Seashells, Stars, Froth & Bubbles
"Life is mostly froth and bubble … two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble and courage in your own." – Princess Diana 
Various events were happening simultaneously so not all beach goers paid rapt attention to the touch of Hawaiian (or was it Polynesian) culture that recently graced our Crescent Beach shores in southwest British Columbia.
A blow into a seashell and the dancers started to sway.
Young women twirled effortlessly to the music, their bare feet sinking into the sand.
There was symbolism in every move. You can learn more about the hula dance HERE.
The up and coming littlest performer looked on. Soon it would be her turn.
It takes a bit of courage to dance like no one is watching and perhaps even more so when attention is desired and/or anticipated.
The beach, like life, is a stage of "frothy bubbles" where one never knows what to expect. Sometimes gifts of kindness catch us by surprise in these cruel historic times and sometimes, when we turn our gaze from things distant, treasures await nearby. 
In one of my daughter's B.C. Fairies drawings that I recently refreshed for fun, Muriel didn't find the shell she might have wished for but she did discover what appeared to be a very good omen in the form of a beached star, inspiring my few words below:
I sought a seashell once of many hues
to hear sounds of angels in the hollow
but roar of rancor echoed out that lair,
as sweetly and discreetly, by my hand
for easy grasp, a star from heaven fell.
Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United, SKYWATCH, and Saturday's Critters.
Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C. You can link to my B.C. Fairies page HERE.
Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.
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Oh this such a delightful and beautiful blog post ~ filled with awesome photos of a wonderful event on the beach~ and your beautiful fairy with the star is awesome ~ thanks, hugs,
ReplyDeletean artist reflects
(carol and ziggy)
A very poetic post. Hula dances are very mysterious and graceful to me.
ReplyDeleteThe bird in the reflection shot is great - and love that umbrella! #Skywatch
ReplyDeleteSo glad I read this! The photos are gorgeous, and your insights, especially the Princess Diana quote, are so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLove Princess Diana and her quote. It's been scorching hot here in the Tampa Bay area, so we've gone to the beach several times. No festival though. You're lucky. Beautiful captures of the Hula dancers!
ReplyDeleteThe quotation from Diana is beautiful. And Life does surprise with unexpected gifts.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful thoughts and images. :}
Love this Post.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed.your write very much, the Hula reminded me of our visit to Hawaii a whole lot. Our hotel put one.on and also honored the guests with the roasting pig barbecue.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for the Princess Diana quote. We enjoyed following her before her untimely death. Slept in her parent's mansion, saw her wardrobe, and the little island there where she is buried. We also visited the underpass where she was killed and the French Monument honoring her near the entrance. Lots of flowers always.
p.s. (May bore you) Update on my story today. "I still have the car and drive it. We are Texas, they have classified it as a Texas Antique Auto meaning at least 25 years old and I don't drive or use it for work or school. Low insurance rates and I only have to renew its license once every five years."
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The sharpness of these pictures is wonderful, and I loved the Princess Diana quote. Life certainly can surprise. My husband and I have had a number of surprises in the past year.
ReplyDeleteAn utterly delightful post; set me up for the day! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBtw, I am sure Princess Diana could well have quoted that saying, and it certainly epitomises her way of being – but it was first said (and written!) by 19th Century American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Well, she lived on into a little of the 20th Century too. She was very popular in all English-speaking countries, and was noted for sentimentality. Many of her lines went into common parlance, e.g. the well-known, 'Laugh and the world laughs with you, Weep, and you weep alone.' (I could finish that verse! I was brought up on EWW among others. My grandmother had her collected works.)
Rosemary! Thank you so much for providing this interesting historical background regarding the quote. Princess Diana spoke Wilcox's words in a speech she once gave, perhaps crediting the original author … though the Internet seems to have forgotten. :)
DeleteWhat a wonderfully joyous poem and super photos - really feels like a celebration - Jae
ReplyDeleteyes I think I heard the quote prior to Princess Diana too - though it is a beautiful quote and I can imagine Princess Diana saying. It would have been wonderful to see the dancers on the beach. Enjoy your weekend, I am joining you at SkyWatch Friday.
ReplyDeleteLove the poem and the exquisite fairies, all the images, the gorgeous shell, the sweet child on the beach and the hula dancers. I have always enjoyed watching their graceful movements. Absolutely delightful! Thank you Maria and happy weekend to you.
ReplyDeleteThe fairy on the seashore is gorgeous! It makes you feel like you are there...and calms!
ReplyDeleteLovely pics celebrating beauty and life.
ReplyDeletecolourful n delightful...with lovely pics...
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful poem. the fairy and the lovely shells.
It is nice to see the Hawaiian event and the hula dancers come to your beach.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Hello Maria :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, with beautiful images of fairies and that exquisite shell- Your poem is delightful and I enjoyed seeing the hula dancing by young pretty girls.
Have a happy weekend
All the best
Sonjia.
Wonderful post, full of colour, life and light. Truly celebratory!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the wonderful photos and words. The drawing is so beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pics and post. I like the falling star in the lap. It's like a blessing.
ReplyDeleteI like the Princess's well chosen quote.
ReplyDeleteHula dancers always remind me of a quote from P.J. O'Rourke about how the dance tells the story of "young ladies who have too many shell necklaces on and cannot shake them off no matter how hard they try."
And I like the assonances and symbolism in the starfish poem. Multum in parva.
PK
I would have really enjoyed seeing the Hawaiian dancers on the beach. I love being on a beach and finding shells.
ReplyDeleteThis is enchanting, as is the drawing!
ReplyDeletereally deep, thought provoking images!! very calming also...i always looked for the shells on the beach where i am, they are a rare find!!
ReplyDeleteOh MY!!! I would not have been able to stop watching and would have cheered for MORE! I love the images you shared, the words too.
ReplyDeleteOh what a post Love all of it; the gorgeous dancers (that most have been a feast) The man blowing the big shell, the beautiful little poem and then that amazing fairy painting. I love fairies
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