Mike McCardell shares some advice for finding stories in his delightful memoir, None of This Was Planned. He suggests that we go out and find something unusual, and tell it to someone else. We will have something truly valuable, a story that will make memories. He doesn’t want to be the only one doing this. He wants us all to take part. Tonight I followed his advice. I went to Blackie Spit park, at Crescent Beach. I was there to look for something I had lost the night before. I had joined some friends for the final Sounds of Summer concert put on by the city of Surrey. The Live Rust Neil Young Tribute Band performed. I loved the quieter tunes. I melted for Harvest Moon’s “I’m still in love with you.” There were tents with activities. My friend Florence and I went to the photo booth, donning colourful hats and leis. Florence took one photo home and I took the other. Or I meant to. I hadn’t brought my purse, and had nothing to put the picture in. When I packed up my folding chairs and blanket and travel mug, the photo must have fallen from my lap to the lawn. It was dark by the time I got home and realized it was missing, and I didn’t get back to the park until tonight. After I searched the pristine lawns, checked under cars where I had parked, and scoured the nearby beach, I walked for a bit. That’s when I saw two young women suspended from a maple tree. They were resting together in a hammock hung from two sturdy branches of the good tree along the path that follows the waterfront. I had never seen anything like it. It looked amazing. I took my cue from Mike McCardell and spoke to the women. They responded with bright smiles. It was their second day hanging in the hammock. I must have missed them during the concert. They were enjoying a final bit of relaxation before one of them heads to university. The other is considering a gap year with some travelling. They were happy to have their photo taken, but didn’t want their names shared. After taking photos, a long freight train was holding up traffic from leaving the community. I turned right instead of left. My brother John had called earlier. In July, we walked along the main beach path enjoying waffle cones of gelato. He regretted not taking photos. I said we had the memories. We used to come here when we were children, playing in the sand and shallow water. Gelato beckoned. I had a waffle cone while walking along the main beach path. It was my second time there this summer. There were lovers, there were families, there were singles. One or two phones glowed. Watching the unfolding scenery, over 180 degrees of panoramic nature and rippling water and the sun setting over distant hills, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I hope you can enjoy what is left of summer, and get out to see some of our stunning natural scenery. Maybe you'll see something unusual and amazing. Then tell someone else. You'll make memories that are precious. That's Mike McCardell's idea, and I like it. - Irene Plett Topics: summer, writing, gelato, Crescent Beach, Neil Young, Mike McCardell
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WriterIrene Plett is a writer, poet and animal lover living in South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Categories
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