BOOM. REDUX
When we started this little blog eleven years ago, “Boom” was the initial inspiration. Boom was, still is, and always will be, a cannon. A large cannon. Resurrected and situated, for some strange and mysterious reason, in our back yard. Overlooking the May River for the rest of eternity.
Since not everyone is lucky (?) enough to have a cannon in their backyard, I was feeling a bit special about the whole thing. Inspired, if you will, by its very oddness. Hence the beginning of Life on the May.
Today, Boom is still in the back yard. The house is in the loving hands of our son and his family. They treat Boom with the same respect that we did. They surround him with colorful and elegant flowers in the summer. Children still sit on him and have their pictures taken He’s still a topic of discussion and curiosity.
But today’s blog is to say thank you to all of you who have been with us since those early days, elven years ago! And with just as many thanks to you have joined in the interim. It is my great joy to hear from you, to have you with me on Sundays and know that you are actually reading the blog, which is still about nothing. And always will be.
So, without further ado: Here’s Boom as I once mused about him. All those years ago…
Boom
I was born to go boom and it’s been nigh on to 200 years since I’ve done my thing. Can you imagine my angst, my desire to once again go boom, just one more time. Not to cause harm, you understand, but just to experience my raison d’etre one last time. (Read on….you’ll understand why I use that fancy word.)
As I said, I’m pretty old. If history proves to be correct, I was born/made in Sweden, somehow ended up with the French (now you understand my fancy language), found my way to Caliboque Cay and was rescued by members of the Seabrook family. There appear to be a lot of holes in my history so if anyone has any information it would be greatly appreciated. There are days when I have no visitors and it would be good to have that information so I could reminisce.
In the meantime, I like company…it’s fun to hear people comment on me, asking questions, admiring my good condition and, of course, wondering, as I do, how I got here.
I’m in a nice planter, my family puts flowers around me and small children sit on me and want their pictures taken. Could it get any better for a retired cannon?
Still, the urge to go “boom” is in my DNA. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to happen. I’m happy in my home, perched above the May river, watching the river traffic and sometimes wishing I could just do a little boom, i.e. a “boomette” (if you will remember I have some French in me) when boats go by too fast…just a little fun and a request to slow down. Bet there would be more than one surprised boater!
Oh, and I’ll bet you know what my favorite holiday is……three guesses….you got it.. The Fourth of July! How all that noise and those bright lights up in the sky bring it all back. And I hear singing with a line in it that reminds me of the old days…”bombs bursting in air.” Frankly, just between us, I saw too much of that in my earlier days and I didn’t like it very much even then. I’m in the perfect spot to watch all those fireworks shows but I’m living in peace these days and very happy to do so. Wish everyone were like that. I would not care to go back to “war” mode. Too much destruction and sadness.
So, I’m a piece of history, sitting on a piece of property that is also historical. We do well together, respecting one another’s role in the story of Bluffton. I might not be as pretty as the house but I’ve been around a few more blocks than it has. We have stories to share and I’m a good listener. I’ve come a long way from “boom”, haven’t I?
August 20, 2014