Traveler's Reflections, Part II

Traveler’s Reflections

Part 2

By John W. Vander Velden

 

So here is the second installment of our vacation story….

 

The next morning Jackie and I crossed the street from our hotel and went the short walk to the sea shore…It misted.  The tide was coming in and a wave caught me off guard and nearly reached my knees.  The squishing sound of my sneakers…brand new shoes at that…didn’t deter that special time.  There’s just something about the sound of crashing surf, the wind off the water, and the fresh salty scent that reaches deep within me.

Castillo de San Marcos

The rest of the day was heavy overcast but mostly dry.  We went to the fort and wandered about among the fourth and fifth graders enjoying their class outings…they came in bunches.  Then we moved around the old part of town, saw countless…well I didn’t count them…small shops, selling anything a tourist could want.  We walked the campus of Flagler College, saw Memorial Presbyterian Church, passed by the “Oldest House” in North America…saw that last time…walked most of the way across the Bridge of Lions.  A busy day really doing the tourist thing.

The next morning was overcast as well.  All the same I got up early…well not really, it was seven…and made my way to the shore, to catch the sun’s rising.  To my good fortune, there was just a narrow slit between the clouds at the horizon and the clouds that filled up the rest of the sky to allow a glorious moment of breathtaking color…Pictures to follow….

Atlantic Sunrise

After breakfast, it was road trip time again.  On northward to Brunswick Georgia…the Golden Isles to be exact.  This time I selected a hotel on Saint Simons Island.  You did notice it was Saint not St. didn’t you.  They’re quite particular.  We drove out to Christ’s Church.  The small white chapel built in 1880 is one of the most photographed places in the country.  Of course I took pictures… It was a place we had seen on our first trip and one site on the “required” stops list.  We had the good fortune to go into the church and hear about its history.  The windows are beyond imagination…absolutely gorgeous.  Hard to believe that stained glass over a hundred years old could

Christ's Church, Saint Simons Island

have such brilliant colors. 

A German Stain Glass Window

The clouds evaporated…I guess that’s the right word…by five PM.  We drove to the southern tip of the island to go to the lighthouse…see a pattern.  The Saint Simon Lighthouse was the first Jackie and I had ever climbed.  Back in ‘89 we didn’t know you could do such a thing.  So climbing the edifice was a priority.  It had been a wet dismal day all those years ago, but this time the afternoon sun shone out of a brilliant blue sky.  The view cannot be described, of ocean and bay on three sides.  I pity those that have not climbed the hundreds of steps, walked outside and around these important sentinels of the shoreline, and felt the breeze in their face.  It is like nowhere else. 

The day ended with dinner on a balcony of a place that claimed the best burgers on the island…Though I haven’t tried all the burger places on Saint Simons Island, I can believe the claim.

 

One part yet remains…until next time…

 

Traveler's Reflection

Traveler’s Reflections

Part 1

By John W. Vander Velden                           3-25-2014

 

When people go on vacation, they often travel, to encounter things that interest them.  Those that know us best would not be terribly surprised by our adventures during this year’s spring escape.  But they might not know the logic that fueled the choice of location. 

Over the years we have developed a system for “planning” a vacation.  Jackie and Nick tell me where we are going, and I make all the arrangements…Seems fair doesn’t it?  Don’t get me wrong,   if I don’t like the place they pick…well, you get the idea.  I don’t complain…much.  For though it seems that I get the bulk of the work, that is not entirely true.  Jackie has to take a great deal of thought to pick the year’s perfect place…within reason.  My part is only “umpteen” hours on the internet putting together flights, car rentals, hotel reservations, and, if the need be, tickets to attractions.  That’s all.  No prob….

For months she was stumped.  But she came to an epiphany.  For Nick’s spring break fell on our anniversary…our silver anniversary.  “Let’s go back to where we started… You know, where we went on our honeymoon…”  Seemed like a plan… And so we went.

Twenty-five years.  Things were different…but then, so were we.  To begin with we flew into a different part of Florida…Jacksonville then almost Orlando now.  The reason was simple enough…there is a non-stop from South Bend to Sanford, and I much prefer not changing planes or bouncing through out of the way hubs like Pittsburg or Detroit.  Not that there’s anything wrong with Pittsburg or Detroit either for that matter, but it’s not really on the way.  So we arrived at a different place than the other time, but that was not the only change.  Jackie and Nick wanted to go to Universal Orlando.  We were there after all…so a day…a beautiful fun day at the theme park, meant we would not go all the way to Savanna as we had in 1989.  No matter.

It was sunny and eighty-something the day we rode the complementary van ride across the highway from our hotel to the theme park to rub elbows with the thousands of folks from all around the world that had come for a good time.  We were not disappointed.  The only “downer” was the lack of fireworks that particular day.  We took in both parks on a very busy day, seeing nearly everything we wanted.  The Harry Potter ride nearly scared the “hib-gee-bees” out of me. We were nearly inverted when the whole thing froze for a couple of minutes.  Truthfully it gave me time to catch my breath.

