As far as I know this is the only tower on Topsail Island that has not been refurbished. I often wonder why–why the person who owns it lets it stand and rot. I have no clue who the owner is, but find it sad that this piece of history cannot be restored and used as a historical site or simply sold to someone who might love it a bit.
As a kid, I used to jump out of such towers, but back then there were huge sand dunes to land in.
These old Operation Bumblebee observation towers and the ramjet powered missiles they observed were part of a program after WWII that morphed into Cape Canaveral in Florida. Cool huh?
I think it’s important to remember our history, after all, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it-as Santayana once said.
Our island’s history makes it more interesting, makes it more than just a play ground. There’s an old WWII warehouse still being utilized, old barracks, now used as part of a church and another as apts. Then there is the rich history of seine fishing on the island and our little swing bridge. Of course, so much of this can be found in my historical fiction trilogy. (Had to promote myself a little) but there are other wonderful books about Topsail that have lots to tell. Please read them.
This is a horseshoe crab. Ugly as blue mud, ain’t it?
I know if you have spent much time on the beach, you’ve seen some of these critters. They are prehistoric looking, wouldn’t you say, but they are important little creatures–more important than you know. I’ve collected a few facts about them you may find interesting. For one, they have blue blood. (and you thought you were important) And since they are true blue bloods they are protected by the royal families of the world…..NO, NO, NO, not true. ha ha ha. They have blue blood for some scientific reason that I can’t explain. (Go on line and find out, if you really want to know) Still, these critters are very important, their blood clots only in the presence of endotoxins. Their blood enables the detection of bacterial endotoxins in intravenous drugs and medical equipment. Wow! and you thought ugly meant useless, well, we learn something new every day-don’t we. (I know there’s an analogy in there somewhere) Another little fact about the horseshoe crab–females are much larger and they too (like the sea turtle) lays it’s eggs in the sand. Momma horseshoe crab lays over 60,000 at a time.
Ah yes, the analogy–like Forest Gump always said “Pretty is as pretty does,” now I will look at the ugly horseshoe crab with new respect and consider the beautiful things they do for our world.
Oh yes, once their blood is harvested, they are released back into the wild. Good scientist, good boy–now sit.
As you may well know, in most of my books I do include some righteous indignation on the part of one or more of my characters–SHARK’S BREATH will be no different.
I am not the lone ranger when it comes to the lengthy period of time it is taking to get our beach cleaned, of course , there is nothing I can personally do about that. So, I’m determined to find out what could be done; what could have been done, and am going to talk with an environmentalist – all the arm chair stuff doesn’t get anybody anywhere. In the mean time–I thought my readers might enjoy a little excerpt from the work in progress, Shark’s Breath:
He walked curtly into the next room and hit the button finding the “Luck be a Lady” tract on the Sinatra CD. He sang the title phrase, sauntered back into the bathroom, through to his bedroom, opened the drawer to the bedside table and removed an envelope.
His eyes scanning the pages, B.D. grinned broadly. “Bitch, she buys me a used car and she’s getting a million dollars.” Twisting his body to the rhythm of the song, he released, “stick with me baby, I’m the one you came in with.”
B.D. slid the envelope back into the drawer, and removed his jeans and Henley shirt. He snapped the waistband of his briefs against his tight stomach, pulled them down, then threw them into the hamper before entering the shower.
Musing about the differences between he and his sister, B.D. lathered his long hair, sneering a bit as he recalled her jealousy. ‘It’s not fair, you got all the good features,–the great cheek bones, the damn foot long lashes, and great hair. I’d kill for that hair.’ How many times had he heard that from Eleanor growing up.
Funny, he thought. I’m the one that’s having to do all he killing, not her. “But things are going to change now, big sister. Maybe Human Resources would be interested in the squalor you live in, the parade of men you run through your legs and the way you treat your daughter. Maybe Uncle B.D. needs to gain custody of the little doll.”
The bar of soap in his hand, he lathered his belly and imagined Eleanor finding the will gone from her jewelry box. “Stupid. My sister was always stupid. What did she think?” He chortled loudly, and exited the shower, beginning a grooming process he had honed to perfection.
QUOTE: “The essence of lying is in deception, not in words.” John Ruskin
WRITING TIP: Do you have to be a good liar to be a good writer. I think not, at least for me, writing is all about the truth, even if it is about a fictional story.
Amazing how the clouds take form. Just the other day I was on the beach and it looked as if a city was on the horizon. WOW! (didn’t have a camera at the time)The majesty of it all puts things into perspective, reinforcing the belief that so much is not in my hands. That’s kinda nice–less work for me. I don’t have to save the world or anything like that. And it leaves me time to do the things I love, like walking on the beach which is nigh impossible these days without breaking the law. Alas–the ocean is what heals all the little broken parts, so Mr. Policeman, consider the bohemian soul whose air is that vast expanse, whose blood is the little gifts it leaves at my feet.
QUOTE: “We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in.” Ernest Hemingway.
Writer’s note: The Mermaid’s Purse is now accepting self published or small press published writers of worth. Come check out the new expanded book section or contact me.