So we went to Charleston! Again! Yes, we go every summer! It is my birthplace, my hometown, my roots. It becomes more important to me the older I become. And the older my grandparents become. In my mind and heart they are ageless. As ageless as the beautiful oaks that fill Charleston. They are the same grandparents that taught me how to play canasta and took me on fun trips. But when I see them each year during my annual visit (which is just not enough- I hate that I can only visit once a year) they resemble the great oaks physically as well. Gnarled hands that cannot mold into mine when I hold them. Gray mossy hair. Limbs that twist and bend, and sometimes break... which breaks my heart.
We stayed with my aunt. My cousin and his wife were away on a cruise, and they left their daughter who is two months younger than Sophie with my aunt. Sophie had a built-in best friend and they had lots of fun dressing up and having tea parties.
We drove down all day Sunday, with minimal complaint from the girls. We arrived in time for dinner, play time, and bedtime. Monday morning we went out on the boat:
We stopped at a sand bar to play:
Then, we went home and got cleaned up:
We went to visit some other relatives, and then called it a night!
On Tuesday we hit the beach again:
And then visited the relatives again. On Wednesday we went to the Aquarium:
And then I took a Road Trip to Charlotte with friends to see:
Where I looked like this for the first half hour:
On Thursday, we went to Charles Towne Landing, where my uncle, photographer extraordinaire, took several gorgeous photos, including:
Thursday evening we said our good-byes to everyone and took in the local beauty for the last time (until next time!). This is where I'm from:
