Tuesday, November 24, 2009

An Afternoon in Charleston

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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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,

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May I be excused, please?

17 comments:

Robin's Nesting Place said...

I can totally understand that torture! Wow, what a lovely place!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

It looks like your kind of place May.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

LauraHinNJ said...

Yeah... I'd be about in the same place.

;-)

Please... may I be excused to the fun stuff? Please?

Susan Gets Native said...

Torture!!
What was the flock in that last photo? I bet it was something GOOD. :(

Mary said...

Susan, fuzz or lint on the screen.

KGMom said...

Lovely place--but a private water front?

Jayne said...

What a view down that pier! I'd have left the ribbons and giggles too.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful location and great pictures. Thanks for sharing. Mary you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Kerri Farley said...

I know EXACTLY what you mean! Lovely pics!!

jason said...

This looks delightfully peaceful, Mary. I would have had difficulty deciding between a wedding and a walk...

Thanks for the chuckle on the flock of fuzz or lint! I always get those two species confused as well.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mary! Be well.

Ruth said...

Gorgeous location! I never would have accepted a chair on the side of the table with my back to that view.

Anonymous said...

Keep in mind that was OCTOBER. You'd better stay where you are unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a ponytail.

We drive there and back sometimes in a day (to see M-I-L.) Go this month while it's decorated for Christmas. LOVELY! (Heck, call me! DAY TRIP!)

dugfresh said...

"...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;..."

that sounds like paradise, mary.

and i can completely relate to your pressing distraction. when i'm outside and talking to people, i'm always scanning the sky, or reacting to movement in the trees... i feel bad, because i know it looks like i'm not paying attention, but i just can't help it. once you realize that not every bird is a sparrow (my catch-all categorization of any bird when i was growing up), then you're afraid that you'll miss out on some new species sighting, or some really cool, never-before-witnessed (at least by you) bird behavior. lol! we're a funny bunch, aren't we?

Wendy said...

What a lovely place! Great location! Even with the humidity. Since I have fine, straight hair, I love humidity. It makes my hair fat. And fat hair is good!
Oh, I can totally understand wanting to kick off shoes, throw away bra, and run barefoot (no not naked) in cut-off shorts and tank top and yell - yippeeeeee! I'm free!!! Oh, and then take awesome pics, of course.

A New England Life said...

Mary, I am going to assume at some point you were excused and made it to the end of that pier! I expect to see a full report in your next blog post ; )

What a view! What a day! Not good weather for hair, make up, and deoderant. Ha haa!

dguzman said...

My hair's ruined anyway, so can't I just leave so I don't muck up any of your photos? Please!?

Rose said...

Lol, it must have been torture to sit there with such a wonderful view, yet no chance to walk and check out the wildlife, Mary. They should have scheduled a game out on the pier!