5/5/2013. - Day 40 - He could calm a storm and heal the blind, and I'd bet He'd understand a heart like mine.

5/5/2013. - Day 40 - He could calm a storm and heal the blind, and I'd bet He'd understand a heart like mine.



This morning we get up fairly early and pile into the Toyota for a trek to Kiawah Island, in search of the dolphins. Our research has indicated that there is an area of the island where dolphins have learned to "strand feed" in groups, beaching themselves and the fish they collectively trap on the sand, and then feasting. We are hopeful to see them this morning and have planned our day according to the tides. Dodger is even lucky enough to score a seat in the car and has been warned to be on his best behavior.

The road to Kiawah is beautiful, lined with old oak trees that create a canopy overhead. When we arrive at the park, it's cloudy with a light wind. We make our way to the shore while the waves are still moving out. Low tide will turn to high tide in about a half hour and we need to walk quite a distance to the area where the river meets the ocean. Despite the lack of sun which continues to plague the low country, I'm delighted to be out on the beach, and the prospect of seeing dolphins is always exciting to me.

There are only a few others out this morning, so Dodger gets to go off his leash and run free and chase his tennis ball. Dodger is not always conscious of the tennis ball though, and when something or someone else catches his attention, we frequently end up retrieving the ball ourselves. At any rate, Dodger is happy to have full run of the beach, and we are not terribly upset to oblige him and fetch the ball ourselves now and then.

Our destination is the mouth of the river where it empties into the ocean, as this is rumored as the spot where the dolphins gather at low tide. As we near the inlet where the river meets the ocean, there are a few more people and dog walkers and Dodger (now back on the leash) is fighting Jamie for all she's got. Dog-mom Jamie is annoyed and regretting her decision to bring him. And I am deepening my resolve to wait many years before having children.


As we wait for the dolphins, I explore the beach area and spy a welk shell in the sand and am elated at the find. Then I wade further out into the receding tide and see starfish everywhere. Excitement explodes and I am running about like a child yelling to Jamie about my discoveries. I hold the starfish in my hand and feel their tiny sucker feet moving on my palm. I also spy tons more welk shells. It's as though I have hit the beachcomber jackpot. I race to pick up a large welk, and in all my excitement of the discovery, become careless in my pre-inspection of all beach items. Generally I do not touch beach finds with my bare hands, at least not initially. Usually I inspect them with another object like a stick or rock, and then, only if I determine it's safe, I will pick them up, continuing of course to carefully examine them for creepie-crawlies. But this morning the thought of dolphins and seeing starfish has made me forget my precautionary measures. As I reached down the grab a welk shell and turn it over in my hand, I shrieked and cast it out into the ocean after a crab poked out of it and startled the bejezus out of me.

Rule #1: You MUST inspect all beach materials thoroughly no matter how excited you are about dolphins or any other sea discovery. The consequences range from death to mild embarrassment.

I tried to act normal after this incident but it's highly unlikely no one noticed. I calmed down somewhat afterwards. Jamie is mad she brought both of us now.

Almost exactly at low tide, we began to see dorsal fins. Jamie and I have developed a habit of always being in some sort of scan mode when it comes to dorsal fins. Usually dorsal fins mean excitement; sometimes they mean sharks. We prefer to think optimistically.

Dorsal Fins! Dorsal Fins!!

At the appearance of the [non shark] dorsal fins, the others who were at the shore with us crowded around at the edge of the water while Jamie and I stood back. They were all older folks, likely retired, and we had assumed they would be rule followers when it came to wildlife. Instead, they crowded on the shore. Signs explaining the process of strand feeding warned onlookers to watch from a distance to give the dolphins room to feed, but the seniors ignored them. There were several comments that were made rather loudly by J and I about how we were sure thinking the dolphins WOULD PROBABLY WANT SPACE..., but the older visitors paid no attention. Jamie and I hung back anyway, giving the dolphins room if they wanted it. One particular dolphin was very curious about the humans on shore and was showing off a little for his small audience.

Soon after the turn of the tides, the dolphins were gone and we began the trek back down the beach and to the car. We were still about 150 yards off from the walkway back to the parking lot when the wind picked up. It was evident a hard rain was impending, and we began to run the rest of the length of the beach. As we reached the path to the parking lot, rain began coming down and we were a little less than dry when we got back to the car.

