Good stuff 10/31/11

• It never did rain.  WOO HOO!  Even had some sunshine.  A good day.
• Spent time at Chapin Memorial Library today.  The staff is super friendly.  Today the head librarian was dressed as warden, the other staff as inmates.  Great collection, two hours of free internet/day on 18 public computers, found two books that look interesting.  More good day.
• I have a wonderful SGD!  Got two unexpected packages in the mail:  Season 4 of Big Bang Theory (we are both BBT nuts) and "Point Break," a movie I love and have been searching for for the longest time.  Thanks, Babe, for being such a thoughtful man.  You ROCK.
• Finished the first draft of my Elle article.  Feel pretty solid about it.  May even have a friend or two willing to be proofreaders.
• HAPPY HALLOWEEN YALL!

Rainy days and Mondays 10/31/11

• are a combo pack today.  7:15am  Slate gray clouds, heavy with rain, hang over Mother Ocean.  Her waves are churning fierce, whipped up to a froth by the gusty north wind.  I have a quick smoke on the balcony, take my coffee back inside to watch for the sunrise from my living room window.
• 7:40am  My wait paid off.  Sunbella found a gap above the jagged mountain clouds at the horizon and rose boldly.  Her golden light melted the chill off the morning.  Until she disappeared into the rain clouds.  Rainy days and Mondays didn't get Sunbella down (a play on the classic Carpenter's tune, for those of you that might not recognize it).  I won't let it get me down, either.
• Been working on an article all morning.  Sometimes when the words tumble and flow out of me like a river rolling over glossy smooth rocks, I feel like a WRITER.  I lose all sense of time and where I am, until my low back aches and I get up to stretch and move.  Then the next word or sentence or idea grabs me, and I'm right back at my paper with the pen flying across it as if possessed.  These times are how I know that moving here to write was the right thing to do.  

Going to the chapel, and I'm . . . 10/30/11

. . . checking out Unity Christ Church in Surfside.  If the door greeters had carded people instead of shaking hands, I'll bet there were only five people in attendance besides me that were under 60.  Felt like a young chick in this group.
   As people start pouring in, I notice someone is rocking the Patchouli pretty heavy.  Do you think someone got a little high before coming in to get high on God?  Wonder if it's the hipster in leopard print ensemble, gray suede peep-toe pumps, and hot red spikey hair or the long-haired earth mama in the Mexican blanket serape, jeans and roach-killer boots?
   The one leading the program, since the regular pastor was away, was sweet, sweet as McAllister's sweet tea, in her words and tone.  Came across as phony.  All the "let's sing together" and "let's bow our heads in prayer togethers" made me realize, I don't like group have-tos.  I'm more comfy as a solo spiritual seeker.
   Liked the funky decorated coffee cans passed around for the do-unto-others offering, not just money for the church.  Having meditation during church was cool, never experienced that before.  Liked some of the messages:

• We are here on earth to express and experience God.
• Reality is only an illusion.  Make the choice not to get caught up in all that comes along.  Embrace it, bless it, and let it go on its way if it causes you suffering, then welcome the next happening.
• What we focus on IS our reality.  What are you focusing on?  Something you want or something you don't want?  Not new stuff to me, but a good reminder about where I'm spending my energy.
• What is your truth?  What do you choose to believe?  Believe that we are amazing expressions of the divine and start living that way.

    Toward the end, the music people did a churched-up version of Joe Cocker's "Feeling All Right," with bongos, piano, and harmonica that was rocking, the crowd clapped along.  Then we had to get in a big swaying circle and hold hands and sing the final song.  That had way too much of a flaky Kum-Ba-Yah church camp sing-along feel for me.
    Did find out about the Myrtle Beach Community Kitchen that feeds needy people and Hope House that helps MB homeless teens.  Apparently there are lots of these folks in MB.  Doing some volunteer work might set better with me than church and be a way to meet some people.
    Did I mention Patty's Bar is right next door in the industrial strip mall??  Not open when church let out, though.  I did find gas for $3.13/gallon, cheaper than I've seen in MB!

