Friday, October 27, 2006

My next assignment

Since I got such great feedback and wonderful advice on the first assignment I did for the writing course, I thought I'd share my next one. This again was to be a 500 word more or less description of a place. Once again I sent it to Cindy for her to critique. The one I'm working on now is "My Most Embarrasing Moment" so I'm not sure about that one :) and nope - it's not the GU story *G*

I close my eyes and can still see the scene so clearly, as if I was there only yesterday instead of the dozen or so years it really has been. It has become a part of the fabric that makes up my being. I can hear the raucous cries of the seagulls as they drift across the sky, wings spread and bandied about by the wind that whips up the waves and carries the myriad of birds with their gray and white bodies lazily where it will. Or I can hear their harsh guttural cries as they land and do battle with each other for the morsels of food thrown their way. The waves that crash across the rocks create music of their own. The faint sound of traffic overhead as cars travel from one country to the next over the majestic bridge is a background accompaniment to the music of life. The occasional blast of a horn from a ship that is heralding its passing echoes deep inside me with its resonating tone. I hear the laughter of children as they race up and down the green space of grass between the road and the rocks that line the shore, their joy expressed for all to listen to fondly with the nostalgia of age. Added to the orchestra of sound is the hum of the jet skis as they race across the river, swelling and then disappearing into the tunnels of the swift flowing river current.

I look out as the waves, angry and boiling, their varied shades of winter grey, with their whitecaps rising and cresting hypnotizes me. I glance up at the magnificent structure rising above me, marveling at the work that must have taken years to complete, its two cement bases, with the plaques commemorating its completion, the steel girders, and the expanse of the bridge reaching across and joining the two countries. My gaze then turns to the right and I see the vastness of Lake Huron opening up, the colours different now, calmer and with softer shades of sapphire and azure blues and grays, sailboats bobbing up and down in the distance, like toys that young boys love to play with. The lighthouse stands alone; a beacon warning the ships that approach of the danger of rocks that awaits them if they travel too close. And even further away I observe two freighter ships slowly making their way to the entrance to the St. Clair River, just a brief run-by on their journey across the Great Lakes.

As I close my eyes, I feel the breeze on my face, mixed with the hot sun of another beautiful sun-drenched summer day. The moisture that ascends from the river helps cool what the sun has heated its rainbow of moisture another testament to the beauty of nature.

The smells, ah the smells have never been forgotten. The air is thick with the aroma of a mixture of grease and vinegar from the chip wagon that has been a staple on the landscape for close to 50 years. The smell of the lake seaweed and decaying fish adds it own pungent tang.

This is a place I will carry always in my heart, a place of fun, of memories never forgotten, a place of reminiscence that still to this day has the power to make me weep.





And this is it in case anyone is wondering

The Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia, On.
'til later

14 comments:

nath said...

You really have a great way with words Kristie! Luv it :D Just one question, does it take you long to write up one of these assignments?

Kristie (J) said...

Nath: Thanks. It takes about 15 or 20 minutes to write a draft and then since we have a week between assignments, I work on it a few times a week during the week to come up with the finished work. Probably about an hour altogether.

Anonymous said...

oh, Kristie, I love the last 4 paras particularly. Linking smells to a place just adds an extra dimension.

It's really great that you're doign this course. Can't wait to read your next assignment here.:)

Jenster said...

Oh my gosh, Kristie! I was there! You really do have a gift.

Jen

Jodi_Lee said...

Wow, that's amazing. I'm with Jen, I really do think you have a gift!

Stacy~ said...

Kristie, I loved this. I felt like you were reading memory to me - you made it so vivid. Keep on writing - you have a gift.

Rosie said...

You certainly put a person in that place. Well done!

Nicole said...

You really do write great! But besides your story....I LOVE YOUR TEMPLATE!!!! I want to steal it! lol.

Mailyn said...

I think you have major talent for getting your thoughts out there and I love reading your stuff! That was so damn cool!!!!

:-)

Kyahgirl said...

That was great! I work with several guys from Sarnia and your description is so like the things they've told me about that bridge. Ok, they mostly talked about the Chip WAgon :-) You know the way guys are!

I love your words...very evocative.

dancechica said...

Wow, that was really good, Kristie! You create great visual imagery with your words. :-D

Kristie (J) said...

Ag: Thanks. I tried to do something that involved all the senses. And smell can be such a hard one sometimes.

Jen: It was such a great place to go when I was young that it was easy to describe.

Jodi: Aw shucks. Thank you.

Stacy: I've always loved writing. Now it's kind of nice to be able to indulge in it.

Rosie: And again *g* thanks

Jazz: The new template is entirely Mailyn's doing so I can say "isn't it gorgeous??!!"

Mailyn: Thanks! It makes me feel good since I haven't a fingernail full of the talent you have in designing :)

Kyahgirl: Your work from guys from Sarnia? Cool! I lived there for 18 years and even though I've lived in London longer than that, I still feel like Sarnia is home. And EVERYBODY who had fries from the chip wagon talks about them.

DC: Thank you. It's a bit more descriptive than I'm used to writing but it was fun doing it.

Kyahgirl said...

I work for Dow Chemical Kristie (for two more months). They are closing down their Sarnia operations now.
Several guys transferred to Alberta from there during the last big downsizing in the early 90's.

We're closing two more plants here and I asked to take a package so I could be a SAHM. My wish has been granted.
Yay!

Kristie (J) said...

Kyahgirl I heard they were closing Dow. That will be a big blow for Sarnia. And hearty congrats on getting to be a SAHM. I was one for a while and I'm so glad looking back that both Ron and I agreed that's what we wanted.