Absolutely! Spending time in Southern California brings back so many fond memories. The beach with its golden sands and the sound of waves crashing along with the fresh ocean air. I remember those leisurely days soaking in the sun, enjoying the surf, and grabbing tacos from local stands.
The mountains offered a different beauty, with their pine trees and fresh air. Hiking there felt like a mini-adventure every time, revealing breathtaking views from the summits. And then there’s the desert, with its unique landscapes and stunning sunsets that seem to stretch on forever.
It’s crazy how much the drive has changed! I used to cruise from Orange County to LA in just an hour—now it takes two or three! 🙈
My brother lived in San Clemente and it was so idyllic! I’m glad your memories resonated with me and sparked these happy reflections. Thank you Deborah! Love you!❤️❤️❤️
Dear Charlotte, I've been on a break and finally stole a little time here at mum's kitchen table. I knew this would resonate with you and that's amazing your brother lived in San Clemente? It's our favorite beach and it was so nice to see our daughter take her kids there this past weekend! I was looking at her pictures on Instagram and it made me think of the days. Seeing my grandchildren standing and waving to the train. Just wish we could go with them -- but this generation is very much into their time and they are busy. Maybe when we get home. Now we have this old worn beach skin! ha ha! So we go looking like we're in hazmat suits! lol. At least I have to. Never thought I'd be collecting cute SPF 50 swim tops and bottoms that make me look like an old covered surfer from head to toe :) And you're right about all that driving! It was so easy back then. Now it's a boondoggle mess right at San Juan Capistrano. We love to go down there in the fall :). Love those local stands and downtown San Clemente -- and of course our mountains!
I honestly can't wait to meet you and I get this feeling it will be in L.A. -- because now we have our older son camping in a big RV on a private winery near Lodi, Ca and we get about a day to see them on the way up and on the way back south. They are still looking for a home with land in Placerville. I have to figure out how we could eventually meetup in NorCal - - but let me know when you and Randy are down south and we will absolutely meet you :) Glad you had a break too. I miss you and hope to catchup with somer reading soon. Notes was driving me crazy. It just feels so wierd there now. I don't recognize anyone. It's all politics. Same old social feeling I tried to escape. Oh well. Still love my friends there. Love you! oxox
Oh I love this! I remember similar days at the beach in Ibiza with my children. Golden evenings, the sun setting behind the amazing rock formation at Beniras beach, and the hippies drumming as the sky turned peach. And then a tortilla at Toni’s in Santa Ines, with aliolli and bread, and wine… and the old white village church opposite. Bliss!
Dear Cesca, I apologize for my lateness -- but I guess I truly did walk away with exception to a poem I was feeling called to work on while waiting test results. Which came back benign -- so I finished my poem, my soul's walk through the "wait." And then I just published it and walked away again. Notes has been so wierd lately, like I mentioned to Charlotte -- my feed is full of people I don't know and politics.
Anyways, I LOVED reading what you wrote here and I imagine it in my mind. The golden evenings in other places of the world with our children. The hippies drumming reminded me of our youngest son, Ian, who recently asked me to dig our an awful flash picture of him as a three year old dancing, bouncing along with the Hare Krishnas drumming in the park at Laguna Beach! ha ha! We'd go to this art festival after a day in San Clemente sometimes -- if the ride up the coast north to Laguna wasn't too crazy (and we left early enough from San Clemente) -- it went on through the evening with bands and local food, artists. John told me at our first festival (while dating) that we should buy my ring there - which was an early indicator we'd get married someday :) Oh and the old white village church -- funny how the beach reminds me of those old churches too. The most lovely are always scattered along the coastline.
I hope you are doing well and feeling well. It's been very nice with my mum and brother. John and I kayaked yesterday on a lake -- me looking like a bee keeper (lol - not that bad, but you know...) I was gliding by cheeky buns laying on floats or paddle boarding -- in my big hat, life vest, whistle -- ha ha! (a local gave us whistles!). The sun exposure with my skin is a big thing these days. I've been warned! Sending you much love. Can't wait to catchup soon. oxox
Brings back same memories our time in Ventura! Day trips to Malibu… Zuma Beach and that great burger place across the street… motorcycles everywhere!!😀 Up to Ojai for horseback riding and another fave restaurant. Mostly riding out bikes to the harbor or the other way to the promenade all the way to surfers point, fairgrounds and the RV camp. Those were the days…miss SoCal… but we did go north to Monterey a few times, stoping at every beach along the way! So glad you’ve written this.. a really feel good piece! Loved the Birthday pictures with your mom…. Pretty, youthful lady who does NOT show her age! 🥰 I read somewhere we need to take breaks every so often so “our souls can catch up to our bodies!” Isn’t that a nice thought! ☺️🫶💕Love you and love picturing you two on the lake, couple of kids kayaking! ♥️
Oh I can feel all of this! Especially because we used to take the kids camping at McGrath State Beach Campground in Ventura! I love that area and I remember your stories. Best of both worlds, from mid-west to west.
