It was cold, not frigid, but the wind was biting. Good, that meant I had the beach to myself.
The stark late winter sun turned the summer vacation site into a monochrome fantasy, an old silverplate photo from a bygone era.
I shared this world away with only a single soul who, thankfully, was walking the other direction, his form silhouetted by the low, southern sun.
Typically, a walk, any walk, gets the creative juices flowing, fires the imagination, sends a spark of creativity that wakes the system. A walk on the beach? Paradise for the muse!
But not today…
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Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © CEAyr. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
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Yeah, yeah, the missing muse story seems to be a common thread on FF, but some days we just draw a total blank.
Trent's World (the Blog) 
beautiful piece!!
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Thanks!
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Alone time is the best. You described that perfectly Trent. So it means the muse was on you.
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Thanks, I am sure she was, just hiding behind a dune so I wouldn’t recognize her ;)
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How fascinating !
A moment in time. I think the muse did strike, but in a different way.
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Thanks! Perhaps she was there in disguise…
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Great imagery. Sadly, sometimes what we expect is not there.
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Thanks. yeah, sometimes we just need to enjoy the beach and not worry if the muse shows up or not.
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loved the imagery! great work !
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Thanks!
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I always walk on the beach when I’m looking for inspiration – not today though as we are suffering 70 mph winds and it’s a bit hazardous down there!
My story!
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Yikes! We had wind like that last week (OK, 40 mph sustained, not 70). In reality (i.e., not Friday Fictioneering), I am hoping to get a good beach walk in in a day or two.
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I do enjoy a walk on a quiet beach off-season but sometimes the muse is not to be, no matter the location.
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Those muses can be finicky, can’t they? Sometimes walking on the beach off season is much nicer than when all of the “tourists” are in town…
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And there is a story, full of atmosphere and vivid images. I admire the ‘lost muse’ stories. When I lose mine, I’m usually not capable to write anythig.
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Muse’s are fickle. A walk on the beach should do it…. but not always. Although you did write this… 😀
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Muses are fickle, and they have a warped sense of humor. Well, mine does. Perhaps she pretended to absent while moving my fingers as a kind of joke….
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It almost feels like something interrupted the muse… I like the way you described the photo, it is a gorgeous place.
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It is a gorgeous place. I do take winter walks on the beach, and the photo does a good job of capturing that light. I think the muse was off enjoying herself someplace around the beach…
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So many ways to fill in the missing pieces. The genius of a really good story is that it leaves the reader to imagine what may have happened :)
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That is one reason I like these FF stories, it really invites that type of writing.
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I think your muse led you on your walk along the beach. So well described!
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She might have been hiding someplace on that beach ;) Thanks!
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I really miss the beach, a penalty of lockdown.
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I’m luck in that I have a house close to the beach so can visit.
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I really liked your story, Trent. :)
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Thanks :)
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I think your muse is enjoying the beach too much. LOL! Good story.
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I think my muse loves the beach and the mountains and forces me to spend as much time in both places as possible ;) Thanks.
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Mine likes water… the larger the body the better. The river front is a place I like to go to write… when it’s not flooded out that is.
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I like big bodies of water as well – I think I told you that I am from Ohio, but might not have said I grew up close to Lake Erie. It is funny, though, that I spent all of my free time paying in the Vermilion River and only occasionally in Lake Erie!
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Yes, you have said such. I’ve been up to Lake Erie a couple of times… on the Canadian side, actually… at Point Pelee. I’ve been to Cleveland twice and didn’t much care for it, equally said of Toledo. I’m from the area near Xenia, I think I’ve said. Lived for 10 years in and around columbus, then moved to Kentucky. Now, we hope to just get back over the river…almost anywhere we can find decent digs and work that pays well enough for said digs. I grew up playing in Massie Creek, Little Miami River, and enjoyed the banks of the Sciota when we lived in Columbus. I used to love a beach up in Delaware County, but forget the name of the park… the rangers were always skeptical when they saw me with my cat swimming. they weren’t sure what to make of it… but Misty loved the water, and riding on my kickboard.
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A beautiful story for a beautiful image, Trent. I think the muse was there after all. :-)
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Thanks, Diana. She might have been, perhaps out swimming or hiding behind a dune…
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Dear Trent,
Well described walk on the beach. I felt like I was there. Perhaps your muse is out for a dip in the ocean. ;)
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I do a lot of walks on the beach, so know it well :) And maybe she was there, hiding in the water or behind a dune…
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Still, a walk along a quiet beach is reason enough, there doesn’t need to be anything more.
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True, the beach walk is it’s own reason with trying to add other things to it.
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Great description of much of my life,Trent!
Your muse came through in style.
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Thanks! Maybe she was there, sunning herself, and I just didn’t notice…
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Oh yes, the muse was there! You describe my relationship with deserted beaches perfectly.
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Thanks. i do enjoy winter beach walks when nobody is around, so written from experience (I’ll be on the beach in a day or two, so maybe foretelling the future as well)
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Envy is a terrible thing! I haven’t been near a beach since October. We’re confined to out local area here and I’m in the city. Throw a stone in the sea for me please! And enjoy the beach!
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I have a house near the ocean on Cape Cod, so can visit more than most people. i will throw that stone in for you :)
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Thank you, Trent!
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Love this Trent 💜
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Thanks, Willow!
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Always a pleasure 💜
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Well, the muse can take breaks, after all solitary is good too! ;-)
Loved it, and I think your muse was actually there too!
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Sometimes the muse needs a bit of a vacation, and perhaps a beach is a great place to find her when she is on that vacation ;) Thanks
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Maybe so, but a beach is also a great place just for …being! ;-) However, as I said, in your case, I think she was there! :-)
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It is a great place to just be – I’ll be on the beach in a couple of days and will be able to get that refreshing ocean breeze first hand…
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Ah… that sounds so nice!… sigh
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And yet, you told a story, supposedly muse-less… I really liked this, Trent.
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I guess just describing a good beach walk is story enough – actually, we think both know someone who has an entire blog site devoted to walking on the beach ;) Thanks.
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Yes, it is. And you did it rather well. And yes, we do know someone… ;-)
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