People keep asking me about my blog, wondering why there’s nothing from the summer, and asking for a fill in on my new life in Austin. I hadn’t ever planned on extending it past my time in South America, but I guess if there’s a demand… Actually, School work seems to be interfereing with my leisure time and sadly enough, blogging is leisure.

Well, for my first post in months, I thought I’d give this one to my mother in honor of her 50th birthday. Oh, I meant 39th birthday of course. I wrote this little vignette about a year ago and for some reason it’s her favorite.

Sunsets

Shannon’s feet hit the pavement in an alternating rhythm to John’s, creating a syncopated soundtrack to a California sunset.

“Those people are nuts. I don’t know how I lived in the same house with them for 19 years,” Shannon spoke casually like they were out on an afternoon drive.

“I don’t…know babe…” John’s breathing was labored as he tried to keep pace with his girlfriend. “You know…funerals are always…weird.” Beads of sweat were dripping uncomfortably down his chest and into his shorts.

“I loved Gram. You know that.” She increased her pace slightly and turned toward the sign that said Half Moon Beach. “But they can’t blame me for not being there. My work is in New York, and you. Not to mention that everything always blows up when we all get together.” She effortlessly hopped the curb from the parking lot onto the sand and kept running. John was sucking in great gulps of air, trying to think of what to say next.

“And she probably wouldn’t have even known who I was anymore. You know the last time I came down here, she asked if Robert was coming. My dad! She thought I was Mom. They can’t blame me.” Shannon’s easy stride was beginning to bother John, but the pink glow on her face made his aching muscles almost worth it.

“Sometimes I think they all just want to punish me for being successful. Well I’m sorry I didn’t want to give up everything to watch an old lady die. She wouldn’t have wanted that.” Shannon’s hands were relaxed as they cut through the air and her feet barely seemed to touch the sand. John sunk with each step and arduously pulled his seldom used tennis shoes back up to daylight.

“Umm, you know…I love you. I’m…so sorry.” He knew his words sounded hollow through his ragged breath. All of his blood was trying desperately to fuel his legs and left little for formulating clear thoughts.

When he forced his eyes from the sand, he noticed crystal drops decorating Shannon’s cheeks. She was practically sprinting now and behing her, John watched her muscular legs move gracefully under her shorts. He ducked his head down in a last ditch effort to catch up.

“Babe…stop…just sit here…with…me.” But Shannon didn’t stop. He watched as she faded into the peach colored light.