I still don’t have a good camera, nonetheless, the other night I took the shot of the full moon over the ocean. Then I spent hours pouring over poems and quotes by famous people to try and explain the thoughts and feelings such a site evokes in me. Alas, I finally thought that I might come up with something of my own. Well, give me a few days and I just might. In the meantime I think the following will do just fine.

A DIVINE ROMANCE by Gordana Biernat

The sea makes love

to the moon at night,

silently inviting

its silvery light,

moving slowly, reaching the shore

reflecting the moon

once more.

For no other reason than love

the dark below

meets the light above,

forever entangled

in luminous dance,

the moon and the sea,

a divine romance

According to those who know, our little swing bridge will be gone by March 2019. And as I wrote last week, the times they are a changing so unless you have the $$ to buy this structure, and preserve it in some way, it will be gone. GONE! A few years back I called DOT and they assured me that the bridge was to be sold for scrap–so much for nostalgia and history. It is now useless POOP–throw it in the crapper. If you think about it, it makes sense–in Bizzarro world. Remember that world? I first read about it in Superman Comic books. It was a world where everything was bass ackwards. For instance–the law states that there will be no building on wetlands– (unless you have enough money and/or kiss the right ass). All the canal streets are wetlands. The corner of 50 and 210 were once wetlands. tsk, tsk.      Surf City is supposed to be a family beach, but there are no lifeguards. When I’ve asked the city council about this I’ve been told there is not enough money–yet I see manicured curbs. I’m pretty sure manicured curbs cost money year round. Lifeguards would only be needed 3 months out of the year (go figure). But the one that really gets me the most is the one about building ON the island. I believe our fair state does employ scientists and I’m pretty sure they went to college–so–they should know how nature works, how sand bars shift and change. TOPSAIL ISLAND IS NOT AN ISLAND IT IS A SANDBAR! Surely they have to know this!!!!!!!!!. (sometimes there aren’t enough exclamation marks) So–why does the state allow people to sell land that is going to shift and change? Something is stinky somewhere. Alas, there is no monopoly on stupid and no monopoly on greed. It’s everywhere and there is always an excuse or explanation–some sort of justification.

I’m pretty sure all this venting will dissipate as March 2018 nears–it’s my way of transitioning–accepting the inevitable–or maybe I just like to bitch.

I’m pretty sure this photo is from the 1960s–not sure which fishing pier though. Of course, back then I think it was $3 to fish all day long on the piers and one didn’t need a fishing license to surf fish, but the times they are a changing–have changed and will continue to do so.

Change is good? Not so sure about that. One thing for sure, change means different and unless you want to continually live in the past you better get used to it. Choose your time, your music, your literature genre, and friends to accommodate your state of mind.

All this, the above, about change–is brought on by that damn cement snake we have stretching across the ICW. The one I see every day and every day I become a little more used to it–thinking of how I need to let go of our little swing bridge–let go of the past and accept, for better or worse, what will most certainly be part of our future.  And as I ready myself to let go, I hold on to the prize–the time that was golden and true (at least for me). I guess that is why I write books–to hold on to what I love, who I love and a time that I love.

QUOTE: “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” Havelock Ellis

WRITING TIP: without being maudlin, be.

The ocean’s been sort of rough the last couple of weeks. I think it’s the most beautiful then–might not be the safest time to go swimming, rip tides and such, but sometimes it’s just a joy to watch those ever changing waves.

I’ve introduced a new character to the new book I’m working on,  SHARKSBREATH–his name is August Temple. (love the name) and he a “rough” sort of character, a conflicted, unpredictable person. But these are the people I find most fun, and most interesting to write–the conflicted. Most of us have had to struggle with what is right and what is wrong–what is good and what is bad. After all, we are all human. (I have my doubts about some) Still, experience has taught me that people who always know what is right and what is always good, are either hypocrites or liars (maybe a little naive) Like the ocean, all of us have a rougher side, even though we may try to keep it hidden.

QUOTE: “Writers must be fair and remember even bad guys (most of them anyway) see themselves as good-they are the heroes of their own lives. Giving them a fair chance as characters can create some interesting shades of gray–and shades of gray are also a part of life.” Stephen King

WRITING TIP: when writing a character, think of yourself. Certainly you have doubts, certainly you weigh the odds. It doesn’t matter why you do these things (there are a thousand reasons). To appear real, your character must be human.