Dec 21 2008
Unforgettable Moments Happen When We Least Expect Them
The weekend of Thanksgiving found us in Duck, NC. This is a one street little town in the Outer Banks, NC. During the summer, Duck is teaming with weekly renters, happily riding bikes, stopping at shops and preparing for a day on the beach. On one side of the street, the amazing Atlantic. On the other, a sound filled with Osprey, wild ducks and stunning sunsets.
Saturday was rainy and cold. The “girls” (that would be me, my mother and my seven year old daughter) decided it was a good day to window shop. Duck was surprisingly busy for the last weekend of the season. We happily enjoyed walking through the stores, admiring beach related items, jewelry and clothing.
My daughter wanted to go to Wings - an embarrassingly commercial beach souvenir shop, but fun nonetheless. My mother and I split - she going next door as we walked along rows of beach towels and empty hermit crab cages.
We finally met in the middle as light sprinkles of rain began to patter around us. “They have a sign by the fishing store that says Free Roasted Oysters,” said my mother. Now, we are not the kind to rush to free food or gifts. But the sound of a grilled oyster had us both hanging on a thread. Should we go? Is it right? Then with a burst of “go get em,” I said, “Let’s go!”
At first, we walked slowly. I was almost shy about approaching the canopy. But walk we did, and patiently stood behind two duck hunters who were VERY MUCH enjoying oyster after oyster. The rain began to come down harder as I tucked my daughter under my jacket. Did the men not see two women and a young child waiting for one little oyster?
One after another, they ate. We watched as oysters were placed on the grill, and then in front of them. Finally satiated, they walked away. With a bit of shyness we approached and waited. The rain was coming down and it was getting cold - but the view of the sound and the anticipation of a grilled oyster kept us there.
The woman placed one fat, steaming oyster on the plate in front of me. I picked up a towel and attempted to open the oyster in a manner that didn’t scream, “Amateur!” Then a Pop! as the top swung open, revealing the warm, fresh oyster meat. I handed the oyster to my mother and watched as she put two drops of hot sauce in the shell and slurped.
Then came mine - the last of the day, the woman said. With more skill, I opened the second, followed suit with hot sauce and sucked it down. I stood, looking out at the sound, then over to my mother and daughter as the rain fell around us. At that moment, I realized this was the best oyster I’ve ever had, and ever will have.
But it wasn’t the oyster. It was the adventure with my mother and daughter. It was standing in the rain, waiting for that one special treat. It was the Sound in front of me and the ocean behind. It was knowing that for this moment, I had my mother, I had my daughter, I had the rain, the anticipation, the satisfaction. It was knowing that when I am my mother’s age, I may just find myself in the same spot - looking at my grandchild and feeling my own mother right next to me, ready for that steaming, sensational oyster.
Moments you will cherish forever are most often unanticipated. Children grow, we slowly age and time passes with the swiftness of the wind. But that one moment… that pearl in the oyster, will stay with you forever.
What is your unforgettable moment?
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Thanks for your submission to the February edition of the Advice for Women from Women blog carnival.
[...] ONLY #22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: BeginnerBaby [...]
Hi, great blog!
Just want to tell you that I saw your $50 Target gift card prize on 5 Minutes for Mom’s UBP 2009! I’ to love to win it!
Thanks for the chance!
Saw you Target card giveaway on UBP..wahoo, hope I win, thanks for the Giveaway
I also saw you are giving away a Target card and I am in. What a great idea!
[...] #22 - 22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores [...]
WOW! A $50.00 Target Gift Certificate… I GREAT BIG PUFFY RED HEART Target! Count me in! I am pregnant too and I am going to check out that Gender Predictor link on your side bar… I am just dying to find out!
Just visiting from UBP09! Great giveaway!
Nice blog. Thanks for the giveaway on UBP09
I love Target! Thanks for the giveaway and so many fun links on here I have to start checking out!
Thank you for offering up such a wonderful prize for the UBP. I have your site and prize linked on my blog.
Happy First day of Spring! I am keeping my fingers crossed for the gift card and plan to look around your blog.
What a wonderful resource you have here! I am pretty sure that my days of raising newborns are behind me, but I have a heart for new mommies. Blessings to you!
