Saggy Bits

Walking Sticks and Flip-Flops

Walking Sticks and Flip-Flops

Installment #2 of Mrs Fringe Takes a Vacation.

You might be wondering a couple of things.  For example, was I inspired to do any writing while admiring the beauty and sunrises of the beach?  No. I wasn’t, and I didn’t. On our first full day there, I found a rejection in my email that referenced the agent’s “enjoyment of and obvious strengths of” my work.  I spent about 43 seconds stomping my foot–if it’s so obviously strong….I’ll likely have another seven years to obsess about my words and lack of publication before I’ll be back on that beach. Thankfully, the sand doesn’t make for satisfying stomping ground, and so I let it go to enjoy where I was.

The second, obvious question; what did that shameless hussy who goes by the name of Mrs Fringe wear on the beach?  For my sunrise photography sessions, I wore my 8000 year old workout clothes. Mostly because I’d get up, have coffee, do my yoga, and head straight out. The rest of the time? Bikinis all the way. That’s right, I’m a 40,000 year old woman with three grown and close to grown children wearing the effects of gravity like a sarong.  My concession to a body that nursed three babies for a grand total of 58,000 years is to make sure the top has an underwire.

I’ve talked a lot about my love of my Brooklyn beach, and this is much of it.  On that beach you find women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and fitness wearing their bikinis without a thought to what anyone else might or might not think, before they put their tent-resembling chintz house dresses back on and unfold their walkers to go purchase a pound of ground chuck for dinner.  Somewhere in there is a lesson on feminism, accepting who we are at all stages.

I try to care. I even went shopping before we left and bought a conservative tankini, very pretty. The tags are still on it. Instead, I went shopping again while we were on the island, and bought another bikini. I wasn’t sure about it, thought the design might be a little “young” for me, so I walked out of the dressing room to get an opinion. There was a woman standing there, about my age, who misinterpreted what I was asking and told me I should buy it, she’d absolutely wear a bikini if she could pull it off. She proceeded to call her 85 year old mother out of a dressing room to look at me so she could agree. I’m fairly certain her mom couldn’t actually hear a word of what was said, but she smiled and nodded.  Then the woman called her teenaged daughter out of her dressing room to add to the vote.  Hah! The girl popped her head out, politely tried to cover her horror with a twitchy grin, and slammed herself back into her cubicle. Naturally, I bought it ($12!), and wore it the rest of the time we were on the island. To my dressing room buddy:  You can pull it off.  If you want to do so, wear a bikini. It’s that simple.

The tide goes in and out four times (high tide twice, low tide twice) each day on Hilton Head, with a huge difference between high and low.  This means that during low tides, yes there are lovely, warm little tidal pools that are the equivalent of natural sea baby pools, but it also means there’s plenty of width and time to walk (or wheel, for those using wheelchairs) to the shoreline on sand that’s firmly packed, leaving stable ground beneath you. Why mention this? So you can picture how easily Mother-In-Law and I left our canes along with flip-flops and towels in the narrow stretch of soft sand so we could go swimming.

Today’s photos are mixed, a couple of sunrises with some late morning shots sprinkled in.

Path between the apartment complex and the beach.

Path between the apartment complex and the beach.

Sea oats

Sea oats

flip-flops on, off, who cares?

flip-flops on, off, who cares?

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Trash on the beach is terrible, yet there's beauty in there.

Trash on the beach is terrible, yet there’s beauty in there.

Bristle worm

Bristle worm

I was far from the only one in the water at sunrise, I think I fell in love with this woman.

I was far from the only one in the water at sunrise, I think I fell in love with this woman.

Can you feel it?

Can you feel it?

Those beach morning glories from yesterday? A late morning shot.

Those beach morning glories from yesterday? A late morning shot.

why choose to get up at 5am on vacation? This is why.

why choose to get up at 5am on vacation? This is why.

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Beach patrol, out every morning at sunrise to pick up trash left behind and blown in.

Beach patrol, out every morning at sunrise to pick up trash left behind and blown in.

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Up

Up

up

up

a little more

a little more

almost there

almost there

lost for a second

lost for a second

perfect new day.

perfect new day.

15 comments

    1. Let’s go! All I’ve done since getting back home is think about how I can get back. Don’t be afraid of the bristle worms, they’re harmless, I’ve got them in my tank. 😀

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  3. WOW. That photograph with the orange sky. . .

    I felt like I was there, watching the sun come up. You are so right, it’s worth it getting up early when you’re lucky enough to be by a beach, especially one so lovely as where you were. The tide going out allows for some unforeseen surprises. I remember being on Vancouver Island and when that tide pulled out you could walk way out, lift a rock and there’d be a starfish.

    As for your bikini-wearing, I give you credit, for sure. I ain’t that brave, no way. After that surgery last year, I am stuck with a perpetual swelly-belly. I’m still not 100% comfortable with this new body–hopefully, one day–but I admire those who wear what suits them, who care not what others think, who are comfortable in their own skin, who pull on their bikinis and walk out on the beach on their own terms. Even if I don’t join them, I salute them.

    That includes you, Mrs Fringe. Thank you for the pix. Please do keep them coming.

    xoxo kk

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    1. I’m SO happy with the photos I was able to get, thank you for enjoying them with me 🙂 Rest assured that critter photos will be in another post. Not as good, but more fun 😛
      Funny, I’m not that comfortable with who I am/how I look when walking down the street, but on the beach is a whole different story for me. I can be towel to towel with 6000 people and still feel comfortable, like I’m in my own private paradise. 😀

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  6. Just catching up on all your posts, Mrs. F. Gorgeous, gorgeous shots. I kept having disconnects because of course sun on sea here means sunset, not -rise. Love the morning pelican fly-bys. I’ve never been to Hilton Head, but it’s on my list. You’ve only made it more enticing.

    So glad you got some time away. ❤

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    1. Thanks, Elaine! I highly recommend Hilton Head. It’s lovely, and if you’re lazy (like me) you don’t have to DO anything to enjoy it, but if you’re more active there’s plenty of activities while keeping the peace. Most of all, warm water!

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