Dear Reader:

“Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.”

Jackson loaned me her tractor she received when she was five years old. Doesn’t it bring back wonderful memories? My brother David was the tractor “man” among us siblings and he was quite territorial about it. But still…. when the “cat’s away the mice will play” always worked. At least long enough for me to get to drive it a few times.

The grandchildren are going to love driving it! Eva Cate can definitely reach the pedals and Rutledge’s legs are probably long enough  to push the pedals …we will check it out the next time he comes.  Thanks so much Jackson for the loan….I will take good care of it!

Nostalgia took another (more recent) avenue this year. Look below at one of the gift exchanges… Jackson had discovered and brought for each of us.

It is artwork remembering October 4, 2015…the date of the “1000-year flood.”  It is magnetic and can be placed on the object of your choice….I chose my refrigerator where I would see it daily. The award-winning artist said this about the symbolism.

“The background of this artwork is unique, as it resembles the flood water and the beauty that came from it. The floodwaters were horrific, but beautiful at the same time as it brought out such “Beauty” in so many people. (Artist: Ansley Coleman Grier)

None of us missed the irony of heading back to Edisto Island with another storm (Collin) meandering around this time. But we certainly weren’t going to let that stop us …the best thing that ever happened was Jackson being with us and not at home during the “1000 year flood.”

We had an opportunity to reflect on Jackson’s son, Matthew, and his “magical” wedding all within a few months of the flood. Jackson said, from her vantage point now, the flood will probably go down as the benchmark that proved to be the catalyst that forced her hand to make a decision that would have occurred any way in time…while saving lots of money by not having to pump it into an old home that was constantly needing something new.

The loss of personal items was the hardest but new poignant family stories and photos are quickly filling in the family archives of memory.

Once again we realize life goes on or as Ferris Bueller so aptly quoted at the end of his movie (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off):

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

A hand-made nostalgic quilted memento of the orange moon rising above the Blue Ridge Mountains on Matthew’s Magical Wedding Night. (Thank you Mary Lee!) A gift to Jackson.

We have been going to Brooke’s retreat home for so many years it too is now an important benchmark on our calendars. This year I took time to find the beauty right in Brooke’s own back yard, side yard, front yard….we were surrounded by it without having to leave. Even the egret in the front yard (the first morning we were there) was a welcoming sign we believe.

The funniest gift was (as advertised on television) “The Grabber” since Libby has problems dropping items in the kitchen because of her broken wrist from skating….but laughing aside…we all saw the practicality in the gift and want one. Our birthday gal!)

*Jackson gave it to her for her birthday (being Libby’s room-mate for a few months after the flood and heard all the glass breaking).

The beach was so beautiful our last night as if Edisto had dressed up well to tell us good-bye….the memories are already turning nostalgic and will continue to do forever.

Until tomorrow….each year we count four Ya’s….we know has been a great year with more in waiting like the waves!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Delight of the Day: A sunflower field we discovered leaving Hollow Tree Nursery.