Chasing a Story Up Hill and Out to Sea

     I never have quite enough time between work hours to chase all the stories that tempt me. It may be a photo, a headline or a book that entices me and tells me, read more there is a story here to tell. In chasing a story you become the investigator, looking for clues to other versions and  finding data, photos, articles or first person accounts of  the story to weave into your own creation.
     My book shelves are not categorized in  library order but in storytelling order. Not all can be in the right category for they can serve more than one.  The hall shelf is fairy tales. The big shelf in the family room, all  six feet plus is Civil War but on that shelf alone I could pull out a great horse story or one of a child, maybe a music or medicine story. The living room hosts Colonial America shelf and across from that the shelves filled with Native American.  The pictures on my walls are not categorized but many have stories of value and when will I get to read enough to full fill these stories needs and when and where will I tell them?

                                                          
Sometimes I pull the car over because the story at the side of the road beckons, I haven't worked on this one at all but soaked up the scenery and saved some great photos from the day in Norwich, CT. when a long known of story made me climb Meetinghouse Hill.

I thought I would pursue this story only part way up, the steep path was waiting but my bad feet said "go far enough for a good picture." Apparently far enough was the top, I just took my time, it was so worth the climb.

             Now I'm dedicating time to a story that I've  been after for several years. No really this one has been with me since childhood. I was  first hooked by a stone monument on the beach at Spencer's Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. The monument says something to the effect; in memory of the Captain and Crew of the Ship Mary Celeste built there on the beach and found adrift, not a soul on board 1872. It is a classic ghost ship story one retold a million times already....but not my version, not from my perspective. It is coming and requires  a trip back to that shore to those rocky beaches this summer.

In order to fully grasp this nautical tale I'm immersing myself in the world of ocean going travel.  Presently I'm taking a class in Sea Chantey Music at Mystic Seaport in Mystic CT.  www.mysticseaport.org  Singing sailors work songs and learning the daily activity on a sailing ship all part of the tale that waits to be told.

Pardon me, no time for gardens and lawn mowing this summer.

 I'm chasing a story and the sky is the limit!

                                                                

Peace Like a River

I've Got Peace Like a River......... In a 5 minute vacation, a 1 hour vacation, Daycation and weekend getaway.  I think I get through really hectic scheduling ( that earned me the nickname DERVISH recently) by being able to see the 5 minute vacation when I need one. Here is a sample:

I saw the beautiful spot and not only acknowledged it, but took time to stop, shut the car engine off and spend five minutes in the sounds of bird song and river! I drove the rest of the way home singing and humming Peace Like A River ( It Is Well With My Soul ).  If you don't know that classic old hymn here is a sample:

                                                                    
     The song lyrics were written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. They were written after two tragedies in his life. In 1871 he lost his wealth  to the great Chicago Fire. That was followed by the tragic death of his four daughters in a ship crash at sea. He received a telegram from his wife "saved alone". He set sail for England to meet his wife, as he sailed past the spot where the Ville De Havre was sunk he was inspired by the emotions and wrote this moving piece.
    In 1876 The words of Horatio Spafford were put to the music of Philip Bliss to become a hymn sung so often in the churches of America. Ironically  Philip Bliss died in a train wreck shortly after the piece was published.

                                                                              
A 1 hour vacation is stopping along the way from one event to another to take in a historic site. This is looking down at the base of Meetinghouse Rock in Norwich Ct.

                                                                            
 This is the incredible view settlers of Norwich had when the ascended this hill to share in church services.
                                                                           DAYCATION

                                                                                 
   That Daycation would be a wonderful few hours by the sea, I love the sound of the creaking wooden boats at Mystic Seaport.  A strand of a sea chantey in the distance the clip clop of hooves along the cobbles and the laughter of children.
 All Aboard for some well earned vacation 5 minutes or the full blown summer escape, enjoy every moment. Then settle back and share the vacation stories!