The van was waiting when we closed the parks down, had our pizza, and walked out to the loading area.  I ‘spect we will be going to the place again.

It was a good thing that we had scheduled Universal for the first day.  For that glorious sunny day was followed by…rain.  Yes, it rains in Florida…sometimes it rains a lot.  In any case day 2 was a travel day.  It gave me time to become more accustomed to our rental, a gray Ford Taurus.  A nice car…though I have an issue with the turn signal lever.  I’m not certain that after 600 plus miles I completely grasp the “techno-lever” correctly.  Heaven help other motorist, as they wonder exactly what our intentions were at any given time.  One time in particular I couldn’t get the thing to click off.  It would signal left then right then left again then right again…Oh, the poor soul behind us as we passed through that busy intersection.  That driver must have felt, that he followed a lunatic, driving the big car with Michigan plates.  Sorry to our friend up north, if we damaged your reputation.

In any case we went up north, finally finding ourselves on A1A the coastal highway, catching glimpses of the Atlantic on our way to St. Augustine.  Now that’s a place we went in 89, though it has changed a great deal.  It rained when we climbed the lighthouse.  It rained while we walked the grounds around the lighthouse.  It rained and thundered when we played miniature golf on this really cool course.  I’d hold the umbrella while my beloved putted…Nick just got wet… I mean real wet.

 

The story will continue next time…

 

Clark's Walk

Clark’s Walk

By John W. Vander Velden

The crescent moon shown silver through the leaves. Clark awe struck by the patches night sky, jet black filled with bright diamonds of light, visible through the foliage of oaks, maples and beech.  Clark had felt lost, not geographically, but within his mind.  His world changing rapidly, seemed to have left him in point’s unknown.  Driving to this place…a place familiar…a place of his childhood…a place of constants on which he could rely.  Clark’s feet led him afield…a cow path across the meadow…to the ancient wood of his youth.  Little had changed since his romps of yesteryear.  Even in the dark he found the initials carved long ago.

Clark had made a promise.  Years ago as Karen lay fading from his life, he had made that vow…to protect and care for their child.  What a precious tiny bundle Kaylee was then.  It had been a promise Karen need not demand…the obligation firmly etched in Clark’s heart at first glimpse…perhaps before.  But Clark took the promise to ease his beloved’s mind.  She knew the man always true to his word.

Where had the years flown?  Surely memories told of much life lived. Yet…It could not be…Could it?

Stars twinkling through the leaves above, Clark moves through a place familiar.  The sound of the whip-or-will and an owl floated upon the calm night air.  The air carried the musty scent of decomposing leaves that fed the damp ferns at his feet.  The dew dripping from high above, gentle taps on his shoulder, welcomed him home.  Clark had come seeking constants…something he could…even for a moment grasp…steady himself…and prepare for the day to come.

Twenty-four years…too soon he felt sure!  In his eyes Kaylee was yet the child in the pretty pink dress with curly brown hair bound with matching ribbons.  But today he would be released from the vow he had made then.  Today he would place her hand, into the hand of another.  Today he would give his baby away…

Was Alex worthy?  Karen’s sister, Joann, had assured Clark he was…that Karen most certainly would approve.  Those words did not make the pain ease…not really.

Clark moves on among the trees.  How much change had those tall sentinels observed, most a century old and older.  Perhaps to others their growth unnoticed.  Clark realized that even here there was beginning and endings.  Young saplings stretching upward, and some of the oldest trees lay in decay.  Life moved on, here in the wood, and there in his home.  Growth…maturing…Kaylee no longer a child.  In truth she had not been a child for some time.  Perhaps Kaylee’s need for him had past.  It was for Clark to find the strength to quietly release her and trust.  It seemed so different than that day Karen’s father placed her hand in his.  Only at this moment could Clark understand the look in the man’s eyes.  Only at this moment, here beneath the spreading bows, did Clark realize the pain and doubt that filled Karen’s father mind.  In this constantly changing world, there remained some constants. 

Had Clark fulfilled the oaths made on that day?  Had he guarded and protected his father-in-laws precious treasure?  The headstone might hint he had failed.  That he had been unable to save her in the end.  How often had Clark blamed himself…blamed God?  With years passing he had learned to live around the rough hole in his life…to endure with what was left.  Only his memories and Kaylee remained.  And soon he would give their daughter away.  How then could he continue…alone?

Far above the leaves moved, rustled by an invisible breeze.  On the fresh wind came a fragrance so familiar, of honeysuckle…Karen’s favorite.  With tear dimmed eyes Clark stretched out his arms embracing the scent laden breeze.  And Clark realized…as long as Karen’s memory filled his heart…as long as Kaylee carried her mother’s smile…as long as there was a God in heaven… he would not be alone…not here in this dark wood…nor wherever his feet would lead. 

