A Delicious Destination

We packed up the camper with the essentials - the wine, the dog and our desire.  Our desire for each other as well as our desire to be at the water's edge, feel the wind in our faces and taste the delicacies that the ocean had to offer us - crab, salmon, prawns and oysters.

Our camping spot was right on the beach with nothing between us and China but the vast ocean that soothed and thrilled at the same time.  The enormity and sheer beauty of it never ceased to awe and restore.

It poured rain but we didn't care.  The soothing patter of the rain drops hitting the aluminum roof combined with the melodious swooshing of the waves crashing against the shore lulled us into a delicious, lethargic stupor and we were quite content to wallow in kisses and caresses while we waited out the weather.

When we finally did emerge wearing yellow rain gear and utter contentment, we sipped on crisp, bubbly champagne and supped on the freshest seafood - cedar-planked salmon, freshly shucked oysters and steamed Dungeoness crab so sweet that we ate it unadorned. 

We shared our bounty with a European couple who marveled at the beauty of the spot and the exquisite taste of the food.  And we nodded - knowingly and proprietorially - because we had already claimed this place as our own.

Flicker of Inspiration Prompt #8: I Need a Vacation

Write about a trip either you or a character has taken. It doesn't need to be a literal trip but can be more of figurative journey. If you're writing memoir, what do you remember most about this trip? Do you remember what it's like to go somewhere you've never been? If you're writing fiction, describe your character's trip vividly. Make us feel what your character felt, see what they saw, experience what they experienced.

I have also linked this post to Studio Thirty Plus as the prompt this week was "The Taste of Summer".

Happy Birthday Baby

July 1st was her birthday.  She had vivid memories of her mother holding her and pointing to the sky as it exploded into a myriad of colour. 

"Happy birthday, Baby," her mother whispered against her cheek as her strong arms held her high so that she could see better.  

It was magical until she finally realized that the fireworks weren't actually for her but for the country's birthday.  She was probably around six when she came to this realization and it was a little like discovering that there was no Santa Claus. She was crushed but it did explain why no one else had fireworks on their birthdays.  She had always wondered about that.  

Now twenty years later, she watched the dancing lights as they squealed and popped across the sky and there were strong arms around her once again.  Not her mother's arms but her husband's.  

His face was close to hers as he whispered in her ear, "Happy birthday Baby."

The memory came back to her in a rush of feelings, feelings of being special, unique and loved.  He did that to her.  She knew that if he could have lit up the sky for her, he would have.  

Shivers ran up her spine and just for a moment, she believed in the possibility of magic, once again.

"This week's prompt is all about fireworks. You can take that in a very literal direction, or you can include figurative "fireworks." Feel free to turn this prompt into fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, just be sure to include fireworks of some kind."