Sunrise

Happies of Saturdays to you and yours! This morning while I was getting ready for my day a song came on my Pandora that immediately reminded me of my daddy. I won’t lie I did shed a tear or two. I’ve said before but, we lost our daddy 10 years ago this coming Christmas. He was surely something. He was a bearded burl of a man with a very quiet voice. He was scary looking to most people who saw him from afar. His long hair and beard covered face was intimidating to most people. He led a quit life. He worked harder than 3 mules and he instilled that in all four of his children. He believed right was right and wrong was wrong no matter who you were. He loved our momma fiercely all 49 years of their marriage. And he was our protector and provider. He was just so much. And that’s why we miss him so.

Isn’t it funny how a song can jog a memory? Ole Willie Nelson singing this morning did that for me. I don’t know if it was because it was so early this morning but, all I could think about was the sunrise. The start of a brand-new day. A fresh start. Every sunrise is that you know? No matter what yesterday was or gave to you, todays sunrise is just a reminder that you survived. You did it! You made it through all of the stuff that yesterday threw at you! Good for you. Now, don’t dwell on that because this sunrise brings you a new day and it is going to be fabulous! Aaand if it isn’t, tomorrow brings a new sunrise and you will get through today as well.

So, picture it……..Tennessee……..1983-1995 lol. I mean who doesn’t love Sophia! Well, that picture is my childhood. The era in which I grew up. Hence why I love the 80’s. Childhood for me was the best. I know it isn’t for everyone and for those of you that had a rough one, I’m sorry. It is; however, over and like above, you survived. Now it’s time to adjust your crown and carry on. For the next few minutes just live this memory through me. Growing up there were so many little trips that we took with our momma and daddy. We live in an area that is close to so many fun things. Day trips were a must. You dont live in the beautiful hills of Tennessee and not day trip. However, one summer trip every year was what we looked forward to. Every summer we spent a week in Myrtle Beach. Our grandparents often went with us, and we stayed in a hotel/condo where my parents became family with the owners. Later on in years, after the owners passed away, we would stay in a hotel right on the ocean. This is where my memory was jogged this morning.

Sunrise! Staying on the ocean was bliss. We loved it! I still love it! Teenagers. We were teenagers and we liked to sleep in and stay up late. Can I just say something to you if you are a late sleeper at the beach? Don’t do it every day. Every morning, while we were sound asleep, my daddy and papaw were up before daylight. They would grab their coffee and cigarettes (yes, they both smoked, don’t do that, it’s not good for you) and they headed down to the ocean to watch the sunrise. Daddy told me that it was a time for him to just talk to my papaw. It was my momma’s father. Dads parents passed away when I was 16 and 18 months old. I never really knew them. And it had been many years for my dad without his parents, so he came to love my mother’s parents as much as he loved his own. He talked about what the sun would look like coming up over the ocean. He never really said it but, I think it was daddy’s of time of seeing God. He never really talked about that much but, I know that he had a relationship with the Lord in ways we didn’t see. All he ever said to me was that I was missing out by sleeping in. He said I should get up and watch the sunrise. I never did. Not while he was alive.

We don’t go to Myrtle Beach anymore. It has gotten so commercialized and is tailored more towards a younger crowd. We do go to the beach every year. In fact, my husband and I go twice a year. We go in May and October which is less crowded, and we prefer the less busy, slower lifestyle of Hilton Head Island. In fact, one day (within the next 5 years) we plan for that island to be our second home. This year in May, I finally did it. I got up at 5:30 am and I walked down to the ocean and decided to watch the sunrise while I got my walk in for the day. Two miles into the sunrise and two miles back to our condo. And I did it not just one morning, but twice. Can I just say it was breathtaking! All those years that my daddy talked about the beauty of the sunrise over the ocean, and I finally did it. I will get up and watch that sunrise more than two times from now on when we are there. It was like God was just showing off. It was like daddy was up in heaven looking down on me saying “I told you, you should have listened”. I was overwhelmed with emotion, and I cried. I’m sure the other people on the beach thought I was crazy and I don’t care. Even though dad wasn’t with me physically I know that he was right there with me. Smiling because he was right.

Please do yourself a favor and watch the sunrise over the ocean. If you have any faith in your heart, you are going to be amazed. He shows off in a big way. The sunrise anywhere is pretty amazing. I’ve since watched the sunrise right here in little ole East Tennessee. It’s just as beautiful. Just grab your cup of coffee or juice (not a cigarette lol) and sit outside and watch. I promise it will give you a sense of warmth and it’s like a breath of fresh air. You won’t regret it! Do it soon. P.S. the photo below is one I took of the sunrise over the ocean in Hilton Head in May of this year. The photo does it no justice.

Always…….Brooke