To anyone who has not read the Stieg Larsson trilogy, I can only say that you have missed some of the best fiction published in ages. I have been so busy trying to get ready for the end of summer that I had neglected to take time to read for a few weeks. You know, the beach season ends on Labor Day. For those who are not familiar with the beach season, it does not last long. Closing up for the winter is a big deal around here.
Memorial Day is the opening day, so to speak. That’s about the first real rush of tourists heading to the shore. For those of us who have spent many years on the beach and the barrier islands, we have mixed feelings about the newcomers. Of course, this year I was not one of the many who were dependent on the arrivals. But, I remember all too well being a child and my family preparing for those who would come and go. When I was a child, I can remember my parents planning the summer. The money the tourists brought to our little island would have to sustain us for the year. But, those were the good old days, at least in my memory.
Anyway, perhaps it is habit but as Labor Day nears I began to do the end of the season stuff, the same stuff my mom and dad did for years. I cleaned the house from top to bottom. I checked all the structural stuff around the house, making sure the steel shades were movable. Several years ago we installed roll down steel protection, much like that seen outside businesses in the less than safe areas. Our protection is not to keep people out at night, but to keep the wind and any flying debris from damaging the house in case we have a storm. It’s that time of year. Although we have been lucky for several years, it is always worth checking the structure before a hurricane is named and heads our way. Waiting until the last minute is risky. That’s a lesson from my childhood.
The flood walls have been checked, although they have never performed at 100% peak efficiency. But, it is the best we can do. Building anything on sand… well, you get the idea. The pilings have all been checked. We added some steel support this year, not that it was needed, but just in case… Anyway, if a hurricane should decide to pay us a visit between now and Thanksgiving the house is as safe as it can be.
I sat down on the porch to feel the ocean breeze and begin the Larsson trilogy. I have had the books since they were available in the U.S. But, I had put off opening the cover, maybe hoarding them to fill quieter days when the cottages have emptied and the neighbors have gone back to their first homes. I’m thinking we will stay on for a while this year.
To be honest, I love the beach in winter. Maybe that is something I learned as a child, too. The only people left on the islands will be people who love our little niche in the world. There will be less litter on the beach and fewer new faces to offer a smile. The the ocean breeze will become cooler, requiring a cotton sweater from time to time. And, by the end of October fishing will be really great. That’s something the tourists haven’t caught onto. The fishing doesn’t get really good around here until the Labrador current cools the coast. Sure, a few old fishermen will show up around the first of November and some will return weekend after weekend for a while. But, those old fellows know how to fish using lightweight test line and number 7 silver hooks.
I love being here during the fall. The locals have the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of our area. We have wonderful weekends filled with beach music — a special music that is most like the music from the movie “Dirty Dancing.” We have oyster festivals where the entire town gathers to eat oysters, drink a little too much, and show off our best new shag steps. Yeah, even those of us who have a few years on us can still make a move on the dance floor. It’s in our blood.
Well, with all the fall chores behind me, several cases of water stored in the pantry, lanterns and a generator in case we have an unwelcomed tropical storm or hurricane, and a selection of good books, I am ready to enjoy the next two weeks before I say “goodbye” to old friends until next May. Oh, I am so very thankful for so many of life’s blessings and for the simple life on a barrier island.
