S. Carolina and Tennessee - Fabulous Family Times!

One trip highlight after another continues to unfold. South Carolina had my second most favorite campground right next to the ocean - Edisto Beach. Turtle nests, open shoreline, and by far the most appropriately local named "Whoop Ass" storm to date! SO glad no branches fell on me with the 70mph winds in my tree cove. Others were not so lucky. But even with flooding and no electricity for two days, I LOVED IT!



But that was just the beginning so many wonderful gifts this state had in store. Cousin Jim and Saundra (pictured below) live here and it was SO good to see them and rest again in the sanctuary they provided for me last year, after a different kind of storm. Lake Keeowee. Huge, warm, crystal clear and a perfect playground for me and ....

Zach and Susan!!!

Our incredibly generous and gracious hosts not only gave us the entire downstairs with two rooms, a kitchenette with a full fridge, and our own private deck complete with view and waterfall(!!!) but they also gave us the keys to their jet ski AND jet boat! Boy were we thrilled and in such a blissful state of amazement and gratitude. I think it shows! What an incredibly perfect good time we had. Rope swings, waterfalls, endless coves, wake boards, jet skis, naps... ahhh... Zach mastered every form of water sport we could think of with style! And Hey Sue... such great form on that rope swing! (Mine was, shall we say.. less so. Hence, no picture. But I loved the jet ski, and there is a special treat at the end of this blog to honor one of Zach's many superpowers!)

Sue left for home a few days later and then Zach and I said our goodbyes to Jim and Sandra (THANK YOU -YOU TWO ANGELS YOU!), and headed out over the Smokies for a few days of great camping on our way back to North's home and family in Maryville, Tennessee.

It was so special to me to have this time with Zach, especially in this place most beloved of all by his Dad and my husband. I relished sitting creek side watching and listening to him play guitar. And I'll always remember the squealing excitement (even if the camera wasn't ready) when we saw that black bear cross the road!

Spending the 4th of July holiday with Mother Mary, Brother Bill and Sista Alison was another special treat. (I just LOVE that picture of mother and son!) We went to some caves, the boys fished, we BBQ'd at Misty Glen cabin and I spent one night alone there again. (No one else wanted to join me, least of all Zach. I am sure it had something to do with those enormous wolf spider legs emerging from the tub drain!) The rest of the time we either stayed at Bill and Alison's, or at Mary's (with my RV parked and plugged in at her driveway!) Brother Bruce was/is doing his acting thing up in New York and we missed him. But I can hardly wait to see you in that film on Lifetime in October!!! And my camera was not charged when we visited with Dr. McKinnon and Wanda. But I got some classic video of grandpa telling stories. I never knew he was a pilot before he became a doctor! We had a great time with them too.

So, obviously, this was a very special and important part of this journey for me. It was good yet strange and hard yet happy to be there. I missed my sweetheart something terrible at times. But being amongst his family did my healing heart good too. Even Barnie made some new friends in Mayfield and Bubba (Mary's dogs). I miss them all already!

So thank you Bill and Ali for taking time off and entertaining us so well. I loved our time together. Mary, thanks for letting me linger in your driveway and taking me shopping and feeding me after Zach left. I enjoyed just being with you, watching movies, etc., and that birthday dinner and chocolate cake was out of this world!

Next stop - Kentucky, then Ohio and Pennsylvania, and finally... upstate New York and Sis Kris and my nephews for my birthday in Buffalo! Oh, I can hardly wait. But don't you go until you watch this clip below. I am smiling with you!

Love and more love,

Stef