Having a Myrtle Sunday 10/30/11

• 6:55am  Don't know if it's the cold temperature, 38 degrees according to the Weather Channel, but Mother Ocean flows deep steely blue in slow, lumbering waves.  The horizon is spread with intense sherbert colors -- orange, pineapple, blue raspberry.
• 7:33am  Sunbella peeks up.  A chunk of cloud hangs in front of her, looks like a duck floating on the water, basking in the sun.
• 1:00pm  Walked north up the sidewalk for 17 blocks, back down the beach.  Started out in a fully-buttoned sweater, sweatshirt, capri jeans, socks, and sneakers, cheeks chilled, nose running.  Ended up with the sweater tied around my waist, sweatshirt sleeves rolled up above my elbows, sweating, nose still running.  60 degrees feels pretty darn good with the sun on my face and no ugly wind.
• Met a baby Corgi on the beach.  He jumped up on me with big fluffy paws.  Those stand-up ears were almost bigger than he is.  Puppy love!
• Got to work on a doo-rag look.  Beachwalking has my in-need-of-a-trim hair looking like a tangle of sea grass.  And my roots are showing.  Ugh.

From my balcony and other stuff 10/29/11

• No Sunbella rising this morning.  Socked in with heavy gray mist.
• Made some chickensalad out of a chickenpoop day (weather-wise) -- a fave expression of my SGD, with a minor alteration to keep my blog relatively clean.  I hot-tubbed while the palmetto fronds outside blew sideways in the nasty west wind.  Got a workout in doing push-ups and jogging around the indoor half of the heated pool, watching steam roll off the outdoor half and make snow mist blow up into the air.
• Speaking of my SGD, today is our 17-month anniversary of dating.  Me likey you, SGD!!
• Noonish  Sunbella is out, dimmed by clouds, but the day now feels much better than total dreary.
• 1:20pm  Full sun.  Mother Ocean is a tranquil, soft blue even in the driving wind.  A white Great Dane with gray spots romps across the sun-warmed sand, his people bundled up head to toe.
• Thank you, God, for the Starbucks at Ocean Blvd and 20th Ave North!!  Have had no wifi access at Bluewater Resort since early yesterday afternoon and was going nutso wanting to get some work done.  Now my keyboard is flying again and I'm getting supercharged on caffeine in this wonderful smelling, quaint coffee shop with groovy tunes playing.  Starbucks totally saved my afternoon.  Have you seen the commercials on donating through Starbucks to get America working by supporting small businesses?  Intriguing idea.  I'm going to check it out further.  Maybe they'll support my writing career??   

Other stuff 10/28/11

• Best buy of the year so far?  $2.50 flip flops from Wal-Mart!  Wore them all over the beach when SGD and I were here for a week back in May.  Worn them practically non-stop since this Myrtle Beach journey began.  And cute!  Can't beat cotton candy stripes of pink, coral, gray, and lilac.
• I know it's a good week when there is only one shirt to wash because the rest of the time I've worn bikini tops.  Love beach living.
• Tried out the treadmill at Bluewater Resort.  Loved it.  Had a kickbutt workout watching "Mad About You" when Paul and Jamie get married.  Forgot how clever and funny that show was!
• Me gusta la cena al restaurante Mexico Lindo.  Las quesadillas vegetarianas son muy sabrosas.  Translation:  Loved dinner at Mexico Lindo at Ocean Blvd and 28th Ave South!  The vegetarian quesadillas were delicious.  Festive atmosphere and I got to practice my Spanish a little with the friendly staff.  I'll be back!
• CARDINALS WON THE WORLD SERIES 6-2!!  I know this is old news by now, but my SGD is such a huge Cardinals fan that I had to give them some recognition.  SGD called me and we shared that final Ranger's pop-up and Cardinal catch -- a memory we won't forget.  Sorry the Rangers lost, especially since manager Ron Washington is such an awesome example of good sportmanship.  I am inspired by the way he leads his team to get serious but still have fun, to know they are champions by how they played and not from receiving a trophy, and the way he lets loose his enthusiasm and dances right there on the field.  I hope the Rangers being in the Series and Mr. Washington getting some spotlight will inspire others in sports to clean up their act.   

More from my balcony 10/28/11

• Noon  Not a soul on the beach (that hasn't happened since I've been here) as Mother Ocean churns and froths and kicks up mega waves.  Wonder if the surfers are catching the big ones down by Springmaid Pier?
• See white caps on the heated pool -- now that's windy.  I made the right choice not to beachwalk today!

