oh, posh! My heart is wide open to the present moment. I’m not feeling any rejection or past disappointments right now, so bring on the love and acceptance:>)
Which isn’t to say that all is jolly (my friend, D.G.’s word) in my cave world. No, no, no. I picked up my old laptop and the doc had to do a lobotomy. That’s right, the brain died and the doc replaced it with an empty one. And if that weren’t crying-out-loud-crisis enough, I have tried every trick in my small techy brain and can’t get online. So, there it sits, with an empty brain and no wi-fi.
I spent the afternoon going through all those scraps of papers that we all collect, because I knew I had that damn network security key written down somewhere! I ended up surrounded by several distinct piles: theirs and mine genealogy; jotted down poems, plots and ideas; bills I’m ignoring; lists of books and movies I want to read/watch; travel maps, brochures and postcards and finally, the security key! Oh, and a big bag of garbage sits by my door now.
I typed the security key in 203 different ways and, no go. I gathered up each pile and placed them neatly in a tote and snapped the lid on it. I’ve given up on getting into my empty laptop for now. I’m not even tempted to look in the “documents” folder on this laptop to see how much of my writing I lost, because I didn’t copy it over here. I’ve put off exploring the cloud thingy where I think I backed up my old laptop. I’ve moved on to enjoying the photos I took yesterday. See, I’m allowing myself to feel the present moment:>)
Back to enjoying yesterday, today. Man, do I have some fun stuff to show you. I’m going to put them on a slide show, because Elaine liked that (and I’m trying not to overwhelm her with this damn Every Damn Day December nonsense). However, I’m also going to put one by itself in this post to try and fool Facebook into including a photo. Hehehehe, I’m going to figure out their formula if it’s the last thing I do!
I need to give my photo journey driver, I mean, my friend Greg, credit. I would never have seen the Peregrine Falcon or the Eagles yesterday. The peregrine blended right into the sand and driftwood and Greg even drove by it at first. I got shots of the falcon on 2 different perches and flying, because I disturbed him when I got out to see if he was tangled in those ropes that he is standing on. It was just weird that he didn’t move when we parked near him. So I got out and he flew about 20 feet and found a new perch. Turns out he was waiting for us to leave so he could finish his lunch. Poor sea gull:>(
The eagles were perched on 2 poles, but so far away that it just looked like 2 poles painted white at the top. Nope, Greg had a hunch. I snapped a photo and then zoomed it and sure enough, it was a pair of eagles. Cool. Also cool, like 46 degrees cool, was the water that the surfers are playing in. Sure, they have wet suits on, but brrrrr!
One photo has a crane standing in the surf, with gulls floating in front of it. Another is a completely barnacle-encrusted tree lying on the beach, with the Olympic Mountains in the background. The one with the gull flying, with all water behind it, also has a crashed surfer’s board showing through the waves. Enjoy.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Westport, Washington winter surfer. PHALL PHOTO 2013
A piece of frosty driftwood in the yard. I think this look means, BRRRR! PHALL PHOTO 2013
My horoscope: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 “Positive thinking increases our chances for success now that the high-spirited Sagittarius Moon reminds us that we can be the masters of our own destinies. We may overextend our reach because our self-confidence spurs us on to greater possibilities. Thankfully, a cooperative alignment between talkative Mercury and assertive Mars motivates us to speak clearly about our intentions. We’re inspired to take a risk in the pursuit of happiness.”
Close up of some frost on a log. PHALL PHOTO 2013
My pursuit of happiness wasn’t really that big of a risk, but when I saw that we had our first overnight freeze, I knew I had to get my truck thawed and go take some photos! My tires only lost their grip on the icy pavement about 4 times. Just for a second. Then I channeled my Alaska family and I was fine. (Don’t tell my mom, she will hyperventilate.)
The sunrise cast everything in an orange glow, add the layers of frost, and it was a double dose of amazement. Did you really think I was going to write about writing? Or tell you some story? Nah, maybe when things aren’t as exciting outside. As if.
Icy road and frosty grass with orange sunrise glow. PHALL PHOTO 2013
The biggest thrill was seeing the huge rolling waves and the way the weird orange glow made the driftwood and dune grass look. I was so startled by the beauty and power, I was exclaiming out loud. Freak! So glad that the gull was the only one in hearing range. That could have been embarrassing. Hey, maybe that’s why he wouldn’t talk to me…the gull, the one I posted on facebook..I’m so lost!
Who made this morning for me, sat this stunning driftwood art here, made these waves roll and crash behind it? I KNOW it was the mermaids:>) PHALL PHOTO 2013
I am so not done…
Three waves, one after another! That’s Ocean Shores in the background. PHALL PHOTO 2013
Maybe one more and I’ll put the others on my photo site…
Another one that took my breath away. Ocean Shores in the background. PHALL PHOTO 2013
Okay, the last photo. The ones above were taken at Half Moon Bay, where the surfers usually are. Wait until I show them what they missed! It may be worth risking human contact to take a slide show down to the Mermaid Deli. Nah, then I’d have to learn how to make a slide show:>{
And the last photo is at frosty Bonge Beach in Grayland.
