Independence Day

Written by Michelle Davenport

Tomorrow is the July Fourth, also known as Independence day.  Most of us think of it as a day for parades, barbecues, fireworks, picnics, baseball games and family reunions.  

Wait!  Pardon me for a moment as I give just a teensy history lesson here.  Can't help myself!

Independence Day also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776.   The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain rule.  After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. 

Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4. 

And now you know.  I'll step off my soap box now.

Enjoy your fourth of July!

About the author: Michelle Davenport is the author of “Second Chances at East Beach” in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Tag!  You’re Dead” is in By The Bay 2: More East Beach Stories.  For more information on Michelle, please visit her website.

Easter

Written by Karen Harris 

Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  The Choral Alleluias of Easter morning shatter the quiet reflections of Lent. Well, to be completely honest, we have been rehearsing those Alleluias throughout Lent.  The solemnity of the Sunday services, and the beautiful, mournful music of Maundy Thursday and the Tenebrae of Good Friday overshadow our practices until the big moment at 8:30 on Easter Sunday.  As we climb the steps to the balcony, the service opens with brass and organ.  My daughter and I position ourselves behind the rest of the family seated in the last pew to sing close to them.  The high notes of the descants fairly fly from the balcony to the chancel and back.  The white and gold of our robes and stoles mirror the Easter lilies and horns.  

Between the services, we feast at the choir buffet.  We temper our desire to eat some of everything with memories of Easters past, and the dozy sensations during the second service.  If we stayed in the balcony, the nodding of our heads would go unnoticed, but, of course, we process to the chancel, where the entire congregation would catch us napping.  And, there is the lamb, marinating in the fridge, with new potatoes, asparagus, and more, awaiting us at home.  The 11:00 service is packed, every chair in the narthex is full and latecomers stand behind them.  Somehow, though this is our second time today, the hymns seem fresh and new, even the beloved and familiar “Halleluiah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.  Family, faith, music, and joy-what more could I ask for?

About the Author: Karen Harris is a writer and editor from San Francisco, now residing in Virginia Beach.   Her story “I Have A Dress” appeared in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Comings and Goings” will appear in Volume II  which will be published in 2017.

St. Patrick's Day in Ocean View

Written by Skip McLamb

The McLamb clan and friends gather in mid-March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, an unofficial but important holiday vigorously celebrated in the Ocean View section of Norfolk, Virginia.  This Irish National Holiday is a celebration of Irish culture and religion, and honors the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick.  All in Ocean View look forward to this day.

The Start of A New Year

Wishing you all the very best for 2017!

Wishing You A Very....

Happy Holidays

Over the years everyone creates traditions and memories and I'm no exception.  They may vary from year to year, but they always involve the people I love.

One thing that we try to do every year is see the Garden of Lights at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.  If you haven't gone, I highly recommend it!  I love that they do all the seasons.   The past few times we've gone in our convertible and done it with the top down.  My favorite part is the starry skies.  You drive over a small bridge and for a moment it feels like you are among the stars.  Breath taking!

Holiday Traditions: Christmas

Written by Jamie McAllister

Christmas at the McAllister house is a laid-back affair. Still reeling from the rigors of preparing a gourmet Thanksgiving meal the month before, my husband James and I like to take it easy on Christmas. All of my family is in Michigan, and my husband's family is out West, so it's just the two of us for the holiday. We wake up in the morning and unwrap presents under the curious and watchful eyes of our two cats, Scooter and Darcie. We spend the day relaxing, and at dinnertime we grab Chinese take-out. We end the day by curling up on the couch and looking at the pretty lights on the tree and listening to Christmas carols.

About the author: Jamie McAllister is the author of “The Mermaid” in the upcoming anthology By the Bay 2: More East Beach Stories, to be published in 2017. She is a freelance writer in Virginia Beach. For more information about Jamie and her work, please visit her website. 

Happy Thanksgiving and Christmas Memories

Written by Elizabeth Kimball

I grew up in a large family, which meant the holidays couldn’t be lavish, but my mother (who has degrees in architecture and interior design) could certainly pull together some amazing decorations on a shoestring budget. 

East Beach Writers' Guild Annual Book Donation

By Jayne Ormerod

 Members of the East Beach Writer’s Guild are quick to admit that their grown-up desire to write began with a childhood love of reading.  So it seemed a logical undertaking for them to celebrate the season of giving by donating books to Toys 4 Tots in hopes of inspiring that same love for the written word in children in the Tidewater area. It’s an annual tradition (three years running) that at their November meeting each member brings a book to donate. 

The Tale Of The Traveling Turkey Pan

Written by Jayne Ormerod

Roast turkey is an American tradition, but in my family it goes a bit beyond that.  It has to be roasted in a special turkey pan, one that has been around longer than me (and that’s a long time.)  It’s a behemoth 11x16x9 inches in size and will hold a 28-pound stuffed bird comfortably.  We use it twice a year, and storage of it the other 363 days is a challenge. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Halloween Spirit

Written by Michelle Davenport

Every year I look forward to Halloween.  It's my favorite time of year.  I love the kids dressing up, the candy, the crispness in the air and the scares!

I will start watching any scary movie I can get my hands on starting the first of October.  I love them all!  Well I'm not as fond of the gory ones, but I will watch them (through my fingers).

Halloween Memories

Written by Mary-Jac O'Daniel

One of my favorite holidays is Halloween. As a child, every year the older teenagers made a scary cornfield maze for the middle school kids to walk through. This, along with the movie “Children of the Corn,” probably contributed to my fear of cornfields. We scared ourselves silly running through this one- mile corn maze and then sat outside amongst a bonfire to tell ghost stories while roasting marshmallows. The older teens would bring their

guitars and the evening ended with a hayride and everyone singing familiar country and pop songs. As a suburban child that loved wide-open spaces, this was my idea of bliss. 

I still love Halloween, and I still love haunted houses—even though I’m a big wimp. The new Halloween tradition is to go to Busch Gardens for the Hallow Eve with my husband. Last year, we went alone, this year; we have friends going with us. It is something I look forward to every year, along with dressing up, and of course, candy. 

About the author: Mary Jac O'Daniel is the author of "Zinneas Always Bloom" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories. Her story "Forays into Sailing" will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.

The Witches of East Beach

Written by Jayne Ormerod

Double double toil and trouble. 

Fires burn and cauldrons bubble.

If you’re wandering on 26^th Bay Street just north of Pleasant on Halloween night, you might hear that chant.  Not from actresses rehearsing McBeth, and certainly not real witches, but from your neighbors who have gathered in what has become an annual Witches of East Beach event. It’s a simple concept: women grab their pointy hats and magic broomsticks and gather together to hand out candy to the Trick-or-Treaters.