My cousin Sylvia and her friend Marie came over to the island this past weekend to visit Earl O'Neal. We sat on the pizer Saturday afternoon and talked for more than an hour. Sylvia and Marie came back to join us for supper. We shared stories, talked about childhood memories of Ocracoke, and laughed about our relatives' antics.
Earl told us he had a photograph of my father right after a hurricane. He was standing in water up to his neck. Well, actually he wasn't standing. He was being silly and kneeling, making it look like the water was much higher than it was! He also has a photo of my father holding a smiling clam. My dad had taken out his false teeth and inserted them between the open shells.
After supper we walked across the lane to visit Blanche. More stories flowed forth, and we all laughed some more. Blanche says the Howards always liked to laugh. She says it keeps us young. My Aunt Thelma is 97 years old. As she often reminds me, "No fools, no fun."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Captain Rob's essay, "Schooner Windfall Sails into the Final Sunset." You can read it here:http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052110.htm.
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Some comedian whose name I forget once said, "If you don't have a sense of humor, you have no sense at all." Amen.
ReplyDeleteIt was probably George Ade that said that.
ReplyDeleteWhat is a 'pizer'?
ReplyDeleteI may need it for a future game of Scrabble...
Pizer is the porch!
ReplyDeletePhillip, could you scan the old photos so we can enjoy the laugh?
I'll check with Earl and ask him to email the photos to me.
ReplyDeleteI just called Earl. His computer is down (infected with a virus). He said he'd email the photos (they are somewhere on a disc of his) when he gets his computer back.
ReplyDeletePhilip,
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say thank you so much for sharing this blog. I love the island that you call home, but I am only able to visit once a year. This blog makes me feel "connected" in some small way. Anyway, I will be making my yearly visit in a few weeks, but this year I will have my 2 month old son so I am hoping you can share some information with me. What do you all do to protect your babies from the mosquitoes? I'm hoping they won't be as bad as I've seen them in years past, but I am trying to be prepared. Thank you in advance for any advice you can share.
I loved meeting your cousin, Sylvia when she came by the museum!
ReplyDeleteDeAnna
Sounds like another big ole time on Ocracoke Island! You are indeed, blessed folks!
ReplyDeleteBabies & mosquitoes?? I don't know of any specific protection, other than the usual precautions -- keep them (the babies, that is) covered up, and brush the critters away. There may be repellants considered safe for infants, but I don't know about that. Mosquito netting around strollers would be a good idea. Maybe you'll be lucky and the bugs won't be bad when you visit.
ReplyDeleteAvon Skin-So-Soft is supposed to keep mosquitos away but I'm not sure about if it's safe for babies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, try putting a dryer-sheet near baby (make sure he doen't eat it) That's supposed to keep them away too.
Thanks for the tips! Maybe I'll sew a stroller net made out of dryer sheets. LOL Just kidding. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteSkin-so-soft is good to keep mosquitoes away as well as rubbing a dryer sheet over your skin (I use unscented). They also work for a short time to keep those nasty green headed flies on the beach away. I've recently read about using Listerine as a bug repellant. I've used some in our yard and it does seem to work to keep mosquitoes away. I'm planning on using it this year on the beach to see if it helps with the flies. I don't know about using it on babies though-might want to check with the peditrician, don't know if the alcohol in it would cause a problem to a baby or not.
ReplyDelete