Frost on the sand here at Bonge Beach. More crazy wild waves. PHALL PHOTO 2013
Did you notice the weather thingy I put on the site? If you want to be cool like me (total sarcasm) click on mine and get your own weather thingy. (That’s a technical term)
It has been nice to be home this week, but Mrs. M. has called and I will be returning to Oregon tomorrow. One last, late afternoon visit to my beach, and I collected some sand to make her a beach scene in a glass dome. She loves the beach too, so I will take her one of her own. (Beach therapy in glassware)
The driftwood bull carving was still there and I told him how much you all enjoyed him:>) Here are a few other beauties and oddities that I gathered with my camera today.
What? Don’t ask me… PHALL PHOTO 2013
PHALL PHOTO 2013
Results of stormy weather. Some incredible finds. This is my therapy and I see stories here too! PHALL PHOTO 2013
PHALL PHOTO 2013
Beach art. Another view, still odd. PHALL PHOTO 2013
I could actually smell winter at the beach today. I didn’t last long outside, but found some pretty beach glass, a Westport moonstone (round, smooth, clear rock), a heart-shaped stone and a piece of petrified wood. No agates, but still, some goodies to make Mrs. M.’s mini-beach!
Have a great week and I will be back online as soon as I can.
Driftwood “Ragin’ Bull” Westport, WA PHALL PHOTO 2013
Once again I am amazed by an artist’s generosity. How many hours did it take to turn this chunk of driftwood into a piece of art that is doomed to end up back in the ocean?
I’m am still filled with adrenaline from my impromptu visit to the beach. Drove to Bonge Beach in search of agates and other beach treasures (and the solace that the beach provides) at 6 P.M., then drove all the way down the Grayland Beaches. Just in time for a spectacular sunset and to watch the excited clam diggers harvesting enough razor clams for several meals.
They go home wet, sandy, and cold, but also filled with satisfaction for a hard job done. It looked like everyone got their limit, by the happy smiles and bulging bags. A few were in groups, and some had fires built on the beach. We are a dog-friendly community, and many folks had their furry friends along. I saw at least six families with children.
Taking all this in, while I am still reeling with the recent loss of my aunt, was like a meditation. I thought of her sisters, children and grandchildren. I ache for the raw pain they must feel. I thought about how much they all would have loved seeing what I am seeing. I hope they come here and look what I found tonight, and get a moment of…comfort?
Oh, this and that. Crafting and reading to my little grands, taking over daughter Sara’s kitchen to make Chinese Chicken Salad, visiting gr’son in Tacoma, having a quiet week with my fishing & gardening son in Westport, building secret garden with pond, and taking a lot of photos. Will post more on phallphotos.com later this week….including a variety of bees on a variety of flowers and a tattooed seal!
Saturday (later today) I play leader of our writing group and Jon is going to be my assistant! Trying to convince him to read a poem he wrote. We are taking both laptops to show everyone some of the cool writing sites and our group’s new blog site that we set up. Also, get to announce date for our first mini writer’s conference this winter. Should be fun…especially if I don’t get any sleep:>)
I’m reading a little bit and will have some reviews up soon.
Grieving is an interesting journey. At times, I can hold grief in my arms and rock until it drifts off. Sometimes grief walks beside me like a shadow. Sometimes I have to carry its heavy weight on my back everywhere I go. Other times it slams me to the mat like a wrestler does his opponent.
Grief has this thing about mixing things up too. I cry over anything/everything, yet I get immense joy at the smallest things. I’m exhausted, yet I can’t sleep., or I sleep for 12 hours. I want to be close to my peeps, yet I have to have my solitude; I pull you close, then push you away. I can’t think straight, misplace everything, forget everything, yet I can upload photos and (hopefully) lead a writing group. I crave food, yet I’m too unmotivated to make or eat it, and when I do, it doesn’t taste right anyway. I have a very difficult time making any decision and am allergic to commitment. I mean even tiny ones; “Mom, you want to come out to the docks while I fish?” “I’m not sure, I’ll let you know when we get there.” If I can force myself to get out of my truck, I go, if not, I sit and read or head back home. You just never know with me. And I never know with me. That’s grief for ya.
Don’t fret though, I AM pulling myself off the mat and watching for a brighter day.
Take it easy and thank you for hanging in there while I regroup.
Phoenix Rising from the fire and ashes into the blue clarity. PHALL PHOTO 2013
PHOENIX PHALL PHOTO 2013
Dedicated to all the Phoenixes in my life who are rising from the fire and ashes, into the clarity of blue sky. To Ionia, Marilyn and Belinda, especially, but also to some special guy friends who are fighting the dark clouds, some women-sisters who struggle with what life has thrown at them recently and all those in the midst of grief/depression/fear/angst and physical ailments.
Yesterday I finally forced myself to get to the beach and out of my cave. I had an incredible photographic journey that lifted my spirits. Even without the camera, it was spectacular…the kind of feeling that resonates in your center. It makes it that much better that I DID have the camera and can share these with you. I will upload the other photos on my phallphoto.wordpress.com site soon.
Please send reading photos of you, friends or family…new ones up tomorrow. Send to 1writeplacewordpress at gmail dot com.
THE WRITE PLACE... 