Silver Horizon – Jekyll Island, Georgia
School starts tomorrow in the Atlanta metro area. Ugh! I mean, Yea! I know it’s exciting for those going to school with their new clothes, backpacks, and sharpened pencils. But for me it means that Summer is coming to a close, and the traffic will get crazy again. This makes me sad, as I remember when it seemed like the Summer lasted for an eternity, and now it goes by so quickly. Before serious depression sets in, I remember that school days bring the Fall, which is one of my four favorite seasons. I love the Fall with it’s crisp air, beautiful colors, crackly leaves underfoot, blazers, and light sweaters. Yea! Fall is coming. So here’s to looking into the Fall from the vantage point of the end of Summer and the first day of school.
Entry to Fall – Callaway Gardens, Georgia
Do you remember the beach as a small child, running full out with reckless abandon? Do you remember how big the ocean looked to you and how it seemed to chase you on the sand, cold fingers grabbing at your chubby baby toes and ankles? And how about the smell of the beach–salty, sandy, coconut smelling tropical suntan-lotiony? Unless, of course, your mother used a concoction of iodine and baby oil to protect your delicate skin from the sun, but that was old school, so you probably wouldn’t know about that. Do you remember the salty taste of the ocean as it sneaked into your mouth and nose as you tried to swim or the gritty feel of sand on every part of your body? Do you remember how beautiful the seashells looked as you carefully collected them like precious gems to take a little bit of the beach home with you? I do.
Running on the beach – St. Simons Island, GA
Balloon Extravaganza! is what I would call it, but in Albuquerque, they call it the Balloon Fiesta. It’s a momentus event lasting from one weekend to the next in October. There’s a whole ritual to the balloon fiesta which makes me feel a lot like a kid on Christmas eve. First, we rise at 4 am so that we can get to the site before sunrise. In the pre-dawn darkness, bundled in warm clothes and jackets, we watch and wait for the scout balloons to go up first to make sure the weather conditions are acceptable for the ascension. When the first balloons inflate and expel bursts of fire before lift off, everyone cheers as they lift off the ground. Once the go ahead is given, hundreds of balloons laying flat and lifeless begin to inflate and transform into what they are meant to be–balloons, bees, animals, houses, sharks, and spiderman. We cheer, ooh and aah, gasp, and cheer some more. This happens over and over for about 100 balloons. To give you a better taste of the experience, here are some photos I took at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2011.
Balloon Fiesta Extravaganza!
Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