And you’re too kind! This going grey thing sometimes makes me feel cool and often old! Every woman knows this feeling! We feel good all the fuss is over and old because our hair stops behaving! lol
And mom’s birthday was so much fun. The winery is gorgeous. You’d love it. She is very popular with her friends and neighbors. It’s really something to watch. Many cards and visits, neighborhood children handmade cards and visits for tea with them. They love her.
Thank you for reading this and for your love and support. I wrote a poem while I was here in Oregon waiting for my test results. It’s the last thing I published. I think you will like the film that goes with it. I caught mom in it!!
Deborah, I loved this! How are we so similar? First of of all, the memories of camping at the lake. Spending the afternoon at the beach in the Dunes campground. Coming back to the camp amd lying in the tent with the kids before I made dinner. Listening to the cicadas buzzing the trees as the late afternoon sun shine through the pines and made patterns on the tent fabric. Campfires. I used to buy sugar cones and cut up all kinds of things-strawberries, bananas, marshmallows-add bowls of chocolate chips, peanuts, chocolate and caramel sauce. Then fill them, wrap in foil and put over the campfire. Kids loved them!
Also I loved magazines! Love, still! When I was a little kid, I leafed through my grandparent's time magazines and secretly...my grandfather's Esquire magazines. In college I took Fashion Design and bought all the Vouge, Elle and Flare I could get my hands on. Rolling Stones, Wired and Omni.I loved the taglines in the fashion spreads. I still use those examples to title my posts. I loved that video about the making of a magazine!
Misha made a zine in art school and I immediately wanted to make some and scatter them around the city. I hope you have lots of amazing adventures with the family this summer. The northwest coast sounds so beautiful and adventurous!
Rosemary! I have all but disappeared except my love of posting and running on Instagram! ha ha! Manageable :) I am so sorry I am delayed and I've been thinking about you and Misha and the baby. I will try and check in soon and see if everything is still going good! I'm not sure I know when she is due.
I loved reading your recollections of memories on the lake and at the beach! When I was growing up we camped in the dunes at Pismo Beach up north -- all the time! Dad would test his half finished dune buggies out in the sand (lol). Yesterday, John and I took our kayaks (we keep at mom's) to a lake and it was absolutely buzzing with blue dragonflies. I love every minute and always think of "if only I could do this with my kids and grandkids" - but that's a sweet dream :) I think I need a beach trip when we get back because it's been hard to read on this trip for some reason. It's been full of visits and it was so nice to celebrate mum's 89th. She's a very popular lady! Imagine a world where you still have friends mailing birthday cards! No less than 15! and all the neighborhood kids making handmade ones :). I marvel :) Our world, our kids, it's all so different.
Anyways, thank you for staying in touch with me. We are very much alike. Can't wait to get back to reading and some fellowship with friends here. I've been kinda blah with Notes -- I actually peeked this morning and it was all politics and people I don't know. Kinda sad. Sending you much love always. oxox
Absolutely loved reading this Debs! Shivering wrapped up in a towel reminds me of my own childhood! And that was on UK beaches so believe me, I was shivering!!
Dom! Gosh, thank you so much! I posted and ran away :). But I did come back with a poem last Sunday, and published it, (with a little film) after finding out really good news that my test was "benign!" I felt called to write it, like an outer body experience, from the moment I got to mum's house as a way, I think, of getting through "the wait."
I love reading that you related to the beach trips and the shivering, wanting more of the seaside. It's magical watching our children spend time at the beach and it's magical remembering our time on the beach. It's the first place we went in Southern California after we settled in. I recently found pictures of our first Christmas, 1963, just the three of us, -- mum, dad and me, all dressed up at the beach, alone. Made me smile and have tears at the same time. Santa Monica. It was the place where there was a fish & chips pub :)
Hope you're doing well and still creating through the pains. Much love to you (oh and I love that you called me "Debs" because that's what all my relatives in England call me)
Jenni, I'm still here! ha ha! Stealing a moment at mum's kitchen table :) Yesss, Zuma, and my friends brought their guitars and harmonicas and sang Neil for sure!
Dear Deb, this is beautiful. I remember beach days, too, with wistful joy. I love this so much. Sending you love, and gratitude, I shall endeavor to fully catch up soon, I owe you an email. I hope your summer is beautiful ❤️❤️❤️
Absolutely! Spending time in Southern California brings back so many fond memories. The beach with its golden sands and the sound of waves crashing along with the fresh ocean air. I remember those leisurely days soaking in the sun, enjoying the surf, and grabbing tacos from local stands.
