I share that not to boast, because it is not I who deserves the praise! I simply go and do .... because I feel like going and doing. It is truly miraculous (as Sabrina's mom told her) that I am at the end of an aggressive chemo regimen, that I had pneumonia and bounced right back, and continue to feel so well. God is good - that's the only way I can explain it.
Johnsonville, SC is a small town. Ok.... not as small as Mansfield, IL :) but about 1500 people. I could tell right away that everyone knows everyone (just like around here) as people greeted us wherever we went.
On Friday (the day after my arrival) Marla and I had lunch with her dear friend Nichole. It was an emotional weekend for them, as Nichole and her family were moving to Mississippi on Sunday. The families have been friends for years & raised their kids together. Ironically, Nichole's husband will be working in Memphis & they will be living just south of there. I mentioned that I had cousins in Byhalia, MS and Nichole's ears perked up. She asked "is that on Byhalia Road?!" And I said yes, I believe so. She then tells me that they will live about ten minutes from there!
After lunch on Friday, we did some shopping.
And no, I didn't buy any of these :-)
That evening we went to Marla's parents house, for the 80th birthday of her aunt. They were very sweet people and we had plenty of good home cookin'. This is Marla & her mama.....
On Saturday, Marla, her husband Rodney and myself took off towards the coast. We took a leisurely drive through the country and stopped by their camper along the Black River.
From there, we drove through historic Georgetown. We went into a well known bakery there and got an assortment of cookies for our drive. Oh my gosh they were delicious! As we drove down this street with its canopy of trees, Marla said "hop out and I'll take your picture" and so I did :)
Pawley's Island was our next stop. My tour guides reminded me that Hurricane Hugo tore through this area in 1989. Pawley's Island is small and quiet. We went to the point, where there is public parking & headed out to the beach. I couldn't wait to get my shoes off and my feet in the water - I love the beach so much - I was a happy girl!
After brushing the sand off my feet and loading back up, we headed northward toward Myrtle Beach. Things got more commercialized along the way, but I still enjoyed the sites and descriptions of the area.
From the beach, we went to Bass Pro Shop. I actually found my Christmas cards there! When we finished up there, it was time to head back home - but not before dinner. We ate at a place on the waterfront that their family likes, called River City Cafe; it is in Surfside, SC. By the time we arrived, the sun was going down and it was too cool to eat outside, but we snapped a couple more pics and then I had a great burger and fries.
Marla had a couple more friends she wanted to introduce me to, so she'd invited them over that evening for Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake (yes, we ate a lot on this trip!). Nichole joined us as well and it was a bit like a going away celebration for her. Very nice gals, we had a great visit.
The next morning I went to Sunday school and church with Marla and Rodney. I need to backtrack in order for this story to make sense. On my flight from Atlanta to SC, I thought the seat next to me on the plane was going to be open, but at the last minute, a girl in her 20's came flying down the aisle, plopped down beside me and said something to the effect of "whew, I'm done with vodka for awhile!" At this point I knew it would be an interesting flight :) She nearly talked my ear off..... while whipping a book out of her bag, she asked if I believed in astrology, I said umm.... no not really. I do believe I heard most of her life story by the time we reached our destination, but thankfully the time flew by and she bid me farewell. So when I arrive and meet Marla, she and I are standing at the luggage carousel when an older couple comes up and taps Marla on the shoulder. They are from her town / her church, and began chatting with her. They were there to pick up their son.
Fast forward to Sunday, when this older lady (from the airport) and her son, sit in the pew beside me. Once church is over, she leans over and says "Mark (or whatever her sons name was) tells me you had quite a talkative seat mate on the plane." I chuckled and said yes, talkative and a bit intoxicated I'm afraid. He looked at me and said "but you were so gracious to her" and I smiled, saying thank you. That actually made my day. I couldn't help but think of it later and mention to Marla ..... that you never know who's watching. You'd think on an airplane full of random people, that I'd never see any of them again. Who'd a thunk that I'd be sitting next to one of them in church come Sunday! And the fact that he'd observed me being gracious, just warmed my heart.
I headed out that afternoon and arrived home late Sunday. I feel incredibly blessed by so many things. The ability to have taken this trip, for my health, for strength and energy and fantastic friends!
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