Comments on: Ocean Summer

By: Adriana Serban

Adriana Serban — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 04:50:16 +0000

I read the story and every of the commentaries below. All so real and captivating. I used to think, back in my country, that the movies were inspiring the people: sequences like the ones described in this blog, were deja-vue to me, already seen in some movies about American families. Actually, reading your posts, I realize that you were the inspiration for the more or less great stories on the big screen.
The horse and the rideress jumping in the pool is so surreal , so beyond darring that no producer considered it for a story. Philip Y. did. Thank God for your memories and your inspired writing.

By: Pat Hale

Pat Hale — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 04:13:11 +0000

Philip,
I enjoyed your reminisces. It brought to mind all the times my parents took me and my sisters to the beach in Mississippi. Years later I took my girls to Galveston beaches. We have great memories of those wonderful family outings.
Thanks for sharing. I look forward to your book.

By: Berwyn

Berwyn — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 23:15:33 +0000

Philip,
I just read your “benediction” for Walter Wangerin in Christianity Today. What a beautiful, moving, inspiring tribute. It’s perfect for Walter, for fellow travelers, and for readers. Thank you.

By: Bob Coffman

Bob Coffman — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:07:57 +0000

My wife was from South Jersey and every summer we would travel there from Indiana with our two girls to visit grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. A highlight of each trip was at least one visit to Ocean City where we knew the Manco & Manco pizza, Johnson’s Carmel corn and — for the kids — the magical Wonderland rides on the board walk were waiting. My brother-in-law’s sister married a man from Ocean City and we often would all plan to be there at the same time for many memorable family reunions, complete with crab races for the kids and my nephew-in-law’s incredible frogmore stew. As all the kids grew and had kids of their own, there were so many of us the branches did not all grow from a common tree, but we always thought of each other as family anyway. Sometimes now it seems like a dream since my wife, my brother-in-law and my nephew-in-law have all passed. What I wouldn’t give for one more reunion “down the shore” as they say in New Jersey.

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:49:51 +0000

In reply to Sandy Sheppard. How poignant, Sandy. Thanks for writing. Janet and I celebrated 50 a year ago.

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 04:11:46 +0000

In reply to Sr. Sandra Sears CSBC. Lovely memory. And you just taught me a new word: fossicking!

By: Sr. Sandra Sears CSBC

Sr. Sandra Sears CSBC — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:59:02 +0000

Thanks, Philip. I remember spending my school holidays at a tiny town called Coobowie on the coast of South Australia’s York Peninsula, where my mother was born. Fond memories of going spotlight fishing at night (and watching blue ringed octopus – highly poisonous – slide around my cousin’s hand, flashing iridescent blue in displeasure) and fossicking for shells along the beach. Mum loved those shells. In fact, when I took her funeral, we put shells on her coffin instead of flowers.
Not so long ago I wrote this poem about the sea (God) based on those memories, called ‘Healing’.

Whenever I have a wound that won’t heal
I remember what my mother used to say:
“Go for a paddle or a swim.
That should do the trick.”
(She was born and raised on the coast)
So I do just that;
wade out into the deep,
and let the Sea
lick my wounds clean.

Works every time.

By: Bob Rundio

Bob Rundio — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 19:58:53 +0000

Thanks for sharing the memories Philip. I grew up in a little town in southern NJ named Egg Harbor City. Your story brings back many childhood memories of going to the beach and boardwalk in Atlantic City and Ocean City. I remember seeing the diving horse at the Steel Pier. Fortunately, I didn’t visit the same barber shop!

By: Jennie Mclaurin

Jennie Mclaurin — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 17:01:20 +0000

Thanks for this memory, Philip. I remember going to Myrtle Beach at about the same age. We lived near Chicago, and Lake Michigan was my sea. I had never been in warm water like the Atlantic and the salt shocked me! I hated it! My eyes stung, the sand hurt my sunburn and my feet kept getting sand spurs in them as I hopped across the hotplate they called a beach. It took me years to like the Atlantic Ocean!

By: Tom King

Tom King — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 12:15:09 +0000

Summers are where many of our finest and deepest memories can be found. Phillip Yancey shares some that have lasted for him. Mine constitute day trips to nearby parks and hidden places with our bikes and bag lunches. Those days didn’t end until a street light went on, the signal that dinner was ready, and the table was set to tell all our stories.