 

From my balcony 10/28/11

• 6:30am  Change is coming.  No rain yet, but the air is clammy cool.  My body aches:  low back, right foot, head.  Don't feel like beachwalking, not now.  Mother Ocean looks huge, stretching solid black from white froth to jagged crown of the cloudline.
• The monstrous beachcomber looks like a locomotive rolling down the sand, scraping away yesterday's sneaker art.
• Two beachwalkers train their flashlight on the ocean's edge.  Whether looking for shells or to avoid jellyfish, I don't know.  Their laughter carries through the stiff breeze to my 7th floor balcony, a welcome contrast to Mother Ocean's darkness and my aching.
• 7:25am  Sunbella begins her appearance from deep behind the cloud bank, splashing Pepto pink on a few tendrils that hang over center stage and sporadic puff clouds way up higher.  A group of four stands shivering on the sand in front of Hurl Rocks Park, flashing photos, determined to see Sunbella's show.
• 7:34am  Camera flashes pop rapidly now.  Sunbella appears as an orange frown atop the mounded cloud bank, then reveals her full glory.  And she's up.  The determined foursome was not disappointed.  Gorgeous sunrise.  The day begins.

Other stuff 10/27/11

• Got a call from my friend Lisa back in Missouri, she may be able to come visit around Thanksgiving.  WOO HOO!  I'm getting company, I'm getting company!!  So far my favorite Aunt Peg is coming the week before Thanksgiving and my SGD (Special Guy Dennis for those of you just tuning in) is coming mid-December.  I can feel hugs are on the way and I can't wait to receive them.
• Attended my first Myrtle Beach writer's group meeting.  Loved it!  Only three members there today, but what a fascinating and eclectic cast of characters.  They critiqued each other's work without drawing blood, were honest but supportive.  Interesting story lines, a lively volley of ideas going around the table, an easy sharing within the group that felt like colleagues who've become friends.  I was warmly welcomed and will for sure go back.
• My Bestie called, in crisis.  The distance between us hit me big time with that call, helpless to do anything but listen and pass on a few God-given suggestions.  Why is it that the most special people in our lives can't see how bright they shine, can't see what a gift they are to the world, for themselves??  Bestie, you are my SPARKLE no matter how far apart we are!
• Cardinals tied up the World Series 3-3 with a 10-9 win last night long after I'd gone to bed.  Thanks SGD for the key play-by-play update on my voicemail this morning!  His voice reeled with excitement as he described what may be "one of the best World Series games in history" (his words).  I got excited just listening.  Made me realize in sharing these post-season games, and all the rest going on in our lives only through phone convos, that we may be physically apart but are together in heart.  Love you, SGD!      

Beachwalking 10/27/11

• 8:50am  Eight guys stretch across two balconies with beer can or high-ball glass in hand.  Even though their party-time rowdy voices jangle my nerves, I can't help but grin.  Are they still carrying on from last night or getting a jump start on tomorrow's hangover?
• Truck and 4-wheeler tracks, and a multitude of unique sneaker prints decorate the top of the beach squishy sand.  I add mine to the design.  Lookout boring sand castles.  This is a whole new form of beach art.
• Not many beachwalkers this morning, even though this is the last nice day for a bit.  Forecast says 79 degrees today, rainy and 63 degrees tomorrow.  I say, "live the best of what today has to offer."  So today is my RELISH THE SUN day, no matter if the calendar says Thursday.
• Walking back up the sidewalk of Ocean Blvd, I notice the Vancouver Motel sign says, "Small dogs accepted with owner."  Do some owners really check their dogs into a motel in Myrtle Beach and leave them for the winter?  Really??  Lucky dogs!
• I've forever struggled with being contented, wishing I could be but never accomplishing it for long.  The feeling that I AM contented right now hit me like a tidal wave.  Being a writer, living on beautiful Myrtle Beach -- I couldn't want more than this.  Well, maybe to be paid for my writing.  But that would only be the cherry crowning the whipped cream dream I'm already living.

From my balcony 10/27/11

• Black cat came back last night to drink from the pool.  I keep expecting it to jump in and swim a lap.  Except that pool is already closed for the season.  If dapple orange cat is smart enough to use the crosswalk, surely black cat has read the sign.
• 6:40am Solo puff-ball clouds float high, white and steel gray.  Long indigo finger clouds stretch across the water-color orange sky above Mother Ocean.  She is a silver blue shimmering Goddess, soothing the feet of the swimsuited runner pounding along her fringes.
• 7:25am The finger clouds are right over the stage now, where Sunbella makes her entrance.  Will they dim her arrival?
• 7:35am Hell no.  A diva always knows how to make a grand entrance.  She pauses long enough to let the fingers pass, then lights the stage a saturated pink; push-up pop orange with gold highlights.  She saunters upstage glowing golden, inch by inch, until she fills the sky.   Commanding look at me.  Feel me.  The day begins.

