One Anchor, Many Souls

On the southeast tip of the island of Aruba, there stands a giant anchor, serving as a memorial to all the sailors who ventured to sea. My friend Charlie Brouns, Jr. had the anchor placed there. Upon Charlie’s death, his dear friend Mr. Speiziale had the anchor repainted bright red, Charlie’s color of choice. Here’s a photo taken early on a hazy morning:

As much as sailors love the sea, they still long for the comfort of terra firma, especially after a particularly long or arduous voyage. And then there are those who die in the clutches of the ocean, lost forever to the deep. A character in my novel, An Island Away, finds himself adrift in the Caribbean after his tugboat sinks at the edge of a storm. He comes within sight of this spot and is nearly cast upon the rocks by the driving waves. Salvation seemed to be at hand, only to be snatched away. Ultimately, he makes it to a beach some distance from this spot, but he’s nearly dead.

Many of us may not realize the risks taken by people such as members of the merchant marine. Even in this modern day, the sea claims its share of casualties. Products ranging from crude oil, to fruit, to automobiles, to computers are all transported aboard ships before they reach our homes. And there are still pirates out there, cut-throat misanthropes willing to kill for profit instead of earning an honest living. Now there’s an idea for a story: someone attacked or kidnapped by these recent additions to the shameful list of pirates. The plot could be one of violent intrigue surrounding a valuable cargo that must be recovered for some important reason. Hmmmm…. have any ideas?

Published in: on July 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Stories in Glass

There are many ways to tell a story. There are books, movies, and songs to name a few. There’s also the sculptures and reliefs found in plazas and on the facades of various buildings. And then there is the stained glass of churches. I’m particularly fond of this last one. As mentioned in an earlier post, the right atmosphere greatly enhances a story. Stained glass windows create all sorts of atmosphere from both the inside and the outside. The windows pictured below are from the Cathedral of Almudena, Madrid, Spain.

These windows are more modern than those found in say the Cathedral of Seville. The colors are more vivid, the individual pieces larger. Naturally, more light comes through. This colored light pools on the floor, spreads over the walls, and is unable to be avoided when inside the building. Then, at night, the windows shine outward so that a passerby sees the same scene from the other side thanks to internal illumination. Here’s another window:

 Of course, each window illustrates a scene from a Biblical story, informing the congregation about their faith. It may be hard to imagine a largely illiterate population relying on scenes such as this to access ecclesiastical knowledge. Nonetheless, this method was largely employed and can still be effective.

I’ve also seen stained glass windows with elaborate script at the base mentioning the particular person or organization who sponsored it. Thus, an opportunity to support the church and attain a sort of immortality.

One more window to gaze upon in this post:

While in Cordoba, Spain, I came across a school of the practical arts. Sorry, but I can’t remember the exact name. One of the trades taught at this school was the making of stained glass windows. Fortunately there are people who study and practice this art, going on to become master craftsmen who not only provide a barrier between the elements and us, but also a beautiful cultural expression that lasts for generations if not centuries.

So, when you find yourself on a travel adventure, don’t forget to slow down and let the different elements come to you one at a time. Your experience will be that much more interesting and fulfilling.

Published in: on July 6, 2008 at 12:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Tawni O’Dell, novelist

One of my favorite authors is Tawni O’Dell. She’s written three books, Back Roads, Coal Run, and Sister Mine. She’s from the western part of Pennsylvania and her stories all take place there, an area I happen to be familiar with as well.

What impresses me most about O’Dell’s stories is her authenticity of voice. Her characters are real, not only in the context of the fictional world she creates, but also in the here and now reality in which we live and breathe. In Back Roads, her lead character is a young man (teenager really) named Harley, who is slowly going down the tubes as his disintegrating family continues to fall apart around him. He struggles with the cards he’s been dealt and does his best, never getting a break, never finding what he needs. And yet there is a sort of grace to the ending of the story. A reader who doesn’t feel for Harley and his family and the people of his community might want to check for a pulse.

Similarly, in Coal Run, O’Dell brings us a washed up college football hero whose father was killed in a coal mine explosion. This event haunts the community and the lead character, Ivan. He has his bitter moments, his lusts for women and a better life, but he is grounded in this community of miners. O’Dell puts the reader inside this world to the point where you can feel the coal grit under your finger nails. You understand Ivan, his longings and his ultimate redemption because O’Dell is capable of making you believe in these characters.

Sister Mine is a different book from the first two. It’s something of a cautionary tale with more humorous events and more hope. The lead character is an ex-cop from D.C. who returns to her hometown as a cab driver of all things. Through this device she romps among the townspeople. Her sister shows up, involved in a baby selling scam that goes haywire. It works out with some laughs, a few close calls, and plenty of joy, which is welcome variety.

All in all, O’Dell will surely have a long career writing novels. I anxiously await the next one and hope she stays with this familiar territory. A writer with less talent would have run out of words by now. Not O’Dell. She knows how to put them together in a satisfying and enlightening manner. I only wish some other writers would work this hard.

Published in: on July 5, 2008 at 6:52 pm  Comments (1)  
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Postcards for All!

Something I’ve done for years is send postcards to a long list of people. In the days of email and blogs, it seems the postcard may be on its way out. Nonetheless, I maintain the tradition. In the first place, it’s good to support the postman. He has to deliver all that junk mail and I’d prefer to give him a more noble document to carry to its intended destination. Hence the search for the right card, the postage, the mail box or post office. This is also part of the fun. Then there is the issue of what to write.

That’s me in the photo above. Not in England, however, but in Gibraltar. I double check the message on my cards in case there are any last minute second thoughts or additions I’d like to put there. In my notebook, I keep a running list of addresses. This is also part of the fun because every time I scan the list I’m reminded of the people who are important in my life.

Another part of the thrill is hearing from those to whom the postcards were sent. They issue an email, a call, a “you lucky bastard” comment. My favorite responses are the ones that go something like, “I’m going with you next time.” To these I reply, “The more the merrier.” For me travel is about exploration and experience, a pursuit best enjoyed with others.

Published in: on July 5, 2008 at 2:15 pm  Comments (1)  
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