Sunday Afternoon—March 30—Long Beach
My favorite writing spot in Long Beach is in front of a stretch of grass with willow trees and quiet picnic-ers, on the banks of a waterway that also holds the SS Queen Mary. Every time I round the bend in the road that leads to finding a parking space, I look up at that glorious ship and smile.
Flashback:
In 1957, my family sailed out of the New York harbor on the SS Mauretania, bound for England..and then on to INDIA!!!! This particular voyage across the Atlantic was 7 days. 3 days in, right in the middle of a shuffleboard game on deck, where I was delightedly beating my older brother, the captain’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker saying “All eyes starboard, the SS Queen Mary!” We rushed to the rail, with my mother shouting “Keep your feet on the deck!”, and the two ships blasted their toots back and forth.
And now…68 years later…thar she blows. Right there. She is grounded and I am…free falling.
We have each seen worlds, experienced indescribable adventures and shenanigans, and here we are! Kindred spirits.
A subplot to this:
I discovered this particular alcove in Long Beach while I was exporing and had gotten lost, but in addition to the Queen Mary, there was a warm humming welcoming vibe due to a lively, congregation of African Americans cooking, playing music, lounging about and vivaciously interacting with each other. And then, every single time that I pulled up, there they were..
Two days ago, after a meander to take a few pictures of the ship, I was hailed.
“Hello! I see you’re enjoying this beautiful day!”
“I am, thank you, and I see you are as well!”
“We have noticed you, are you visiting?”
And so we chatted.
And I have been welcomed into their assemby. They said that they’ve never met anyone like me and “Please come and tell us stories or just come, pull up a chair and BE.”
My first new friends in Long Beach and the Queen Mary…all in one spot.