BEACH MOMS

Here's a poem inspired by my observations of moms at the beach:

Beach Moms


Sun glistens off grains of sand.
Water laps the shell-studded shore.
Seagulls soar across the hazy blue sky,
and Mom leads the expedition
onto the beach.

Her troops are in line,
all colorfully clad
in bright matching swimsuits
for easy identification.
No one gets left behind.

Picking out her spot
on the crowded sands
is a matter of strategy,
a triangulation between
restrooms, ocean, and parking lot.

She sets up camp.
The team must resist
the beckoning water
until the perimeter has been secured
with an old bedspread no one ever liked.

The umbrella is up,
a rainbow-striped flag,
claiming the area.
It is one among hundreds
all bought on sale at Target.

The troops must be prepped
for combating the sun’s ruthless fire.
Armor is poured out
in coconut streams
while little bodies slither out of reach.

Dad slithers too,
but even he cannot escape
the white shields of lotion
Mom applies to his chest, back, arms, legs,
that growing bald spot on the crown of his head.

Finally the squadron is deployed to the sea.
Mom settles into her command post,
one eye on the troops,
the other on the muscled, nearly naked lifeguard
manning his own battle station.

They nod to each other, Mom and the lifeguard,
a silent signal that although she admires the muscles,
those are her babies out there
braving the waves,
and if he doesn’t save them, she’ll take him down.

Hungry stomachs drag the soldiers to headquarters,
and Mom opens her bottomless bag of rations,
while dusting sand off blanket corners, kids, nectarines.
Her PB&J refuels, her wet wipes refresh,
and the troops return to that line between land and sea.

Mom smiles approvingly
at the sand sculptures erected,
the moats dug,
the waves jumped,
the dad buried in the sand by the most industrious of her platoon.

Finally the sun hits that place in the sky,
that it’s-time-to-go-home spot.
Mom rallies the crew
and hands out supplies.
Everyone carries something.

She leads the sun-weary, water-logged company
to the asphalt hangar,
sandy footprints zigzag behind her.
The car is packed with scientific precision
and everyone does the shaking sand off dance.

Car windows open to release the heat
and welcome the salted air.
A deep inhale to take home for the ride,
and the tank rolls out.

Another battle at the beach is won.


cdepetrillo2009

STATUS REPORT

I've been hard at work getting know Gini and Patrick and outlining their story. Doing just a bit more research and then I'll begin writing. Also working on revisions to ALASKA HEART, my adult contemporary romance that will be published by The Wild Rose Press. I'll be attending a writing institute at Rhode Island College where I'll try to polish a young adult manuscript. Then I'll be shopping that around hopefully.

Just ONE more day of school left and then Summer Writing Christine will be unleashed! Look out!

What are you working on? Doesn't have to be writing. Could be some other passion. Tell us.

CREATE THE STORY

Votes are in and our story will be told in third person point of view.

Recap:

Hero: Patrick Barre, firefighter/carpenter

Heroine: Gini Claremont, photographer

Setting: Vermont

Point of View: Third Person

I'm currently in the process of revising a full-length contemporary adult romance that The Wild Rose Press is interested in publishing. (Yay!) Once that is squared away, I will begin drafting Patrick and Gini's tale based on your votes. While I'm doing that, we can have some blog fun by interviewing our characters. Please post questions on this site in the comments section, and Patrick and Gini will answer them. This will give us the chance to get to know our characters. Let's get the questions rolling!

P.S. Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting. Hope you had fun! I did!

CREATE THE STORY--VOTE #6 POINT OF VIEW

People, people, people! Vermont is our lucky winner for the setting with Rhode Island as a close second. Perhaps our photographer, Gini Claremont, will need to do a shoot in little Rhodey at some point in our tale. She can take Patrick along and feed him clam cakes and Del's lemonade. :)

Next up is point of view. How would you like to hear our story? Please select your choice and leave your vote in the comments section of this blog, on Facebook, or hire a sky writer to display
it in the clouds. I'll leave it up to you.

Point of View

A. Third Person--both Patrick and Gini's perspectives
Example: Patrick ignited Gini’s desire as he ran his fingers along the curve of her back. She sighed and shuddered under his touch.

B. First Person--Patrick--inside his head
Example: I’d never seen flesh so flawless. My fingers traced Gini’s contours, memorized her perfection. How had this angel come to be in my bed?

C. First Person--Gini--inside her head
Example: He touched me as if I’d vanish under his fingers if he pressed too hard. His wide palms were rough and calloused, but warm. And uncertain. Terribly uncertain. How could I convince him that I wanted this, wanted him?

CREATE THE STORY--VOTE #5 SETTING

Alrighty, folks, Virginia (Gini) Claremont, photographer, is our heroine. Patrick ought to make her picture-taking finger itch, no?

Up next, voting for the setting of the story. Please indicate your choice in the comments section of this blog, on Facebook, or by stopping me to chat in the toilet paper aisle in the grocery store. Enjoy!

Settings:

A. Rhode Island

B. New York

C. Vermont

D. Arizona

CREATE THE STORY--VOTE #4

Pretty chick B is our winner for heroine. She looks great with Patrick, our hero.

Now we are on to the heroine's name and job. Who is this gal? Please leave your votes in the comment section of this blog, on Facebook, or in a sealed envelope so that you can claim to be psychic when you predict the winning name and job. Have fun!

Name

A. Virginia Claremont (Gini, for nickname)
B. Hadley Thetford (Haddy)
C. Sara Barnet
D. Melina Fairlee

Job

A. Photographer
B. Dancer
C. Pastry chef

D. Stunt double

CREATE THE STORY--VOTE #3 The Heroine

Okay, folks. Our hero's name is Patrick Barre (by one vote). Since there was a tie between firefighter and carpenter, we'll make his primary job fighting fires, but his hobby, which he is very passionate about, is woodworking. Everybody, say hello to Patrick, a man who knows how to put out a fire...and start one.


Next up, our heroine. Now is your chance to play matchmaker. Please vote for your choice of leading lady in the comments section of this blog, on Facebook, or via carrier pigeon.

Who do you think will be good for Patrick?




A.





B.

C.

D.