IT IS WHAT IT IS (March 7-23, 2020)

 

Sixteen days ago we left Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  We had been there for 63 days and had enjoyed the beach, the restaurants, and the resort.  Toward the very end of our stay, we started to hear about Covid 19.  We were slightly nervous about our flights to Orlando but "social distancing" was yet to be a thing.

Secluded Edisto Beach

However, as we waited in Orlando for two days in a friend's house (they were out of town ), things changed.  We were in Orlando to pick up two grandsons flying in from Missouri. They were coming for a special 5 days with us.  We enjoyed a day at Daytona Beach and quick two day cruise to the Bahamas.  Needless to say, during those days things were changing rapidly.  We loved our time with the boys but were relieved when they flew back home.

Our next stop was Edisto Island, South Carolina.  a quiet, secluded island between Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.  Known as Ed-is-Slow Island, it seemed to be the perfect location to "shelter in place".  We had reservations through May 9th.

That's where we are now.  We have been here a week and just found out that they are closing the resort on April 1st.

Edisto Blue Heron

REFLECTIONS

As I wrote this blog, I received the call that I hoped would never come.  It informed us that the resort would be closing next week. I knew it was coming but had tried to convince myself that it wasn't.

In my thinking, we were in the perfect spot.  It was isolated, beautiful, and warm.  The county had closed off the island and there had been only one case of the virus in Collton County. It was my safe place; my sanctuary.

But, as all my Jamaican friends have told me for years; "It is what it is."

So for the next week we will explore travel options back to Indiana, watch the dolphins frolic, and enjoy the warmth and sunsets.  

Stay safe and lean on the One who is not distancing Himself from us.  His name is Emmanuel (God is with us)

Edisto Island Sunset

PRACTICALLY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY (February 16 - March 6, 2020)

When the big silver bird lifts off from the airport in the morning, we will have concluded our nine week stay at the Wyndham Ocean Blvd. Resort in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  We have enjoyed ourselves so much that we have already signed up for seven weeks next spring.

Wes and Marcia

The final three weeks were spent primarily by ourselves enjoying the beach life.  We did have visitors for five days as our long time good friends, Wes and Marcia Bittenbender, from Michigan stopped in on their way to Florida.  We are so blessed that we are able to share our space with friends as we continue our nomadic life style.

We will spend the next two weeks in Florida (with friends), on a two night cruise to the Bahamas with our two youngest grandsons, and at my brother's home in Simpsonville, South Carolina.  We will be "on the move" more than usual but look forward to this part of our adventure.



REFLECTIONS

The Dicers

Just about every day I would make my way down the stairwell from the 14th floor and out onto the beach that lay before me.  The sandy beach became my trail as I edged my way between the breaking waves and the glistening sand.  It was there, many times, in the retreating waters that I found the ocean's treasures as they tumbled ashore.  Some days I found more than others, but everyday I enjoyed the search.  I found myself ultimately looking for a particular kind of shell.  It was cylindrical and when unbroken, I thought, quite beautiful.  I have no idea what they are called and I don't really care.  To me they were discoveries along my five mile journey.  Yet, for every unbroken one I would find, I would find many more lying broken among the fragments of other shells.  They were broken and discarded by the churning surf.  They were crushed under the feet of folks looking for the perfect find.

For every "Mary Poppins" shell ("Practically perfect in every way") there are so many more crushed and broken.  But then I was reminded that it was the crushed, broken, and worn down shells, which sifted together to make the soft, warm, sandy beach upon which I walked.  Without them?  No beach.

Lives are kind of like that.  There are so few that are "practically perfect" and so many more that are fragmented, broken, discarded, and crushed!  The challenge is to not become so enamored with those that we perceive to be "practically perfect" that we overlook look those who, although we may not see it, will rise above their "brokenness" and enhance the journey of those around them.

Never forget that everyone has value and can be a blessing as we travel together along this beach called life.