Bonfire

Last night to mark the first day of summer (sometimes also called mid-summer) several friends gathered on the beach around a dancing bonfire under the light of the half-moon. The water was warm and inviting. Lachlan waded while it was still light (the summer solstice is the longest day of the year, after all), dug holes in the sand, wandered up and down the beach searching for what only he knew, and toasted marshmallows.

Lou Ann built the fire (the word bonfire, by the way, comes from bone fire, a fire with bones used for fuel), and as the sun retreated behind the dunes, painting the sky a deep pink and silhouetting the sea oats, we pulled our beach chairs and blankets up to the fire and ate and drank and chatted. Donald Davis used his laser (and his encyclopedic knowledge) to point out the constellations, and stars, and planets. Several large shooting stars streaked across the sky as if to join the celebration.

What a wonderful way to usher in the summer (and start preparing for the shortening of days that leads to autumn and then winter in an endless cycle of times and seasons).

Take a journey back in time with our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. You can capture some of the thrill of riding on the old mailboat Aleta by clicking here.