Thursday, October 8, 2009

Carpe Diem!

Over last weekend, my DH and I took my parents to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for my cousin's wedding on the beach. It was a lovely setting, much different from the beaches of Florida or Hawaii! The coastal island beaches are lined with dunes covered with low growing shrubs and salt grass.

Wild ponies, the descendants of shipwrecked Spanish horses, roam freely. It is against the law to feed them or even to approach closer than 50 feet so they'll remain wild. White egrets perch on their backs to keep them free of insects, a neat little symbiotic relationship.

The wedding was held on a remote portion of the beach only accessible by four wheel drive. It was a "shoes optional" affair, very intimate and lovely. I felt blessed to be there.

My DH and I lived in North Carolina, in the Piedmont area, for 11 years. And in all that time, we never made it to the Outer Banks. The DH was working for USAir at the time, so when we wanted to go to the beach, we hopped a plane and went to Florida, using his flight benefits. By doing so, we missed some of the wonders closer at hand, always thinking we'd do the Outer Banks later.

We left NC in 1996. Later took its time in coming.

Now I'm of the opinion that we shouldn't wait when we want to do something. Take that trip. Tell the people who are important to you how much they mean to you. Make peace with any you're in conflict with. Surround yourself with the people and things that make you happy. Don't wait. Later may not come.

As my uncle from Tennessee says, "It's time to start using the good china."

Is there anything you've been putting off that you want to do?

8 comments:

Mari said...

I've been putting off closing our backyard pool for the winter. I think I am in denial about it getting colder...LOL

Marilyn Z. Tomlins said...

I agree with you - do it now!

mrsshukra said...

The NC beach sure looks different from Hawaii beaches, you're right! My Mom is thousands of miles away. It's so nice that you got to spend time with your parents, Emily! They look so cute and sweet together, by the way.

I've been reading too many romances and watching too much TV, I've neglected cleaning the windows and screens of our house. There are just always more important things to do!

Did you get the photos of ACB on the B&N shelves here that I sent you the other day? It took longer but I finally got a copy!

Glynis Peters said...

I have been putting off putting fresh linen on the bed today. I have the mattress out in the sunshine for a lovely airing, but now I have to fight with fitted sheets twice my length LOL

The wedding setting sounded lovely, oh and to not have to wear shoes, bliss.

Mary said...

My cousin had a beach wedding that was also a shoes optional affair. It was a beautiful event =).

The one thing that I have been putting off that I really want to do is to clean out my closet and clear it of the clothes that I no longer wear. I keep telling myself that today is the day I'll do it, but then I put it off till tomorrow.

EmilyBryan said...

Mari--My parents closed their pool down before they came out here. By the time they return to the Ozarks, it'll be too cold to swim anyway.

Marilyn--Thanks for stopping by my blog. I popped over to yours and was intrigued. Are you actually in Paris?

Etirv--Yes, I did receive your pics and plan to use them later this week. Friday is my regular blog day at The Chatelaines and I was going to post them there, talking about how I'd love to follow my books around the world!

Glynis- My money's on you. YOu can take those fitted sheets and show them who's boss!

I really liked going without shoes at the wedding. I kept thinking about how God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. When two people pledge themselves for life, that qualifies as holy ground to me.

Mary--I hate to think about my closet. I always have a couple different wardrobes in there depending on what size I am at the present. Sigh!

RC Patton - ReflectiveVideo.com said...

NC has some wonderful beaches and they make a great place for a wedding. There is nothing like NC sand in your shoes!
RC Patton - Wedding Video for NC

EmilyBryan said...

RC--Once my shoes came off, they didn't go back on for the rest of the night. I love sand of any sort beneath my feet!