As far back as I can remember, which unfortunately is no longer all that far back, Jaime and I spent our summers with our grandparents in Beaufort, SC. Not Bofort...the locals would kill you for such tyranny! For, we are not in North Carolina folks! We always visited in July, during the Water Festival and my memories of this week are like no other. My grandparents bought the condo on the Marsh when I was about 2 years old. They had a small yacht and docked it as the marina next door. During our week with Mommom and Poppop, we would spend the week at Bible School during the day, which I absolutely loved...making crafts, singing, eating snacks...what was not to love? We went to the Water Festival Parade, where candy was thrown into the streets (what kid doesn't love candy?), spent an afternoon hunting for sandollars on Hunting Island, the most beautiful natural beach I have ever been to in the US. We stopped and ate lunch at the Shrimp Shack (AMAZING- buy the Super Shrimp Burger- You'll never taste ANYTHING like it!), took the dingy into the mud flats and crabbed by hand, steamed and enjoyed picking them with Poppop at the bar in the great room with newspaper underneath our feet, and so much of our time, we just spent playing outside on the live oaks and in the woods. At night, Jaime and I would get to make large ice cream sundaes and watch movies that Poppop had taped (with commercials) from TV like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and other favorites! Jaime and I would always have some ridiculous BOZO SHOW prepared for both my grandparents and my parents when they came up for the pick up on the last weekend of the week we spent there. We would sing and make queer jokes, and dance like idiots! So much fun! As we got older, I spent several of those visits without Jaime and instead took along my bestfriend at the time. Michelle Roth accompanied me one year and Holly Hance late in High School. I honestly have to admit that when I look back on those summer moments, I can't help but smile and hope that my own children will have even half as good memories of summers as I have!
My point in giving this intense background is in laying the groundwork for how special it was to have recently taken Foster to see Mommom. Poppop died when I was 18, so being there isn't quite the same, but even with a 9 month old baby in my arms, as I swung open that front storm door, I was immediately sent back in to a time when life was just so simple and simply delightful! This time, however, it felt even more special because Foster was getting to visit a place that resonates so deeply in my soul. Of course he had no way of really understanding where we were or how special the place is to me...but together we were able to make new memories...ones that at least I will remember.
We spent three days with Mommom. Jaime was there for the first night and Foster just loves spending time with his Aunt Meme! No Aunt could ever love a nephew more! Per Jaime's request we enjoyed fresh boiled peel n eat shrimp! Yum. Unfortunately no shell fish for F just yet. The next day, Mommom and I took Foster out the the Shrimp Shack. I'm telling you...there is nothing like it. I dream about this sandwich in my sleep. Think of the way a hamburger is made, and then imagine that the beef is shrimp, lightly floured and fried to a golden brown. What, what??? AMAZING! After lunch, we took him to downtown Beaufort to swing on the renovated playground. So cute! Daniel had spent the last two weeks in Scottland gallivanting around for the Navy and surprise...they were coming home early. Truly unbelievable. So, the following day, Foster and I packed up and headed back to Fernandina to greet Daddy! IT was so nice to have him back.
All in all, a short, sweet, and fabulous trip! Can't wait to head back that way later this summer!
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