North Carolina

March 21, 2016March 20, 2016

Marine Raiders Memorial March

On March 10, 2015, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed into the Santa Rosa Sound in Navarre, FL during a night training mission, killing seven Marine Raiders and four Louisiana Army National Guardsmen. To honor the fallen, several Marine Raiders and Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsmen from Camp Lejeune, N.C. will set out on a relay type ruck march that would take them 770 miles – starting from the crash site and ending at Stone Bay Rifle Range, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Camp Lejeune is literally on the other side of the river from my hometown. Artillery shells blasting, pictures shaking on the walls – this is a daily occurrence. Helicopters from New River Air Station routinely buzz the top of my house (or at least it sounds like it).

So when a Marine falls, it affects our whole community. They are our neighbors and our friends.

Early Sunday morning (approximately 4:30 A.M.), the Raiders arrived in Sneads Ferry. They made their way down Hwy 172, escorted by local law enforcement officers and fireman. I can’t explain what it was like to see them carrying their rucksacks, marching in the dead of night -in the memory of their fellow Marines. I was honored to be one of those to welcome them home.

On Monday, the Raiders will finish the last leg or the march. For more information, click on the links below:

Marine Raider Memorial March

Facebook

Brothers In Arms Foundation

Marine Corps Times

February 29, 2016February 28, 2016

Monday Mini Virtual Vacation

Living in Coastal North Carolina has its advantages: mild winters with an occasional cold snap, fresh seafood and sandy beaches. If you’re like me, no matter how mild, winter has worn out its welcome and a warm weather vacation can’t get here soon enough. While I can’t do anything about the temperature, I thought I’d share a little virtual sun and surf with you. Enjoy!

November 9, 2015November 8, 2015

My Perfect Day

Perfect days are hard to come by – but when they come along – you gotta dive in head first. Saturday was beautiful – sunny, highs in upper 70’s and a wonderful sea breeze. After being stuck inside all week, I had to be outside. I started with a visit to the river.

The hermit crabs were doing their thing, crawling over the rocks and each other.

While the North Carolina coast doesn’t get to experience much in the way of the changing of leaves, nature didn’t totally forget to paint our little corner of the world. We get wildflowers and berries and on occasion – something other than pine tree needles.

Boaters took advantage of the day, too. And while I’m sure this sailor was disappointed at having to be towed in, I loved watching the activity.

100_1435 — Sailboat being towed – New River

I met up with my writers group for lunch – that’s always a good time.

And then I took a detour – went back to my childhood and visited some precious memories.

I grew up on the water. My father was a commercial fisherman. I spent my summers hanging out at the fish house. After “heading” shrimp (actually de-heading them is more accurate), I’d go home, get into a swim suit and go back to the fish house where we kids would climb onto the shrimp boats and jump off the sides – swimming in the slough.

My father is retired now. My brother, however, is trying to keep the family tradition alive. He works as a school teacher, serves in the Army Reserves and in his spare time is repairing a boat my father and uncle built some 33 years ago.

100_1464 — My father overseeing my brother

There’s still quite a bit of work to do. The outriggers need to be painted, the fish hold needs some work and the wench needs to be repaired. But when they finish, she will be beautiful.

My perfect day reminded my of a line from one of my favorite movies:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

-Ferris Bueller

Here’s hoping that you can slow down and enjoy a perfect day!

October 5, 2015October 4, 2015

Rainy Days & Sentimental Journeys

For the past couple of weeks, we have had more rain than I care to think about. And now, we are getting even more compliments of Hurricane Joaquin.

That's not the ramp or the river - just the road - flooded... — That’s not the ramp or the river – just the road – flooded – by the river and the deluge of rain…

For all of you suffering from drought conditions, I’d share if at all possible…

The thing about rain is it makes me want to turn back the clock and get in touch with my inner cave-woman. I mean, seriously, the only thing I want to do is lay on the couch and watch a little Bogey and Bacall – or listen to music – the old stuff. Really old stuff. Stuff like this:

(Some days I think I might have been born in the wrong decade…)

There’s something about the white noise – those little crackles – that I like. Maybe it’s just nostalgia – carrying me back to my childhood, when my audio books were 45’s – played on a record player like the one in the video.

So, what about you? Is there something that makes you feel sentimental?