If y’all haven’t figured it out already, I love the ocean and Deep South culture, especially South Carolina. Oceania is only one of the many stories I have planned to take place in the Deep South, especially Greenville and Charleston, since I know them best.
Oceania may be a bit cringe—and needs work—but the idea that I finally have a story written in honor of my dad is a dream come true. I shall cherish it forever in the years to come, even when my dad chooses to move on. This story is a gift for him to thank him for all the times he listened to my stories as a kid. Without him, I wouldn’t be the writer I am today. For that, Dad, thank you. He helped me edit this story, too, so double thanks! I hope to become a local author for South Carolina one day, so Oceania and Claxton are my first steps.
If y’all ever plan to visit Charleston, South Carolina, I recommend visiting the other place where the inspiration for Oceania came from—Patriots Point. It’s in Mt. Pleasant and carries a WWII aircraft carrier called the Yorktown as well as a WWII Destroyer called Laffey that survived six kamikaze attacks and four 500-bomb lb. hits off the coast of Okinawa in 1945. Of the 350 men aboard, only thirty-two died, and seventy-one were wounded, which is impressive for a war battle. Not only that, but Laffey never sank, giving her the nickname “The Ship That Would Not Die.” Think about it and the U.S.S. Yorktown while you read through Oceania and learn a few Navy terms.
I plan to expand this story later, but until then, this little draft will do. I think it’ll make my dad proud. Oh, and FYI, it’s common in the Deep South for grown women to call their fathers “Daddy.” It’s a unique lingo down here. As I mentioned at the beginning note, this really happened to my father and me, so I wrote a story about it with some Patriots Point inspiration included.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on long enough about how much I love this story and history. Remember to tell your loved ones you love them, especially your parents, because you don’t know. Trust me—I know.
I hope you enjoyed Oceania, and I hope to see y’all at Patriots Point one day!
- Victoria/Viktoria
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