Beachwalking 10/26/11

• Saw a man and a boy carrying 2 super-sized Godfather's pizzas and a box of sodas to people hanging out on the beach.  Love me some Godfather's pizza!  Now if they'd been carrying a six-pack of beer, I'd have known we'd been transported to heaven.  Beer AND pizza AND the beach.  Doesn't get any better than that.
• An older man, in jacket, jeans, sneakers, was walking the beach looking down.  He walked straight up to me and asked, "You haven't seen a 10-carat diamond, have you?"  The tinge of sadness in his voice had me fixing to ask if I could help him look, then a smirky smile turned up the corner of his mouth.  I asked back, "Did you really lose one or are you just hoping to find one?"  His smile crept all the way up to his crinkled eyes.  "I'm always hopin, to find one," he said and walked off laughing.
• Noticed an ornate sand castle from way down the beach, stood 3 feet high.  When I got closer, all the towers were cone-shaped like Barbie boobs, topped with shells like nipples.  Would you guess that castle was built by 10-year old boys??
• Hate.  Kids.  Chasing.  Seabirds.  The birds have as much right to the beach as you do, non-skinny boy.  Plus when you torment them, they screech off, angry, and shoot their poop at the world.  And do you think they hit their tormentor?  Uh, no.  They splat the unsuspecting beachwalker admiring them in flight.  Me.  Happened right here on Myrtle Beach back in May.  This time I ran the other way.
• Had an idea to write an article for Elle magazine, which I personally subscribe to.  Can I write an article worthy of Elle?  Never had a laptop before.  Now I do.  Never used wifi or blogged before.  Not I'm wifi-ing and blogging like I know what I'm doing.  Maybe I can.  Won't know until I try, will I?   

Other stuff 10/26/11

   Had to get out and about, going a bit stir-crazy today.  Hit Evita Swimwear at 21st Ave South and Bus 17.  Nearly freaked when I saw $76 on the first bikini I picked up, calmed down when I found the clearance rack.  Bought 2 adorable bikini bottoms -- don't you hate that when the elastic on the bottoms are shot but the tops are still perfect? -- for $25.  Asked the sales lady for her opinion about the size on one of the bottoms.  She said, "You're so thin, you could wear anything."  Thank you, Ma'am!  If I had the money, I would have bought out the entire store.  Will definitely go back to Evita's.
   Headed south to Surfside.  Quiet, quaint little beach town.  Even saw a man driving his golf cart across the main highway, headed toward the grocery store.  Reminded me of a town from a Stephen King novel somewhere in Maine.  Only without spooks.  And possessed cars and dogs.  At least none that I saw.  Surfside just doesn't have the energy and zing of Myrtle Beach, not for me.  I did find the library, where they have a writer's group meeting, and the Unity Church.  I've done so many firsts since this journey began, maybe I should try church, too.  

From my balcony 10/26/11

• Out at 6:20am, no moon, lots and lots of stars in view even with all the hotel and street lights.
• Stray cats everywhere, not mangy but sleek and groomed, prowl the deserted streets and parking lots.  Solid black cat sneaks through the palmettos and gnarly bushes of Hurl Rocks Park and over the wall to drink from my Bluewater Resort pool.  White cat with orange dapples uses the crosswalk to get to 20th Avenue South, and a Myrtle Beach public works truck politely stops to let it cross.
• Last night I was Sky Wheel watching for the longest time.  I can only see half of the Wheel, the monstrous Landmark hotel at 15th Avenue South covers up the rest, but her carnival colors dancing and shifting like a disco ball kept me captive.  The Sky Wheel is new to Myrtle, but she has quickly become the starring diva of the beach.
• A straight line of 100ish geese flew straight south over the ocean, morphing the line into a sphere with a tail, then a jagged V before disappearing from sight.
• I could make out the silhouette of a bundled up solo walker, a man, contemplative, stopping and staring into the lightening sky and then walking on.  His feet never touched the water, even though Mother Ocean was way up on the beach, retreating from high tide.
• Four pink contrails scream south across the pale blue sky, forming a conga line.
• Sunbella pinks up the sky behind hazy gray clouds, turning them into ash over lava shooting from a volcano.  She melts away the ashy clouds and pierces the skyline with a laser beam of fierce orange.  The day begins. 

