Chapter 8.... Life in Charleston

Any body that knows me, knows my love for this beautiful city. I have made countless trios , just spent a vacation with my best friend Cheryl, my cousin Debbie and I went for a week last year and have decided I am going at least once a year for the rest of my life. It charm, and beauty excite me. The ocean, the historical homes, plantations, islands, warm weather and friendly people make Charleston an inviting place to be.

Brad and I had a great time while living there those 3 years. We struggled with where to go and what to do every weekend, because there is so much to do. We spent a lot of time on the beach, at the parks, the duck ponds. We sat on the roof of our apartment and watched the lighting race across the sky. They call it electric heat. We went to Spoleto Festival, July 4Th celebration, Regatta sail boat races, museums, Art walk and the River Dog baseball games.

We spent a week on a private Island off the coast of Georgia. We sailed a house boat from Charleston to the Parson's Island. Friends of mine invited us to sail with them. Gloria and John took a job as caretakers of the island. It had a main house with 10 bedrooms, 7 baths, 2 kitchens, a basement pantry, and 4 sitting rooms. The Parson's own 29 islands last count. There were 4 small house where the maids and butlers lived and they entertain on the island several times a year. When they come to the island they bring an entire staff of servants with them. One thousand acres of the island is give to the Wildlife Preservation. On the shores of the island, there are different shells we could find. Brad and I would get up early in the morning and walk to the North shore where we would pick up hundreds of sand dollars. Brad would sell them to a local artist Jeanie Dickson ( a friend of mine) to paint. At around noon we would walk to the West shore a find sea horses and star fish. And in late evening after high tide we would walk to the South shore and find shells. We made a shadow box of all the things we found on the island. The island was a peaceful, relaxing place to be for a week. It is a memory that will last a lifetime.
My last year in Charleston was the hardest. It seems that everything that could go wrong did. I moved into a townhouse apartment in Goose Creek about 10 miles from my job. Brad started a new school, a good friend of mine from Paragould was looking for a change in scenery and moved to Charleston with her daughter. They lived with us for a few months while she got on her feet. I lost my apartment after only a few months because I broke the rules by letting Debbie move in. I moved in with a friends mother who was diagnosed with Alhemizer's and took care of her until I couldn't anymore. She went into a nursing home. It was the most trying year of my life and I new it was time to leave. So Debbie and I rented a u-haul and home we came.

The memories of Charleston are all I have left. The death of one son and the life of another. I cherish the time I spend their with my memories. I make new memories with everyone I take back with me. Charleston has my heart. The good memories I have really out weigh the bad memories.