- Published on
The Outer Banks of North Carolina
A gathering of extended family
Staying in a 10 bedroom extravaganza
A stones throw from the sand
So close that you never escape
The grainy feel underfoot
Elsewhere it would be gross
But at the beach
It’s heaven
In the early morning
You sit on the sand
And breathe in the briny air
Even though the sun has not yet made its official appearance
The sky is light
The horizon highlighter orange and pink
Tiny translucent crabs build covert castles
Complete with secret tunnels and passages
Pelicans fly in formation above the foam while
Little willets flit back and forth
Pecking at the sand
Seemingly oblivious to the crabs and
Silvery fish flying out of the water
Humans sit and stand at the edge
iPhones at the ready to
Capture the start of the day
The sun slowly peeps above the horizon
In mere moments, shows its full self
A giant glowing orange ball
Burning away any traces of cool the night had attempted to bestow
The day is already sweltering and
The crabs disappear into their cool subterranean abodes
You swim in the ocean
And the pool and
Every time you’re immersed in the salty water
You feel rejuvenated.
You remember how this time 5 years ago
You were in the hospital
And craving the ocean
Roanoke Island is nearby
Home to The Lost Colony Theatre
"A celebration of the first English colonies"
Who vanished (from white existence)
We learn from a friend
There are no Native Americans in the cast
Or in the creative team
Inside the Elizabethan Gardens
A statue of Virginia Dare
“First English child born in the New World”
Sculpted by Louisa Lander
19th century American artist who lived in Rome and
Imagined the child grew to become
An Indian Princess
Elsewhere in the garden
Brightly colored butterflies sip nectar in the sanctuary
Accompanied by piped in classical music
A 9ft statue of Elizabeth I claims to be the
Largest likeness of Her Majesty in the world
A bronze British monarch demanding rule of ancient oaks
In the evenings
Your family by marriage gathers around the enormous table
Good people enjoying good food served with love and
Plenty of laughter
Homemade margaritas, daiquiris, and sangria
Cheese and olives and warm toasted crusts of bread
Artichoke hearts and crab dip and shrimp
Korean BBQ
Bushels of steamed crabs laid out on yesterday’s news
(Slightly unnerving to be admiring them at sunrise and eating their brethren at sunset)
Cracked and dipped in melted butter and bowls of vinegar
Somehow still hungry
We eat enchiladas, surf and turf grill, and seafood boil
With cheesecake and ice cream and chocolate for dessert
One late afternoon
The clouds begin rehearsing for a show
It begins in earnest around 8pm
Lightning flashes and strikes
Over the ocean
And still the air is hot.
A gathering of extended family
Staying in a 10 bedroom extravaganza
A stones throw from the sand
So close that you never escape
The grainy feel underfoot
Elsewhere it would be gross
But at the beach
It’s heaven
In the early morning
You sit on the sand
And breathe in the briny air
Even though the sun has not yet made its official appearance
The sky is light
The horizon highlighter orange and pink
Tiny translucent crabs build covert castles
Complete with secret tunnels and passages
Pelicans fly in formation above the foam while
Little willets flit back and forth
Pecking at the sand
Seemingly oblivious to the crabs and
Silvery fish flying out of the water
Humans sit and stand at the edge
iPhones at the ready to
Capture the start of the day
The sun slowly peeps above the horizon
In mere moments, shows its full self
A giant glowing orange ball
Burning away any traces of cool the night had attempted to bestow
The day is already sweltering and
The crabs disappear into their cool subterranean abodes
You swim in the ocean
And the pool and
Every time you’re immersed in the salty water
You feel rejuvenated.
You remember how this time 5 years ago
You were in the hospital
And craving the ocean
Roanoke Island is nearby
Home to The Lost Colony Theatre
"A celebration of the first English colonies"
Who vanished (from white existence)
We learn from a friend
There are no Native Americans in the cast
Or in the creative team
Inside the Elizabethan Gardens
A statue of Virginia Dare
“First English child born in the New World”
Sculpted by Louisa Lander
19th century American artist who lived in Rome and
Imagined the child grew to become
An Indian Princess
Elsewhere in the garden
Brightly colored butterflies sip nectar in the sanctuary
Accompanied by piped in classical music
A 9ft statue of Elizabeth I claims to be the
Largest likeness of Her Majesty in the world
A bronze British monarch demanding rule of ancient oaks
In the evenings
Your family by marriage gathers around the enormous table
Good people enjoying good food served with love and
Plenty of laughter
Homemade margaritas, daiquiris, and sangria
Cheese and olives and warm toasted crusts of bread
Artichoke hearts and crab dip and shrimp
Korean BBQ
Bushels of steamed crabs laid out on yesterday’s news
(Slightly unnerving to be admiring them at sunrise and eating their brethren at sunset)
Cracked and dipped in melted butter and bowls of vinegar
Somehow still hungry
We eat enchiladas, surf and turf grill, and seafood boil
With cheesecake and ice cream and chocolate for dessert
One late afternoon
The clouds begin rehearsing for a show
It begins in earnest around 8pm
Lightning flashes and strikes
Over the ocean
And still the air is hot.