Other stuff 10/25/11

After sunning for an hour to make my Missouri tanning-bed tan last, I watched the pelicans from the tall beach bar stools by the pool.  What a hoot!  They dive straight down and make a belly-flop splash, only to float around and pluck for fish.  Not like the determined seagulls who swoop, scoop water and hopefully a fish, then soar off again.  I may have the type of bird all wrong.  Probably do.  But it was sure fun to watch.  And a good lesson -- dive in to get what you want but then relax enough to enjoy it.  

Beachwalking 10/25/11

   I struggled against the wicked wind blowing from the north straight down the beach, whipping up slivering snakes in the loose sand.  Gripping tight to my red plaid Cardinals cap (see sidebar) as she wobbled and tried to fly free, I forced myself toward the 2nd Avenue Pier.  My eyes stung and watered.  Not the friendly beach breeze I prefer.  But the sea birds loved it.  Hovering.  Dipping and diving.  Making play out of what I struggled against.  Keen lesson in how to approach adversity.
   No gotta-have shells today.  No quirky characters on my walk.  Just a wiry, long, tall, salt-and-pepper Schnauzer named Mateo that allowed me a get-acquainted rub.  Thanks, Mateo (and Mateo's people).  You made my day.
   (Sidebar:  Still rooting for the Cardinals even though down 3-2 in the World Series.  My Special Guy D [hereforth shortened to SGD] and I have been watching the series together while talking on the phone as he's still back in Missouri.  He is Mr. Baseball, especially Mr. Cardinal's baseball, and teaches me lots about the game.  At least as much as I'm willing to learn.  Football is more my game.  Thank God for AT&T free mobile-to-mobile minutes or we'd both have a whopper of a phone bill!  Go Cards!!)      

From my balcony 10/25/11

   The black moon hangs over the dancing silver water, the sliver of white at her base is a crooked grin at the sunrise show about to begin.  A red-orange glow of intense fire shoots up from behind the curtain skyline.  Six jets streak across the sky.  The contrails are pink or white threads, illuminating the jet's paths, depending on where they stitch the sky.  Are they peeking at Sunbella behind the curtain of horizon?  Are they seeing a whole different day already in progress while mine is waiting to begin?

Beachwalking 10/24/11

• Fluffy girl (I don't like to use fat or chubby, the words are too ugly), maybe six years old, waddling down the beach.  Thighs already rubbing together beneath her ruffled aqua bikini bottom, two belly rolls on top of it.  I ache for that little one, wish her much self love as a shield against the cruel kids world.
• Waves are crashing huge as the tide comes in high, Mother Ocean spreading froth far up into the sand.  Then the coolest thing EVER.  Real surfers, with wetsuits and beat up boards, are paddling out to catch the waves.  Loving the movie "Point Break" as I do, and I won't even go into all this remake nonsense, I am captivated and gawking like a groupie.  One daredevil gets on top and jumps from crest to crest, as easy as a rock skipping across a still pond, coming dangerously close to the tree trunk pillars of Springmaid Pier.  Wasn't close enough to see his face, but he was Patrick Swayze to me.  BODHI ROCKS!   

Other stuff 10/23/11

With no thought as to where I was going, just needed to get out into the world, ended up at Pop's Place on 6th Ave South.  Hot pink, turquoise, lemon and mint green tables and chairs make the outside deck feel like a party.  But I can't see the beach, can't people watch because no one's around, so I wander inside.  Nothing remarkable, a dive really, but the people are friendly, the beer is cheap, and football and Nascar blast from TVs on every wall.  I find my Dallas Cowboys on the big screen, and in no time I'm hanging with two other Cowboy fans and one uncommitted, he just likes to hang out and drink.  Beer and football is more fun when I can high five with kindred spirits.  And it doesn't suck that the Cowboys whooped the Rams 34-7.  Pop's Place, I'll be back.

From my balcony 10/24/11

   The South Carolina sickle moon imposes herself on the black silhouette of the full moon, which hangs over an indigo wall of clouds, indistinguishable from the ocean.  As more light appears, sponge-painted clouds take up most of the sky.  Other rock candy clouds hover above where Sunbella is rising, overlaid with dark-finger clouds like Spanish moss dripping from low country trees.
   55 degrees and breezy, the beach empty of sunrise watchers who gave up on Sunbella's delayed appearance and scuttled back to warm motel rooms for hot coffee and morning TV news.
   Sunbella's intensity builds, builds, making me squint, turning the white notebook page to splotches of hazy gray as I try to capture her coming.  Then she's up in a blink, blasting the ocean with light, drawing pajamaed vacationers onto balconies with coffee mugs in hand.  The day begins.

