Dear Reader:

There were so many simultaneous celebrations going on this past week at “Rest in Peace” (on so many different levels) that there was scarcely a moment when we weren’t “cele-greating” something related to finally  being together to share our unified benchmark birthdays.

When we arrived Brooke had gone all out….there were 70’s banners, decorated table cloth, mugs with 70’s Herseys in them-even tiaras…it just went on and on…and set the festive mood for the week. The weather was joyous too…no rain…cool and sunny! Perfect!

I, personally, was so happy for having gotten through the CT Contrast/ Scan Monday morning (and keeping that awful drink(s) down.) The only down side to that was I had to leave early Wednesday morning from Edisto to return to Charleston for my oncologist report… to go over the results. I must admit I was a little nervous. It had been over a year since the last CT Scan and the Verzenio I was on had caused numerous stomach problems…among other uncomfortable side effects.

The Ya’s sensed my apprehension and we formed a circle and said a prayer together Tuesday night. It worked…Overall my oncologist was pleased with the results…I texted the Ya’s to tell them and when I drove up early Wednesday afternoon they were dancing and singing to Celebration Time by Kool & the Gang. (I started dancing too at the bottom of the steps coming up)

We’re gonna have a good time tonight …Let’s celebrate, it’s all right! And boy did we celebrate Wednesday night! At Elle’s and Ollie’s…our favorite bi-annual haunt! We had the nicest waiter, James, who joined in the fun with our celebrating…it just made the evening so special.

All dressed up and somewhere to go! 🙂

Thursday Brooke and I returned to some of our favorite spots on Edisto and even explored some new ones…(or actually old ones tenderly remembered.)  Cypress Trees! Breathtakingly beautiful…it is where Mandy, my eldest, married John…(2008) two weeks before my breast cancer diagnosis.

Brooke and I drove over and I rang the doorbell to see if the Murrays were home, the owners of Cypress Trees. Linda had an appointment and was gone… but Joe answered the door and we had the best time talking…they still do weddings and he had me in stitches about some of the “hiccups” that come with such emotional events.

Joe told Brooke and me to wander around at our leisure and take photos…I sent a few to John and Mandy so they could reminisce. He also invited them to return and bring their Eva Cate and Jake… so they could see where mommy and daddy got married.

The actual wedding took place between  two oaks (below)…There were old Victorian lanterns lining the long avenue of oaks coming into the Cypress Trees…the wedding was May 3, 2008…at high tide…cool/sunny…and no mosquitoes…boy were we living right! 🙂

*Actually it was an almost identical day Thursday at Edisto to the wedding day…cool, no humidity…low seventies…perfect! We had come full circle!

Just a sweet sweet wedding! One that will live in my memory forever.

A few years ago we took a tour of Edisto and the young man, Don, who took us around showed us all the “secret” hidden sights on the island. Two were paintings done on oak trees of an alligator and rabbit…  He told us that there were people who live on Edisto all their lives (not counting renters and tourists) and never see what is in literally in front of them….as they busily speed along.

*I wanted to know if the oak paintings were still there…and they were. The thought made me happy that someone (the island secret artist) was keeping the paint coming regularly so the two animals didn’t disappear from sight forever…even if another branch appears to have knocked off part of the alligator’s snout.

Two of the island’s strangest roadside “oddities” were still in place also and the story behind them tomorrow is mysterious and hilarious at the same time. Stay tuned.

I detoured and  went out to the beach to photo the last sunset Thursday night…  as I left to pick up cheeseburgers for our final supper….the peace of a beach as darkness descends provides such a private glorious moment.

So until tomorrow….“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset”-Norton

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh