Monday, May 6, 2013

"26 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin for me"...

My senior year in high school. 

One of the big graduation parties was a trip by boat across the southern California ocean waters to Catalina Island.  It was exciting and we were all dressed up and ready for fun.

Then that southern California wind began to blow...

By the time we were 5 or 6 miles into the journey, this high school senior was hanging her head over the rails and seasick became a new word in my vocabulary.

I had the 'big hairdo' all sprayed into place, and the ocean spray took charge, my hair fell and my spirits fell even further, not to mention my stomach, which by now was empty.

What a trip.

When we finally arrived and walked onto the beach, I was green. I sat on the sand for that long dreary day, hair wet and hanging, and too sick to even care.

I'm trying to find a moral to this story. I always love it when I spot a good lesson in something. I don't think I learned anything except that choppy sea water is not my thing. Maybe I ruled out a life at sea, even with my Viking genes! There may not have been a point to this story, but it's as sharp in my mind as last week, so it definitely made an impression.

More Monday morning trivia...


11 comments:

myletterstoemily said...

well, you painted the picture so vividly,
i may never go to sea. :)

you must have been crestfallen to have
your senior trip ruined.

Farm Girl said...

I have always wanted to go to Catalina. I get so sea sick too.
I can just imagine how icky you felt.
Your photo looks so pretty.
I hope you went back.

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, I have never been to Catalina Island though I had friends/neighbors when we lived in No.Ca. who went back down south each summer-so I heard it is an amazing place. I also get motion sickness and feel bad that you didn't get to enjoy your senior trip. I've even gotten it snorkling-ugh!
It is a beautiful day here today and I love being outside in the warmth.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugs, Noreen

Sharon said...

I have made that trip to Catalina on more than one occasion, and though I never *tossed my cookies* - I sure felt like it the whole way there and back!

Catalina is a beautiful place.

How's this for a lesson:

We may think we've got our lives *all dressed up* with a destination in mind. However, life has a way of tossing unexpected storms our way. We might end up dizzied, disoriented, and sick at heart. That's when the only thing we can do is trust the One Who Walked On Water!

GOD BLESS!

Debbie said...

That sounds horrible. I have always gotten motion sickness so I have not even tried to go to Catalina, though I have always wanted to see it. My kids ALL went at one time or another and wore the motion sickness bracelets. They all did just fine. I am still scared to try it, haha. Enjoy your week Sonja

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

This just made me smile...since I get sick watching the waves on a movie, I can so relate.
Thanks for taking us down memory lane...your memories are the best!
Hugs

Felisol said...

Dear Sonja,
In Norway, even in the fifties, young boys at the age of 15 were sent to sea to make a living.
Seasickness was common among them the first two or three days, but then most of them experienced, they were never sea sick again.

Seasickness is connected to a balance organ in the inner ear.
It can be educated, as can we.

I have to admit, I've never been seasick myself. I love the sea. So perhaps I am not the right to tell.

Just wanted to inform you, that seasickness is not forever, and that a cruise with Hurtigruten, (the speed route,), five days from Bergen to Finnmark as about the best you can have when in Norway.

When I'm old and rich, I'll deinitely go for it. Till then I like to enjoy a cruise from Bergen over the North Sea to New Castle.

A wonderful way of travelling. Slow.

Felisol said...

P.S. Norwegians are weird. They love slow TV too.
Two years ago they made a program Hurtigruten Minute by minute. A short version on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uXzkNYsQfM

Debbie said...

I think the moral of the story is the story of my life:

Sometimes, the biggest adventures in life make you the most nauseated. Ha!

manthano said...

You sure bring back the memories girl.
My first time of getting "air sick" was in
a dive bombing exercise with the navy -
on Santa Catalina island. That was back
in the 1950's.

Keep up the posting.

Debbie Petras said...

I only had one episode of sea sickness but it was my own fault. I ate a big lunch and then went in the cabin to lie down. Worst decision! Otherwise I love to ocean sailing. But I think Felisol is right. :)

Love you,
Debbie