From The Balcony and Beachwalking 10/23/11

• Juggler on the beach: dark hair, bare buff chest, khakis.  Juggles balls behind his back, bowling-pin-looking things five at a time.  Hands the balls to his swimsuited buddy who can't even handle two balls, drops them, gives up.
• Coral capped man tries to maneuver a kite and a rowdy black pup.  Bad combination.  The kite nose dives into the sand, the pup runs to fetch it and tramples the kite.  Time to go home.
• Stopped short when beachwalking, mesmerized by this white bikini-ed poser.  Shoulder-grazing brown hair that looked mussed but not a mess in the breeze, long, sleek torso between ample, perky breasts and Barbie hips, she stood with feet barely in the surf and POSED.  Like she was doing a photo shoot.  With one leg cocked out, knee bent slightly, to thin her already thin legs.  Then a swing of her head to make her hair fall to the other side, silhouette her face in the sun.  Only there was no camera, no makeup touch-ups, no one watching her show at all.  Except me.  Thought about throwing in a "work it girl" or a "nice pout" but I left her to her imaginary world and walked on.

Other Stuff 10/22/11

Attended my first writer's conference, and the South Carolina Writer's Workshop Annual Conference totally ROCKED.  Was hoping to meet local writers.  Instead, met writers from across the country.  Several said the SCWW is the best conference they've attended and keep coming back year after year.  The faculty taught like they were having a discussion with peers, not like someone who's sold a gozillion books talking down to a rookie writer that doesn't even know what a story arc is (I sure the hell didn't know before the conference, but now I do!).  Exchanging a "where are you from and what do you write?" with other writers, learning the language of word count and scenes versus exposition and how to build a platform for your work, feeling the passionate energy zing around the room when people talked about their work, gave me the sense of community and belonging and this-journey-is-real-and-I'm-a-writer I'd been yearning for forever and didn't know it.  Was sad to see the conference end but taking with me so much knowledge that will propel me forward to being an even better writer.   

Beachwalking 10/22/11

• The water feels warmer than the air but the young chick in the bikini asks, "why is the water freezing?"
• Found the perfect shell and had to pick it up even though I told myself no.  A tiny pearly coral cup of a shell, something a fairy would drink from.
• White heron cranes her long slender neck sideways to see her fish dinner before she strikes.  Good reminder to look at things from a different perspective.
• Wedding party hits the beach for pictures.  Bride holding up her long ivory dress out of the sand, shows off her expensive pedi.  Groom in starched white shirt, khakis, flip flops, is her perfect photographic match.  Ladies in high heels and stockings pluck their way through the deep squishy sand, try to look dignified but it ain't working.  This is the beach, Ladies.  Kick those heels off.
• Pass a couple with hard, sour faces.  The sand between their toes, the sun on their faces -- what could they be unhappy about?  Unless they are leaving today.
• Walking at the Hilton Resort near North Myrtle, mounds of tiny shells everywhere that I don't see farther south.  I tread lightly on the shell graveyards so as not to crush Mother Ocean's delicate gifts.  Others clomp over the shells with a crunch, like they are slogging through deep snow.  The difference between a beach person and a non-beach person.    

Morning in Myrtle

This is a poem I wrote on one of the first mornings of my new life.  Sunbella is what I call the sun.  Bella in Spanish means beauty.

MORNING IN MYRTLE

Sunbella wakes early.

I do, too.

She casts a tropical rainbow

filling the horizon

to announce her coming --

turns the ocean indigo,

the sky burnt orange

and pineapple and turquoise.

Then the sky dims

to a murky gray,

knowing it is no match

for her glorious beauty.

She peeks above

the line at the edge of the world,

shooting up fast now.

Molten gold diva

with many looks --

half a succulent juicy orange

hot air balloon

celestial light bulb --

illuminating and energizing

the world

the ocean

the sand

my soul.

Sunbella is a dazzler.

The day begins.

Roni Blanche

@ 10/17/11

Getting started

Just moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, my favorite place on earth -- that I've seen so far.  In three weeks, I got the inspiration to move here to live my dream as a writer, quit my job, stored my stuff, and headed South to begin my new life.  Myrtle Moments is what I experience "from my balcony," from my "beachwalking," and "other stuff" that happens when I'm out and about.  Join me on my journey, won't you?