A Sunrise Valentine
512 Ocean Boulevard St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912.634.9977 www.mulletbayrestaurant.com Live Music on the Deck
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t was six o’clock Saturday morning May 28th, 1960. We sat quietly on top of “our” sand dune about 100 yards north of the South picnic area on Jekyll Island. Official sunrise was still about thirty minutes away, but the eastern sky was already ablaze with a bright orange glow. A glow whose warm reflection danced and shimmered off the glassy smooth ocean surface illuminating the horizon with a million tiny sparkles that chased away any hint of evening chill while beckoning all to stop and stare at the awesome spectacle about to unfold. It was our first sunrise together. We had pleaded with our parents to let us stay out all night following our high school graduation, but in those days, “decent girls” just didn’t do that. What would people think! So, following a traditional graduation dinner at the King & Prince Hotel, the two of us, armed with a promise to be home by 1:00 a.m., escaped in my aunt’s 1954 Chevy and headed for our secret spot among the sand dunes of Jekyll Island. There was just a sliver of a moon out that night, but a million
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ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
by Mason Stewart
bright stars filled the night sky. A slight breeze blew in off the ocean. Occasional flashlights danced along the largely deserted beach as lovers strolled leisurely by, perhaps looking for their special spot, like us, oblivious to the rest of the world. Time stood still as we kissed and shared private feelings that only lovers can express. We talked of a future we hoped would
be and looked for shooting stars that make wishes come true. Alas, time did not actually stand still, so at 12:30 a.m., true to our promise, we reluctantly packed up our dreams in a beach blanket and headed back to Brunswick. I dropped her off at her house, and drove home alone for a few hours of fitful sleep. (continues)
