The 1960s were a blast

I’m sure this was 1967 when short shorts were the thing and daughters loved their daddy’s. I sure loved mine. All kinds of things were happening then, riots, the Vietnam War, bra burning, assassinations-lots of hate going around then. But I think that here on the island, we lived in a protective bubble away from all the harshness that was happening in the 60s. Our lives were much simpler. 

In the first book in the Blue House Series, Topsail Island Tango, I try to bring back those days, but try as I might I I realized that perhaps things were not as simple on the island as I thought. 

Here is an excerpt from TOPSAIL ISLAND TANGO:

Pop’s was the place where you went to get a hot dog and Pepsi. There were dances on the weekends, mostly square dances, but it was fun and offered live music. Whole families went there to enjoy a night out with friends.

In the summertime Pop paid a few dollars to one of the local boys to work as lifeguard and to keep watch on the flood of swimmers that came from small neighboring farming towns like Clinton and Chinquapin, Burgaw and Wilson.

Marines and Sailors from nearby Camp Lejeune came to enjoy the beach, too. They were toned and curious young men, far away from their homes.

At Pop’s you could rent an umbrella to stick in the sand and shade yourself from the sun. You could rent inner tubes or rafts, beach toys, buckets and shovels for the kids, along with suntan oils and lotions, hats, beach towels, flip flops and all sorts of beach paraphernalia.

Downstairs there were even showers for the visitors. Pop’s had everything. The Mermaid Bar, just over the county line, had beer.