It was the summer of 1963, and as a 10-year-old, I couldn’t wait to go to Beach Haven for an entire month. School had been full of teasing and bullies, home life was tense, and a respite for everyone was in order.
It was the summer of 1963, and as a 10-year-old, I couldn't wait to go to Beach Haven for an entire month.
Ah, the beach every day, just swim and relax, the salt water, sand, and sun healthy for the skin. No one cared how I looked. Endless card and Monopoly games in the tiny cottage without the distraction of television. Good fatigue from exercise and play, and then sleep hard every night in the cot-like bed, with all good dreams.
//RetroFlash 100 words
MarianI have recently retired from a marketing and technical writing and editing career and am thoroughly enjoying writing for myself and others.
Sounds like heaven, Marian. Good dreams from a hard, healthy sleep after a day filled with fun in the sun and surf, and card games and Monopoly at night, far from the rigors and stress of real life.
Absolutely, Betsy. What amazes me now is that a 10-year-old needed it.
Perfect description (all in 100 words) of a ten-year-old’s idea of a perfect summer. I would have loved that.
Thanks, Laurie. It was what the doctor ordered at the time.
From one Jersey girl to another, this was a great description of a summer “down the shore.” I miss the days when sun was considered healthy for the skin!
Right you are, Suzy. I think that was the only summer that I got an actual tan, very gradually. Well, I didn’t get tan, just sort of a gold color. After that, shade and sunscreen were the orders of the day.
Just a great description of a wonderful summer, Marian. And all in 100 carefully chosen words. And I can’t help enviously contrasting your idyllic summer with the neurosis-filled one I wrote about. Though I probably had a pretty nice summer when I was ten, too.
Well, a summer at ten is much simpler than the transition between college and grad/professional school, John, as I remember. We had a phone and I had a part-time job, and that summer I was mostly concerned about my food budget lasting till the end of the month.
Oh how restful sounding, made more so by the contrast of the preceding time. “Good fatigue…with all good dreams.” Got it!
Thanks, Charles, done from my right brain.
Great memories, contrasted with what sounds like a difficult school situation. Fie on bullies!!! So wonderful you found comfort in nature and family time. Something we all need.
Thanks, Khati, that summer was a much-needed reprieve from “reality.”
I love your use of 100 words, Mare…I’m such a fan of the flash (obviously) in its ability to convey so much with so few, as John mentioned, carefully chosen words. You took me right into your 10-year-old state of mind…beautifully done!
This story came to me in a “flash,” Barb, how appropriate. Thanks for proposing it and your inspiration!
“No one cared how I looked.” That says so much in so few words. Great!
Thanks, Risa. That summer was an escape from the trauma and pressure on a 10-year-old who already was 5’5″ and had braces!