Early morning sunshine filters through fig trees and oaks and wild rosemary
as I look out through the windows of my new home..my summer home.

I traveled by train. I traveled by night through the sleeping corn fields of
Ohio watching out my small window...the rhythm of the train, the warning
whistle at crossings and lights in towns and villages finally put me to sleep. I
awoke as we crossed into the heart of Pennsylvania...the woodlands and tunnels
of rock. After breakfast in the dining car with folks from Iowa, I found
myself involved in a singing group complete with mandolin, guitar, banjo and a
Mennonite boys choir...we sang everything from You Are My Sunshine to the old
hymn I'll Fly Away. Traveling on to Washington D.C., I changed trains for
Virginia where my steel-wheels journey ended in Newport News. Philip was there to
meet me at the small station...a miracle of a journey as I could not fly nor
drive through mountains....

We arrived back to Ocracoke the next day late afternoon and stopped off the
beach to swim...not a soul in sight...nor a building as it is National
Seashore. We drove back to the village but spent the evening on Rob and Sundae's
sailboat for the Sunset Cruise...an hour and a half out into the waters watching
the sunset and telling stories...back to town to visit with folks lazily
stretched out on benches and chairs watching the harbor..and telling stories..then
off to the Jolly Roger for supper and island music. It was a wonderful
welcome to the summer.

The past two weeks rise with the sun and set with the deep golden of the
constellations...I am working part time in the shop...quite a new experience for
me to have "the summer job" which isn't storytelling or theatre or teaching.
There is so much to learn!! Sometimes we can steal away for an hour or two to
walk on the beach...it would be impossible for me to share everything from the
past couple of weeks, but a few events...clamming in the Sound on Sunday
morning (I did gather my share for the evening clambake), the folk festival the
first week end I was here which took all of the first few days..I was able to
pitch right in and help direct craft vendors, told stories with Philip and John
Golden on stage on Saturday, went to the Ocracoke square dance (Philip called
the dance, although I still couldn't dance because of my recent eye surgery),
attended the local auction which brings in money for the festival (again,
Philip was the auctioneer, and I did my part in supporting the festival!!),
evenings of music, the ghost and historical tours on Tuesday evenings, friends for
dinner, birthday parties, even a funeral for Buffy Warner, the owner of
Howard's Pub and a former politician from West Virginia. I met him once two weeks
ago....it was the largest funeral ever held on the island..we sat outside under
ancient trees surrounded by hundreds of people singing Let There Be Peace on
Earth...I don't think there was a dry eye among the folks.

Ellen and a few Indiana friends are here this week so we have had
dinner...tonight a shrimp boil out on the pizer (a front porch) and off to the local
Opry, which is held every Wednesday night..with musicians and storytellers...all
ages...all talents...all connected by love of their home.

I am settling in little by little...my lap top is finally hooked up (just
yesterday!), my lavender candles on old sea trunks, my Emily Dickinson poetry
book on the shelf..a newly established clothesline in the back yard ....and hooks
for jeans and T-shirts, the island attire.

I feel peaceful and at home..and so on this early morning as the dappling sun
warms the graves surrounded by the picket fence outside my window and as the
day begins with working in the shop, hanging out the laundry, riding my bike
to pick up the shrimp, chatting, visiting, listening...listening to
stories...to the wind blow...to time standing still...I leave you with my thoughts and
wishes as they blow across the sound or across the Atlantic, wherever you are.

Here's to another day of being...Love, Lou Ann

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