Saturday, February 03, 2007

Come Blow the Conch Shell

by Cathy Anderson Moffat

An island far away across the continent, across the ocean--Kauai. Oldest of the Hawaiian islands, with lush vegetation and beautiful green Na Pali cliffs rising out of the ocean.

Kauai, the garden isle.

I've traveled there four or five times, and each time, my heart sings. I feel at home there, feel more alive, and I fit in there.

I've felt that way about other places, especially Sedona, Arizona. Sedona, with its majestic red rocks and energy vortexes, took my breath away. My entire body felt energized, and my jaw, chest, and hands tingled at various vortexes. It felt like home.

But these are places not to live, but to return to periodically for recharging of the batteries, at least for me.

Setting can be so important in our work as writers. Setting can change the tone of the story or add an exotic element to it. When I wrote the novel Crystal Clear, my heroine escaped to Kauaia to temporarily flee the Terrible Trouble in her life, soaked in the beauty of the island, picked up a few more pieces of her personal puzzle, and snagged a Hawaiian love interest.

I wrote about that setting passionately and took the reader along for a vacation (minus the long trip and jet lag).

It's also the setting for our wedding February 8, 2007 (just a few days!) This is my last blog as Cathy Anderson Moffat. In future entries, you'll notice Cathy Anderson Corn writes a lot like me.

At 10:30 a.m. (4:30 p.m. Pittsburgh time), we'll dance to the beach in our wedding regalia, listen to the Bee Gees serenade us, and exchange vows in a Hawaiian ceremony. The minister will blow the conch shell, and a Hawaiian hula maiden will dance. We'll exchange flower leis and who knows what else.

So, my friends, what places stir you and set your heart to beating faster? Have you used these as setting in your fiction writing? What places do you yearn to visit, but haven't gone to yet?

Aloha.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, Cathy. It sounds so romantic! Have a wonderful honeymoon!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Romance, travel, warm air -- who could ask for anything more? Enjoy, Cathy!

Anonymous said...

It'll be hard to make any travel destination as fabulous as this one sounds, Cathy! We'll be celebrating here for you, for sure! Aloha!

Anonymous said...

A wonderful trip,
a wonderful lady,
who can say that they are
luckier than me?

Annette said...

Congratulations, Cathy...AND Alan!

Saddly, I am not well traveled, so there are lots of places I WANT to see. Yes, Hawaii is definitely one. Ireland is also way up there.

The place I DO go that recharges my batteries is Presque Isle State Park in Erie. I also feel at peace when I'm in the Allegheny National Forest near Clarion.

But one of my favorite vacations was the one time we made it to Gettysburg. That place moved me deeply on so many levels. And I long to return to Williamsburg Virginia, sometime soon, too.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Annette, we'd like to take the small ones to Williamsburg soon... shall we plan a trip together? (man, that'd be fun)

A couple of places move me. I really like being outside, somewhere quiet enough to hear nature. Being on my bike. I love being on the bike or elliptical at the gym and having the music blaring, either over the sound system or in my ears.

And Yellowstone. I've never been anywhere that speaks to me the way Yellowstone does. One day, I hope to be rich enough to buy a ranch nearby and let the bison roam onto my land and mix with my own herd...

Anonymous said...

I love Kauai. There's something about taking that last turn into Hanalei where I say, "I'm someplace that's TOTALLY DIFFERENT from anywhere I've been before."

I also love California. I lived in Santa Barbara from when I was 4 till 3rd grade. I love the geography and the people. But everytime I'm out there and wistfully think of moving, I look at the property values and feel grateful for my home in Pittsburgh.

Have an amazing wedding, Cathy Anderson (soon to be) Corn!

Anonymous said...

I love relaxing vacations on the beach, but the places I've been that really moved me were Alaska and the Colorado Rockies. Sort of the polar opposite of the beach. All that rugged natural grandeur just blows me away.

Anyway... Cathy and Alan, I wish you peace, love and happiness, now and for always!

Anonymous said...

Best wishes on your marriage. The wedding sounds heavenly. You've described the way I feel in visiting California, Kiawah Island, Tucson, and others. And I agree, these are places to visit for me...living there might end up feeling just like Pittsburgh--okay a sunny version--somehow, stealing the magic. Have a fabulous time Ms. Corn.