PHOTO PROMPT © C.E. Ayr
Oasis
Each morning she slathered on a pharmaceutical witches brew and stepped into The Salton Sea.
Most Bombay Beach RV dwellers scuttled to their metal pods in the heat. Attenuated to the stench and light as lithium, she floated with the gulls, cushioned by tilapia springs. She could see Salvation Mountain when she prayed.
Pink, orange, and yellow sunsets joined her every evening. It was then she said her goodnights to the Sea. Taking a few steps to the freshwater pool, she rinsed off. Sipping from the brandy passed around the fire with her neighbors ended another blissful day.
[98 words]
My story today is based on a real place, The Salton Sea in California. I first became aware of it in 2004, when I saw, “Plagues and Pleasures on The Salton Sea” at a local film festival. My caring for the Sea has continued since then.
I wrote about this back in 2017 here.
Read more about the movie here.
Read more about The Salton Sea here.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the inspiring host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Sounds heavenly. If only we looked after our planet a bit better.
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I am removing the Salton Sea from my bucket list. It is a shame what happened here. California has a big water problem.
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That place is a mess and it’s going to cost a fortune to clean it up. They can’t afford not to.
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magical words, a dream like read – your lines singe the brain – great writing Lisa!
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Gina, thank you and am glad you like the story 🙂
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She seems to have got the hang of living in both worlds
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Great story telling Li.
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🙂 Thank you.
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You’re welcome 😇
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I’ve seen a show on that place before..terrible.
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“light as lithium” was just the right phrase for this piece. Well done.
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Sandra thank you very much!
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Dear Lisa,
Pharmaceutical witches brew set the tone for the rest of the story. I went back and reread it after watching both videos. Horrifying and fascinating that these people stay there. Well written story and well placed information.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, thank you for your thoughtful comment. Glad you thought the story was well written.
Shalom,
Lisa
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There is no end to it, everywhere…(k)
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AT least she’s making the best of it.
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Yes, she is. Happiness is where you find it.
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You’ve left me with an image that is a mixture of the beautiful and the damaged. I guess you’ve captured our daily lives rather neatly!
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I like the way you looked at my story, Penny. Thank you for your comment 🙂
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This is so sad. A great story though.
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Thanks Gah!
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oh my, she must be high on something. i say that in a good way. 🙂
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High on Life, you’re right, Plaridel 🙂
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Making the best of a bad lot. Thank goodness for neighbours and brandy! An interesting take on the prompt.
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Thanks Keith 🙂
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sounds like a great place, well described.
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James, thank you.
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Wow… both your story and the videos. Makes one wonder why people choose to stay there.
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Very nice.
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Thanks Dawn!
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I had not heard about that place…. but there are so many places we have destroyed so I am not surprised.
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Wow, cool story !
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🙂 Thanks!
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Thanks for the videos, perfect companions to your story. Left me with a sense of the fragility of natural beauty. Thank you.
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Thanks and you’re welcome.
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Fascinating story which took me on a journey of discovery. That I enjoyed. I hope they do build a pipeline
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Thank you, Mike. A couple of ideas I had: 1) put a desalinization plant on its shore; 2) net and compost the tilapia and sell it as fertilizer (I think composting kills harmful bacteria.)
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I’m from California and I’ve never heard of the Salton Sea. Of course, I’m from Northern California. Your story makes it seem much more pleasant than the videos. After watching the videos, little things in your story seem much more ominous under the happy tone. Well done.
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Thanks, Nobbin.
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Thanks!
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