My unforgettable moment was when I was ten and vacationing on a small island on a lake in Wisconsin. My father showed me a meadowlark’s nest filled with four tiny babies! There was a storm that night and the next day we went to look for the nest and the mother and three of the babies were dead, but the fourth one was alive and my father (who loved nature and animals) showed me how to feed it and care for it and it imprinted on me and went everywhere on my shoulder! It would fly away just a little bit and then come right back! This began a lifetime of love for birds and wild animals (I later had a baby raccoon that I raised and released into the wild) and I’ll NEVER forget how it made me feel special! — This is my first year at this Blog Party and I’m enjoying it, and who can resist a Target Gift Certificate, it’s the best! Thanks!
[...] - $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby [...]
Saw you on Five Minutes for Mom and can’t wait to see who wins the Target gift card! This is also my first year at this blog party. Hope you stop by my page!
I am posting about your prize for the UBP on my blog tomorrow…..thanks for a great giveaway!
[...] — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby [...]
Hello! Poppin’ in from The Ultimate Blog Party…all the way from Queensland, Australia! G’Day! I hope you have time to visit my party soon.
Also, want to tell you about the Mommie Daze Virtual Baby Shower I am hosting May 15 - June 8. It’s International! Please stop by and check it out.
Ta!
[...] Shoot-Me-Now. #21: A $50 gift card to Target from Agoosa. #22: A $50 Target gift card provided by Beginner Baby [...]
Found your blog via the UBP 2009! Txs for the Target gc giveaway. Absolutely adored your Oyster story.
[...] $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby [...]
I’m so glad I found your blog! Here is my unforgettable memory:
In October of 2000, I traveled to Bolivia to do volunteer work for an orphanage. I was so excited to finally be fulfilling one of my greatest dreams. Walking into the baby room for the first time changed my life. There were more than 30 cribs crammed into a small space. Each one held a beautiful, perfect child that had been orphaned. It was at that moment that I truly realized my purpose in life is to care for orphaned children like these babies. I am now working toward becoming a foster parent and adopting my first children.
A Target gift card would be used toward buying supplies to ready my home for these children.
I’ve been to Duck. Have a good pastor friend who lives there! Beautiful.
Count me in for the $50 gift card.
blessings and peace to you~elaine
[...] — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby Blog Prize details: Everyone loves a gift card! Beginner Baby [...]
[...] — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby [...]
Just popping in from UBP to check out your blog. I love it. Nice to meet you.
[...] — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores Provided by: Beginner Baby Blog Prize details: Everyone loves a gift card! Beginner Baby Blog [...]
my unforgettable moment was when my daughter recognized her papa for the first time. she got so excited her eyes lit up. you could tell she loved him and it made my dad just as happy he was just diagnosed with terminal lung cancer so that moment i will treasure forever.
I love your blog! So glad I stopped by…hope you have a wonderful day and I look forward to visiting again soon!
http://cherryblossomsdesign.blogspot.com
Hello,
One of my unforgettable moments was walking down the aisle about to marry my husband. I was wearing my grandmother’s wedding dress (my mother also wore it for her wedding.) I can still remember holding onto my dad, seeing everyone at the church and thinking to myself what an amazing moment in my life!
Thanks for sponsoring the Target giveaway at UBP and for jolting my memory.
Enjoying the party!
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just stopping by from ubp. nice to meet you
Hi! Just wanted to say your prize is on my list of favorite UBP prizes on my blog :-p
Unfortunately I didn’t find the party in time to participate in the actual giveaways myself, but if anybody would like to read my children’s book “Two Snowflakes”, I have it available as a free e-book at http://www.twosnowflakes.net/
[...] Now. 21. $50 gift certificate to Target, provided by Agoosa. 22. $50 gift certificate provided to Beginner Baby Blog. 50. $50 gift certificate to Paperlicious. USC 56, USC 45, #58, #91, #118, INTL-61, USC 10, USC [...]
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[...] personal preferences? 19 (offered by Shoot-Me-Now), 21(offered by Agoosa), 22 (offered by Beginner Baby Blog), 91, 118, 123, 26, USC56, INTL3, INTL61 and USC 15 –I love gift cards!. I also [...]
what a nice blog~!
Terance,
ibabystore
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Hey nice blog, I will def be checking in
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Such a cute blog and thanks for sharing.
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[...] #22 [...]