(690 Words)

Twenty-Five

Twenty-five                                        

By John W. Vander Velden

There are numbers and there are numbers.  Twenty-five seems the kind of number that gets noticed.  I remember my twenty-fifth birthday, and wondering if would ever achieve the goals I had expected to reach by that milestone.

Now I face another twenty-five year mark.  For during that slice of my life my world changed in ways expected and in many more ways I had not anticipated.  In 1989, on a snowy March Saturday, I began a new adventure.  An adventure I did not experience alone.  An adventure that is far from complete.  An adventure that promises an interesting future.

For on that day -- I bound my life to another.  And now – yes, now -- I look at twenty-five years.  The time might seem, to many, as a period of great length.  But it feels as but a moment.  It is only when I consider all the “things” we have – together -- done, seen, or endured, does the reality of twenty-five, sink in.  But what does one say about the nine thousand one hundred and thirty-one days.  About all the sun rises – about all the meals shared – about the many sentences finished by the other – or the words that did not need to be said.  Time moves us ahead – day by day – month by month – and yes, year after year.

But above all I consider myself fortunate.  How many marriages vaporize before they arrive at the marker known as twenty-five?  Yet, I will not be arrogant, believing that I have reached this place on my own.  Some may say it is by chance that I have come to this place – Perhaps.  But those that say those things do not know my beloved or me very well.  There have been times when grit was required – for life does not always flow easily.  For two people sharing a common “space” does get interesting at times.  Yet because the things we share in common far outweigh our differences, and that in-balance continues to grow with time.  Because I had the good fortune to marry the one that has become my “bestest” friend – my hero – my other half – the one who carries me when I no longer have the strength to trudge onward – yes, my soul mate – these twenty-five years have been my best.

Milestones cause us to take time to look back, and looking back reminds us of from where we have come.  But today is an important time to look forward as well.  None can know what the future holds – what delights – what challenges – what pains or disappointments.   I am not so foolish to believe that in the years I face I will be spared all illness – pain – or grief.  That I will have only sunshine and song birds each day of the rest of my life.  But I face the unknown with two absolutes.  I am loved by a GOD that will never abandon, and my life is firmly bound, to a better person than I, who will walk all those days at my side.

So I say – Happy Anniversary my love.  It’s been a great twenty-five years!

(517 Words)

Shoveling Snow...Again!

Shoveling Snow…Again!              

By John W. Vander Velden

 

 

Just how many times do we need to shovel our sidewalks?

The fresh snow covers our world with pure whiteness.  It gives our yards a clean dressing with each new accumulation.  But the snow does not only cover our grass and shrubs but also buries the pathways as well.  I would shovel the sidewalk even if the municipal ordinances that demand the effort did not exist.  Just common courtesy not to force our visitors, mail carriers, and neighbors to wade through the often knee high or deeper, white stuff.

But just how many times will I need to grab the shovel, huff and grunt, or whatever; to lift the fluffy water and toss it aside?  Several more I expect.  But that may not be a bad thing.  Oh, I know that I sometimes grumble how the wind has undone my labor.  Or complain that it is unbelievably cold, or any other thing I might “whine” about.

But I know a day will come when I am unable, and that is not a time I look forward to.

So I bundle up, take firm grip of my tool, and face the challenge.  The job takes a little longer than it did in my memory.  I pace myself to survive the task.  But often I find myself whistling, as scoop by scoop, a pathway grows passable.  No, it is not my favorite pastime.  Yes, I get frustrated when the road crew refills the carefully dug trench.  And I certainly do not watch the weather – rooting for job security.  But when it snows – and this winter that seems all the time – I remind myself that shoveling is a job not beyond my ability.

I do not know how many times I will need to shovel the snow, but I am glad that today is not the last.

(304 Words)

 

 

The Twenty-five Word Stories

The Twenty-five Word Stories  1

By John W. Vander Velden

 

What can be told in just exactly twenty-five words?  That was the challenge I faced some months ago.  To with only twenty-five words – no more – no less convey a story with a twist.  As you read these four examples – decide for yourself if I succeeded.

 

Falling     

One summer’s day, Isaac leaned against the trunk as he read in the orchard.  When stuck by an apple  he asked, “How did that happen?”  (25 Words)

 

Winter   

Walter knew the morning’s sun spilling through the windows would warm the house and lift the spirits…but one word kept him from those benefits…evicted.  (25 Words)

 

Dim                

William did not enjoy sitting in the dark room. Day in day out Will complained, but few listened. Perhaps he should change the light bulb.  (25 Words)

 

Un-Knowing

There was a time when Terry could face anything life threw at him simply because he knew all the answers, but then he married Cheryl.  (25 Words)

 

Which is your favorite?

Other examples will follow in the months ahead