Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!
My oldest child turned 33 years old last Thursday. The child who first made me a mother. How could my little girl be 33? (Oh my, I sound like my Mom who thinks I am 33!) My younger daughter and I decided to surprise her on her birthday and take the cycle class she was teaching Thursday morning at 6:30 am. We left Charlottesville at 5:15 am to get to Short Pump in time to surprise her before class. That is true love, y’all. And actually, it wasn’t a true surprise as she kinda expected us to come. I mean she played my favorite song first (Justin Timberlake Can’t Stop The Feeling)! But it was so worth it to start her birthday off with family, balloons, and flowers. I left after her class and headed to the beach for a couple of days.
It was Bike Week at the beach, which is always an interesting time with lots of traffic, entertainment, loud noise (motorcycles), and a big boost to the economy. I have a friend who was heading down to the beach on the back of her husband’s motorcycle and packed everything she needed in one small saddlebag including a rain suit. How did she do that? I have duplicates of everything from home at the beach and yet I always seem to bring a carload! I saw many interesting sights – huge motorcycles, 3-wheel motorcycles, even a Volvo (mom mobile) pulling a trailer with 2 motorcycles. But the best was the truck below. Spotted it on my Friday morning run down Ocean Boulevard and thought I must get a picture of this! So once I got back to my house, I got my camera, hopped on MY bike and rode down Ocean Boulevard with all the “bikers” back to where I had seen the truck. I had to get the picture because it was indescribable. Right? The owner was so friendly as are most of the bikers. From W VA. Said he had seen me run by and of course I could take a picture. I wasn’t alone in showing interest in this truck. He actually built it. Rides 9 comfortably, even though it was only his girlfriend and him this trip. Told me to look inside which was luxurious, complete with a 27 inch TV that drops from the roof behind his seat. I should have asked about gas mileage!
“How do you tell a happy motorcycle rider? By the bugs in his teeth!”
Due to all the motorcycle traffic, my sister and I bypassed eating at Murrell’s Inlet Friday night, and went to Pawley’s Island for dinner at our favorite restaurant, Franks. Introduced her to dining at the bar. What fun the two of us had – just missed having our younger sister! The main reason for this sister beach trip was spending Saturday in Mount Pleasant seeing one of our favorite authors – Dorothea Benton Frank, and getting her latest book signed. Mission accomplished.
But first, I had to watch the Royal Wedding Saturday morning. Did you watch it? I did not get up at 4 am, but woke up in time to see the beautiful bride, adoring groom, and loving and proud mother of the bride. I was touched by the pure love and adoration for each other on the faces of Meghan and Harry. And Meghan’s mother – how I admire her. Can you imagine being the only member of your daughter’s family in attendance, on the biggest day of her life? In another country, basically another world, without anyone to lean on, to talk to, to “be” with at the reception? But a mother’s love is stronger than any love.
“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stand in its path.” Agatha Christie
Though the weather wasn’t the greatest, I still spent hours on the beach, walking and looking for shells (my greatest addiction). Like the strawberries from last week, searching for shells reminded me of all the treasures and blessings in my life. You can see from the picture below what luck I had. There were many broken shells but then a beautiful olive (SC State Shell) or augur would be right in front of me. Big ones and tiny ones. Reminded me that even when things in our lives may seem broken, there are many beautiful parts and so much to be thankful for. Even tiny ones.
“May the shells on the beach remind you that treasures arrive every day in the form of simple things.”
Accept the broken parts and be thankful for the treasures in your life. Look for and focus on the good. Find what makes you happy. Because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.
“I believe that the ocean can always make you feel better. I believe that the waves wash away our worries. I believe in seashells bringing good luck. I believe in toes in the sand grounding my soul.”
Best,
Leslie
SOLO at SIXTY 
Solo is eagerly anticipated each week! Your quotes and comments always seem to be exactly what I most need to hear.
Thanks for sharing your life’s path, encouraging me to best follow mine! How special you are to me!
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Thank you Rachel! I feel the same way about you!
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