An Afternoon in Charleston

We attended a bridal shower for my daughter’s good friend.

It was a sweet trip with Gina on an Indian summer day in late October, heading near Charleston, South Carolina.

We arrived thirty minutes early to the private waterfront residence, allowing us a bit of time to sightsee.

Mt. Pleasant’s scenery dazzled me so that I almost didn’t notice the heat and humidity that slammed us when we opened the car door. I could live there; however, the humid breeze is a real problem for my hair - you know.

There were birds I can’t identify. I only had about twenty minutes to see so many. Small egrets or herons were perched all over the place and these are the best photos I could grab in a few minutes. Frantic.

It didn't take either of us long to soak up the pretty Charleston lifestyle and to fall in love with two or three-story large homes with long wooden porches offering ceiling fans, rocking chairs, and swings; shaded neighborhood streets with moss-draped, large deciduous trees; and water, water, everywhere. There were hammocks in the front yards at every other home, indicative of sweet, relaxed living.

I was willing to walk for a while but in a few minutes we needed to peel our clothes away from our skin, and my hair, well – you know.

The bridal shower was perfectly planned.

A hot lunch was served on a hot porch, facing west. Delicious.

All very proper.

The hostesses were gracious and oozed with the southern hospitality we all adore.

This marvelous home faced the harbor and I had a difficult time resisting the view that kept calling me from behind. I sort of felt like a child in school tortured by something irresistible in the back of the classroom…

The gifts were fine, the young and older women were giddy and entertaining, everything was beautiful, and the bride-to-be was glowing. Lea.

I sat on that lovely porch having a lovely time, turned around, held my camera to my face, gazed at what there was beyond the screen, and pictured myself in flip flops strolling along down that long pier… For a moment, or for an hour, I wanted to cry out loud,

May I be excused, please?