We stopped at Chez Fish for a little lunch, and then returned home for an impromptu nap. The rain continued steadily throughout the afternoon. Early that evening, I attended service at Sea Coast Church. Sea Coast is a large non denominational community with several campuses in Charleston and I found it extremely welcoming and comfortable. There were people with umbrellas standing outside to entry, greeting the congregation members and guests as they made their way through the puddles and into the building. During the service, we were encouraged to light candles at the stations around the sanctuary for people who may need support, loved ones we'd lost, people who had done things to help us, and those who needed prayer. We could also attach their names to a wooden cross hanging above the candles. I found this to be an incredibly powerful practice and lit a few flames. It was a particularly emotional day for a variety of reasons--one being tomorrow marks the 7th anniversary of my brother's best friend's passing. May 6th is a day that never comes and goes without tears since Michael left us that summer. I'm also missing my family a lot today and that adds to the emotion.

It's good to be in church at times like this, to feel surrounded and enveloped in God's love. To have a shoulder to lean on in Jesus during times of grief and missing loved ones, gone or just far away. I'm comforted within the sanctuary and am glad for this moment of overwhelming emotions to have occurred at such a perfect place.

But I thought I ordered CHEESE?!

That evening, Jamie and I gorged on nachos at Juanita Greenberg's in honor of Cinco De Mayo. The popular Mexican place was packed and featured loud live music for the event. After consuming our fill of nachos, and of course, queso (which is cheese if you didn't know), we returned home again, hoping for a tomorrow with no rain.

5/4/2013. - Day 39 - My Southern Comfort Zone

5/4/2013. - Day 3 - My Southern Comfort Zone

Today is Saturday in Charleston and while it started out with a little sun, the sun has quickly hidden itself away in favor of a weekend nap. Generally I wouldn't look to blame this type of behavior, as I myself fancy naps on a regular basis; however, the sun has been resting for a week now, paying no attention while the clouds and rain overrun the atmosphere with darkness and frequent downpours. I've had enough.

It's a little windy with a slight rain coming down when Jamie gets home from work early this afternoon, and we head for the local shopping center. I plan to explore a little while J gets her hair cut. I'm familiar with this particular shopping mecca because it houses some of our favorite finds in Charleston, such as Francesca's, Teal, and Style Exchange. I will have no trouble busying myself while Jamie is gone. The trouble will likely be me finding too many pretty things, and Jamie is terrible at encouraging purchases and no good at helping me keep to a budget.
I like her a lot anyway.

The rain starts coming down more steadily by the time Jamie's appointment is over, and we return home and find ourselves sleeping part of the afternoon away. We have social plans later in the day, but for now we have parked ourselves on the couch to watch the Kentucky Derby coverage, or at that point, the pre-derby content. Somehow we both drifted off to sleep on the couch with Dodger at our feet. I awoke suddenly and blamed Jamie for not waking me up earlier, then learned she had fallen asleep, too. I think for a few moments we both pondered going back to sleep, and then decided to drag ourselves off the couch.

We scrambled to get ready in the scarce amount of time we had before we were supposed to be out the door to meet friends. The locals had already gathered downtown hours before, festively adorned with all matter of hats in honor of the Kentucky Derby. A few days prior, I told Jamie we should make the drive to Kentucky to go watch it, then reconsidered when I saw the distance. The TV would have to suffice. I would have liked to say we at least had fancy hats, but we did not-which is a major derby failure.

With the ladies at Rarebit

We did not join the downtown scene immediately after we made ourselves presentable, but met up with friends at their home and quickly caught the derby coverage before leaving for a cocktail party at an acquaintance's home downtown. After that we put in a request for a table at Rarebit and retired to the Starz Grille and Bar on the rooftop of one of Charleston's historic buildings. The night was not ideal in terms of weather, but the rain did let up long enough for us to enjoy some time outside before dinner.

We were surrounded by other small groups gathered on the rooftop, as a light breeze fanned the flames of the candles scattered about for ambiance, and the sounds of laughter and conversation drifted around our table.

Charleston seems to always feel comfortable, familiar, and old fashioned. It's like finding the perfect vintage piece that's both comfy and charming, fitting perfectly in all the right places, and also quite stylish. People here are friendly and polite, and you feel as though you could have been here a hundred years and at the same time you yearn to spend a hundred more just enjoying the company and the atmosphere. I return every few months for this feeling and to relive the memories of some college antics with my random draw roomie from freshman year at UND-- and of course to make new memories together as we continue to have new adventures operating under the aliases of "adults".

When our table was ready at Rarebit, we enjoyed another amazing meal--does Charleston offer anything less?--and then were off to the Cocktail Club. The Cocktail Club is structured to resemble a building under construction, with simple wall framing dividing some of the rooms. While there, I learned that a "professional yacht racer" is a real job, or so I'm told by a gentleman who claims to be one. If that can be an actual profession then I need to get more creative in my job outlook.

We didn't stay out too late tonight after Friday night's hiatus and headed home on the early side, much to Dodger's delight. Dodger again slept beside me, though I'm not sure he plans on standing watch for cockroaches.