The mountains offered a different beauty, with their pine trees and fresh air. Hiking there felt like a mini-adventure every time, revealing breathtaking views from the summits. And then there’s the desert, with its unique landscapes and stunning sunsets that seem to stretch on forever.
It’s crazy how much the drive has changed! I used to cruise from Orange County to LA in just an hour—now it takes two or three! 🙈
My brother lived in San Clemente and it was so idyllic! I’m glad your memories resonated with me and sparked these happy reflections. Thank you Deborah! Love you!❤️❤️❤️
Dear Charlotte, I've been on a break and finally stole a little time here at mum's kitchen table. I knew this would resonate with you and that's amazing your brother lived in San Clemente? It's our favorite beach and it was so nice to see our daughter take her kids there this past weekend! I was looking at her pictures on Instagram and it made me think of the days. Seeing my grandchildren standing and waving to the train. Just wish we could go with them -- but this generation is very much into their time and they are busy. Maybe when we get home. Now we have this old worn beach skin! ha ha! So we go looking like we're in hazmat suits! lol. At least I have to. Never thought I'd be collecting cute SPF 50 swim tops and bottoms that make me look like an old covered surfer from head to toe :) And you're right about all that driving! It was so easy back then. Now it's a boondoggle mess right at San Juan Capistrano. We love to go down there in the fall :). Love those local stands and downtown San Clemente -- and of course our mountains!
I honestly can't wait to meet you and I get this feeling it will be in L.A. -- because now we have our older son camping in a big RV on a private winery near Lodi, Ca and we get about a day to see them on the way up and on the way back south. They are still looking for a home with land in Placerville. I have to figure out how we could eventually meetup in NorCal - - but let me know when you and Randy are down south and we will absolutely meet you :) Glad you had a break too. I miss you and hope to catchup with somer reading soon. Notes was driving me crazy. It just feels so wierd there now. I don't recognize anyone. It's all politics. Same old social feeling I tried to escape. Oh well. Still love my friends there. Love you! oxox
Oh I love this! I remember similar days at the beach in Ibiza with my children. Golden evenings, the sun setting behind the amazing rock formation at Beniras beach, and the hippies drumming as the sky turned peach. And then a tortilla at Toni’s in Santa Ines, with aliolli and bread, and wine… and the old white village church opposite. Bliss!
Dear Cesca, I apologize for my lateness -- but I guess I truly did walk away with exception to a poem I was feeling called to work on while waiting test results. Which came back benign -- so I finished my poem, my soul's walk through the "wait." And then I just published it and walked away again. Notes has been so wierd lately, like I mentioned to Charlotte -- my feed is full of people I don't know and politics.
Anyways, I LOVED reading what you wrote here and I imagine it in my mind. The golden evenings in other places of the world with our children. The hippies drumming reminded me of our youngest son, Ian, who recently asked me to dig our an awful flash picture of him as a three year old dancing, bouncing along with the Hare Krishnas drumming in the park at Laguna Beach! ha ha! We'd go to this art festival after a day in San Clemente sometimes -- if the ride up the coast north to Laguna wasn't too crazy (and we left early enough from San Clemente) -- it went on through the evening with bands and local food, artists. John told me at our first festival (while dating) that we should buy my ring there - which was an early indicator we'd get married someday :) Oh and the old white village church -- funny how the beach reminds me of those old churches too. The most lovely are always scattered along the coastline.
I hope you are doing well and feeling well. It's been very nice with my mum and brother. John and I kayaked yesterday on a lake -- me looking like a bee keeper (lol - not that bad, but you know...) I was gliding by cheeky buns laying on floats or paddle boarding -- in my big hat, life vest, whistle -- ha ha! (a local gave us whistles!). The sun exposure with my skin is a big thing these days. I've been warned! Sending you much love. Can't wait to catchup soon. oxox
How is it possible we have the same memories. ?
Jennifer! Aren't they the best memories ever? I love how places can bring us such beauty and peace. Hope you're doing well. ox
Brings back same memories our time in Ventura! Day trips to Malibu… Zuma Beach and that great burger place across the street… motorcycles everywhere!!😀 Up to Ojai for horseback riding and another fave restaurant. Mostly riding out bikes to the harbor or the other way to the promenade all the way to surfers point, fairgrounds and the RV camp. Those were the days…miss SoCal… but we did go north to Monterey a few times, stoping at every beach along the way! So glad you’ve written this.. a really feel good piece! Loved the Birthday pictures with your mom…. Pretty, youthful lady who does NOT show her age! 🥰 I read somewhere we need to take breaks every so often so “our souls can catch up to our bodies!” Isn’t that a nice thought! ☺️🫶💕Love you and love picturing you two on the lake, couple of kids kayaking! ♥️
Oh I can feel all of this! Especially because we used to take the kids camping at McGrath State Beach Campground in Ventura! I love that area and I remember your stories. Best of both worlds, from mid-west to west.
