MB 0609 2

Although our beach trip is ancient history now – many very busy factors being involved – I feel compelled to finish the story and narratively get us back home.

Tuesday, June 9th, found me on the 7th floor balcony of our temp residence overlooking the beach and ocean in Myrtle Beach, SC. And although I was looking intently eastward, I still was unable to glimpse Europe – has to be fog or something. The time was early afternoon and the day was clear. I was ensconced on the shaded side of the building and just soaking in the fresh air and enjoying the sounds of the ocean.

One could hear the occasional calls or squeals of young ones enjoying the beach – and even the voices of older ones urging them to not do what they were doing because they would hurt or do away with themselves. Many games were being played, waves were enjoyed, skimmer boards were ridden and/or fallen from and birds of several types were flying and calling to each other – probably discussing the human critters on the sand.

Kites were flying to one degree of expertise or another. One particular one was ‘piloted’ very well indeed, with loops and swoops toward the sand, yet without colliding with the beach or any occupier thereof. A game was being played on the shore – Bocce ball – and this reminded me that I intended to buy one of these for the home front last year. Of course my normal tendency is to straightway forget this after I return home.

This was another relaxing day for us both, the weather was sunny with a light breeze and although I had a garden to tend and blueberries to pick back home, I just soaked up the peacefulness. Several small planes flew by, paralleling the beach and towing advertising signs behind them. Also an old red bi-plane flew down the beach and back a couple of times – probably rented by someone for the ride.

A full moon rose over the ocean on Sunday and Monday nights and was absolutely awesome. Tuesday evening found the moon hidden by clouds and showed the lightning of an approaching weather front – awesome also. The balcony contained two rocking chairs and if properly employed these can be much of a stress reliever.

We ate out a few times but mostly ate our meals at the condo – more relaxing. The rest of the trip seems a blur now – we did go shopping another day – relaxing for the Spice, not so much so for me. Early afternoon on Friday, June 12th, found us packed and headed back to our home once again, having enjoyed the getaway but needing to continue our normal lives back at the home front.

During this trip I found and viewed with awe many extraordinary things – these amazing things are hard to find because they are so mixed in with the ordinary parts of a day and have to be searched out. I remain convinced that some of these were made by God just for me to enjoy – God is good! ec

PS – The photo is of a small island of landscaping between the condo and beach.

MB 0609

The busy summer season thus far has come to pass in the following manner. Pre-summer began back in April and May with the planting and tending of the garden – with the Spice occupied with her Mom, first in the hospital – one month – and then moved to a “skilled nursing facility”- six weeks now. Besides mostly taking care of the home front I have been a backup sitter and/or caregiver for MIL.

Then with the garden well on the way and a full schedule of sitters arranged for MIL, we took off the first full week of June for Myrtle Beach. Leaving early afternoon on June 6th, we stopped by to see MIL and then eastward and beach-ward we went. We stopped in Columbia at Fuddrucker’s for a hamburger and to relax a while. Then uneventfully we continued on to the ocean-side condo for some much needed R & R.

We checked in, moved a van full of “stuff” inside and shortly headed out to Wally World to get some groceries. Arriving there it suddenly dawned on me that this might not have been the best plan in the world because it seemed everyone else within many miles had the same idea. But I have learned over the years to go into vacation mode and even wall-to-wall people couldn’t upset my peace of mind.

Back to the condo and just simply relaxation – the Spice had been under much stress caring for her Mom and my main goal was to see to it that she rejuvenated during our time away. It probably didn’t help that our dishwasher “bit the dust” the morning we left. We called and ordered another on the way down to hopefully be delivered when we got back. We had replaced the trash compactor just a short time before this.

We put all that aside and just enjoyed doing nothing for a while – we just vegged out that first night. On Sunday we didn’t leave the condo except to go out on the balcony and once to retrieve something from the van. This seventh floor view was outstanding and very calming with the waves and light breeze. This balcony faced east but try as I might I never could see Europe – probably smog or something.

We arose on Monday morn, took nourishment and headed out for a day of light shopping – not shopping for lights but as opposed to heavy shopping – although any shopping is heavy to me. On one of the few occasions I was able to get on the web, I determined all the places she wanted to go were roughly in the same area. We stopped by McAllister’s for a bite to eat, then to Hamrick’s, Kohl’s and on to the mall for Belk’s and others.

My dislike for shopping comes from the fact that I don’t have a meandering gait – unless it is a place selling hardware and such. I wandered about to find something to interest me and we kept in touch by cell. And though I tried to stay with the Spice in her last place of shopping, it soon became too much for my feet and back. Then just outside this store, what to my wondering should appear but a couple of recliners.

These were left there for advertisement purposes and we had one very similar at home so I found great joy in ensconcing myself in one of these until the return of my dear one. As we made our way back to the condo I could tell that the Spice was starting to unwind. Unwinding is good and God is good in allowing us a time and place to do so. TBC ec

PS – The photos are of the beach and of the fresh water stream that runs beside the condo into the ocean.