Beach Blog, 1991

In the summer of 1991 we took a group from Springfield Friends Meeting to North Myrtle Beach, SC.  We stayed at a house called The Spinnaker (the Betsy B was booked) for a week.  As always I brought along my trusty video camera- a Magnavox about the size of your average TV camera.  And as usual, I was having too much fun to worry about actually taping anything!   Finally, on our last full day, I broke out the camera in the morning and shot for most of the morning.  Today, I am watching that video and blogging what I see.  I should mention that the following is rated PG!  Here we go...

• We open on Jon Moran's temporary dragon tattoo purchased at the Pavilion the night before.  Jon addresses the camera and says "I will now attempt to eat a whole box of Fruity Pebbles."
• Stacy Gilbreth, Natalie Whitaker, Holly Harward (all pictured above),  Charles Freedle and Ben Moran are on the oceanfront porch, watching the action on the beach as Led Zeppelin plays in the background.  Stacy wants me to film some guy named Marcus, who is not with our group but who is "really cute."  I refuse.
• Jennifer Simmons discusses forgetting her swim suit on a beach trip, and also how"gross" she looks.  Marilyn suggests that she wear Stacy's "flowery bra" and that no one would notice.  Jennifer responds by telling the camera her sister Amy looks gross too...Amy, now pictured, is not amused.
• A group of us wake up Kelly Allen by invading her bedroom and singing her the "Kelly, Kelly, Kelly" song from the TV show Cheers.  She is also not amused.
• Avis (whose last name I have forgotten) threatens to expose herself again (A note of explanation:  Avis had lost her bikini top in a wave on our first day, exposing what the kids came to call "her flippers."  Yes, this stuff really happens...) but does not.
• Shon Hildreth, Ion Hildreth, Noel Cecil and Donald Fleischman are on the porch now, listening to Guns and Roses and bothering Holly and Nat.  A moment later Journey is playing.  The soundtrack to this video rocks!
• Holly, Nat, Jennifer and Stacy are walking on the beach in front of the house and screaming my name, wanting me to film them.  I do briefly, but then we hear the voice of Charles in the background saying "don't get that."  He then tells me to focus on two other girls walking the beach, and he yells at them "Hey ladies!  WAVE!" And they do...
• Ryan Simmons and Steven McGrath make a brief appearance, but say nothing.
• Wendy Mattocks and Kelly, sitting in a chair on the first floor, tell the following joke: "What's green and goes slam, slam, slam, slam?  A 4-door pickle!!!"  I taught them that joke...it's my own fault!
• Kelly begins to tell us the story of being awakened earlier, then realizes if anyone is actually ever watching the tape, they have already seen that happen.  She also tells of how we forgot to awaken her stuffed animal Yolanda, who apparently had fallen into a crack.
• Stacy takes this opportunity to once again tell us that her raft has a hole in one of the seams.  And just as she has the entire week, she does this by reporting "there's a hole in my crack."  Ah yes- these are my people!
• Charles and Mike Mercadante (who has just gotten up) have tattoos, too.  Jon has finished the entire box of Fruity Pebbles.  Tom Petty is now playing in the background.  I love this trip!
• Josie (again, the last name escapes me), Natalie and Holly give us a tour of their room.  Clothes and hair spray are everywhere!  I threaten to condemn the place...
• Wendy and Kelly have changed floors but are still sitting in the same chair.  Jennifer Wood has now joined them.  They begin telling jokes, and then Stacy (who seems to be everywhere the camera is) tells a classic:  "What do you get when you play a country song backwards?  You get your wife back, your dog back and your truck fixed!"
• Wendy remarks that Jennifer Wood, dressed all in green, looks like a pickle.  This prompts Natalie to tell the exact same pickle joke as before.  We all try to act surprised.
• Kelly brings out Yolanda, and a lengthy discussion ensues over whether this creature is a dog or a bunny.  Someone even suggest a bear.  Kelly swears it is a bunny.  I suggest it is a "Dunny," to which Kelly replies "Yes.....NOOOOOO!" 
• Marie Allen is finally awake...
• Jon, Charles, Mike and Bryan Dowling emerge from their room, looking suspicious.  Mike and Charles are wearing Speedos, and they proceed to run around the building.  Mike has dollar bills tucked in his.  As they run back into their room, Charles shouts "Well I never!"  I respond "Well maybe you should!"  Jimmy Buffet plays as the camera fades to static...
• The next morning, everyone is banging pots and pans trying to wake everyone else up.  Jon, Mike, Charles and BD sleep through it all.

That's it.  I missed filming the devotions, the singing on the porch, Black Thursday and all kinds of other excitement. I seem to remember sitting up one night and trying to count all of the "Na-na-na-na-na's" in the Journey song Loving, Touching and Squeezing. Every trip offers so many memorable moments.  I did capture the feeling of community and the love that we all had for each other.  I hope you enjoyed this flashback- I sure did!  Maybe in a week of two I'll break out the 1992 beach trip and do this again...  See you tomorrow!

Because of Jesus,