Here we are admiring one of my favorite collections ~ and my "Dream Life" ~ The story begins in about 1960...so if you'd like to skip ahead and just go to the Lighthouse Links, you won't hurt my feelings...not everyone is into MY "memories"..just peek in on Sweet Laney for me on your way out, thank you...
On with the story..."Why I collect Lighthouses"...well, I can remember being around 10 years old on Locust Street, and EVERY Sunday afternoon from 4pm to 5:30pm, my Dad and I would have to watch Shirley Temple movies. (I can't say that I truly have a "favorite" one, but there are some I like above the others)..anyway, "Captain January" stole my heart, and I longed to sing and dance to the CodFish Ball with Shirley and Buddy Ebson..but I especially wanted to live in "Cap's" Lighthouse, Keep the Light, save the ships, and tap-dance on the spiral staircase! I guess that was where the yearning began.
I've always been in awe of the oceans...in high school, it was more of a longing to live closer to the beaches so I could go to beach parties! I'd get home from school and watch Beach Party on tv every afternoon at 4pm, and thought I'd DIE if I never got to go to a real beach party!! Really! I think I actually drooled when no one was around. Did I ever get to one? No, not really.
My awe of the ocean turned from parties to a deep awe and reverence for God. The power of the sea is so inspirational; I feel small and powerless in comparison and I want to sit still (in a white, tall-backed beach chair, with an umbrella, of course) and listen to the pounding waves while I read, or watch my Grandchildren build sand castles and chase waves and collect shells....or simply talk to God at the edge of one of his best creations.
It was years and years later, that the Disney Channel came out with the Avonlea weekly series. Again, my dream-life.....Gus lived in a lighthouse! It was around this time, that I saw my first "Harbor Lights" figurines...and so my collection began!
I'm drawn to the serenity of the sea; you won't find me "laying out" on the beach or fishing (although if you EVER are looking for Chris, that's the first place to look); I prefer to just walk it early in the morning, or at dusk, watching God's awesome display of His power in the pounding surf, catching the mist on my face and hair, watching the seals and otters, and of course, falling asleep at night to the sounds of gentle peace.... someday, I'll live on the...well, I'm changing my dreams of the "coast" to just "waterfront property". Ocean, River, Inlet...Lake....swamp...nah, not a swamp....as long as my house has lawn which leads to sand (so my granbabies can come and build their dream-castles) which leads to water...I'll be happy! I'm so easy to please...