And you’re too kind! This going grey thing sometimes makes me feel cool and often old! Every woman knows this feeling! We feel good all the fuss is over and old because our hair stops behaving! lol
And mom’s birthday was so much fun. The winery is gorgeous. You’d love it. She is very popular with her friends and neighbors. It’s really something to watch. Many cards and visits, neighborhood children handmade cards and visits for tea with them. They love her.
Thank you for reading this and for your love and support. I wrote a poem while I was here in Oregon waiting for my test results. It’s the last thing I published. I think you will like the film that goes with it. I caught mom in it!!
love you. ox
https://open.substack.com/pub/deborahthewitt/p/p-e-a-r-l-s?r=kn8dx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web×tamp=9.8&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Deborah, I loved this! How are we so similar? First of of all, the memories of camping at the lake. Spending the afternoon at the beach in the Dunes campground. Coming back to the camp amd lying in the tent with the kids before I made dinner. Listening to the cicadas buzzing the trees as the late afternoon sun shine through the pines and made patterns on the tent fabric. Campfires. I used to buy sugar cones and cut up all kinds of things-strawberries, bananas, marshmallows-add bowls of chocolate chips, peanuts, chocolate and caramel sauce. Then fill them, wrap in foil and put over the campfire. Kids loved them!
Also I loved magazines! Love, still! When I was a little kid, I leafed through my grandparent's time magazines and secretly...my grandfather's Esquire magazines. In college I took Fashion Design and bought all the Vouge, Elle and Flare I could get my hands on. Rolling Stones, Wired and Omni.I loved the taglines in the fashion spreads. I still use those examples to title my posts. I loved that video about the making of a magazine!
Misha made a zine in art school and I immediately wanted to make some and scatter them around the city. I hope you have lots of amazing adventures with the family this summer. The northwest coast sounds so beautiful and adventurous!
Rosemary! I have all but disappeared except my love of posting and running on Instagram! ha ha! Manageable :) I am so sorry I am delayed and I've been thinking about you and Misha and the baby. I will try and check in soon and see if everything is still going good! I'm not sure I know when she is due.
I loved reading your recollections of memories on the lake and at the beach! When I was growing up we camped in the dunes at Pismo Beach up north -- all the time! Dad would test his half finished dune buggies out in the sand (lol). Yesterday, John and I took our kayaks (we keep at mom's) to a lake and it was absolutely buzzing with blue dragonflies. I love every minute and always think of "if only I could do this with my kids and grandkids" - but that's a sweet dream :) I think I need a beach trip when we get back because it's been hard to read on this trip for some reason. It's been full of visits and it was so nice to celebrate mum's 89th. She's a very popular lady! Imagine a world where you still have friends mailing birthday cards! No less than 15! and all the neighborhood kids making handmade ones :). I marvel :) Our world, our kids, it's all so different.
Anyways, thank you for staying in touch with me. We are very much alike. Can't wait to get back to reading and some fellowship with friends here. I've been kinda blah with Notes -- I actually peeked this morning and it was all politics and people I don't know. Kinda sad. Sending you much love always. oxox
Absolutely loved reading this Debs! Shivering wrapped up in a towel reminds me of my own childhood! And that was on UK beaches so believe me, I was shivering!!
Dom! Gosh, thank you so much! I posted and ran away :). But I did come back with a poem last Sunday, and published it, (with a little film) after finding out really good news that my test was "benign!" I felt called to write it, like an outer body experience, from the moment I got to mum's house as a way, I think, of getting through "the wait."
I love reading that you related to the beach trips and the shivering, wanting more of the seaside. It's magical watching our children spend time at the beach and it's magical remembering our time on the beach. It's the first place we went in Southern California after we settled in. I recently found pictures of our first Christmas, 1963, just the three of us, -- mum, dad and me, all dressed up at the beach, alone. Made me smile and have tears at the same time. Santa Monica. It was the place where there was a fish & chips pub :)
Hope you're doing well and still creating through the pains. Much love to you (oh and I love that you called me "Debs" because that's what all my relatives in England call me)
oxoxox
'Zuma' Neil Young's album, and he was one of my heroes back in the day.
Jenni, I'm still here! ha ha! Stealing a moment at mum's kitchen table :) Yesss, Zuma, and my friends brought their guitars and harmonicas and sang Neil for sure!
Great message Deborah. - Jim
Thank you Jim :)
I hope you're keeping well. Taking a break from Notes and Substack overall -- has been good for the soul. ox
Dear Deb, this is beautiful. I remember beach days, too, with wistful joy. I love this so much. Sending you love, and gratitude, I shall endeavor to fully catch up soon, I owe you an email. I hope your summer is beautiful ❤️❤️❤️