Happy Labor Day!

We had a great time at HQ over the weekend, starting with a visit from one of tribe all the way from Washington. Miryam Howard with her husband Brian.  Ended too soon!  We followed up with a bbq yesterday for about a dozen of our local writers (pictures to follow)  Here is what Miryam posted on her own travel blog:

Sunday, September 5^th, 2010

Our drive to Oceanside was easy despite the Friday afternoon, Labor Day Weekend rush. I was looking forward to meeting my friend, author Thornton Sully, and checking out his new publishing “club house”  as it has been fondly named.

Check out Thorn’s website, www.awordwithyoupress.com

Thorn at the Word For You Clubhouse in Oceanside

We arrived just before sunset, and were greeted by Thorn waving us down from the sidewalk.  We parked our Airstream on the street, and hopped out for a proper hug and introduction.  We followed Thorn as he gave us the official tour, which we were to find out, was much more than just the clubhouse building, but entailed an entire block of re-facing which Thorn’s vision has produced.  As he led us past the Word With You Press, avocado painted residence, he shared how badly the adjoining building needed painting and fixing up, and how that led to the next building, and then the next, and then…well you get it.  Finally the small square block of little businesses had all been made over into totally cool, artisticly chic, lovingly detailed works of passionate accomplishment. All the adjoining buildings were painted happy colors with corresponding patterned ceramic tiles as trim along the roof beams. The local business owners all waved and smiled at Thorn, as we walked along the sidwalk, and I suddenly imagined myself as Aunt Bea of Andy of Mayberry — in a surfing town kind of way!  Thornton is obliviously more than just another local business owner; I could sense a much deeper commitment flowing from this man’s depths towards his community than that.  He had not only taken his building, but he had taken his entire block under a mentoring wing. Looping back around, we found ourselves spilling into a fabulous inner court area, which Thorn decribed as once being a less then admirable backyard alley.  Standing in the inner courtyard, Thorn’s arms painted the air describing the shade cloths that would be installed overhead, and the art exhibits that would be set up… the music playing… the wine tasting… I could see it all, as he described it.  I love it when one person’s vision bleeds freely into those around them.  Thorn then invited us inside and we continued to visit over a nice cool beverage. We met the cats, and the soon to be famous, red cup and saucer.  Thorn was delightful, engaging, and thoroughly welcoming in every way.  A short walk to the ocean sealed our time together with palm trees swaying and dolphins leaping from the sea, as the sun finally melted its crimson heart upon the waves.  I decided that I could easily move to Oceanside right then and there!

Brian, Thorn, Miryam, and David

Our plans were to stay a couple of days, and enjoy meeting more of the Word For You Press gang, but as it turned out, our 27’ Airstream was a bit too invading for a near bye neighbor, despite Thorn’s generous hospitality. We opted to stay parked on the street, but after we thought about it, my security-concious husband became concerned about city codes not allowing us to park, so we decided it may be safer to just find the local Walmart and overnight there.  To our surprise, the city of Oceanside doesn’t allow even Walmart to host overnight RV-er’s!  We stopped at two different ones and were met with the same response. By this time, it was nearly midnight, and it appeared that our options were all a dead end, so with much regret, and feeling a bit rejected by our trusty Walmart, we departed southern Cal with sweet memories and unfulfilled dreams.  Since our next rendezvous with my family wasn’t until the following Monday in Long Beach, we decided to cancel and just head north.  Being Labor Day weekend, we could just about bank on not finding a place to camp on such short notice, and had already been informed of the city ordinances there.   One thing that we have learned from this trip is that we absolutely must make reservations in S. California far in advance.  RV parks are few and the inner city is not fond of Airstreamer’s.  Those nostalgic photos of Airstreams parked on sandy beaches, are just that… nostaligic… they do not exist in today’s world!  Unless maybe you own the beach….