Tuesday, May 7, 2013

#travel2013: Myrtle Beach.



I've been counting down to this vacation for a while. Ever since our Hawaii trip was cancelled (thanks sequester) and our Hilton Head trip was cancelled (thanks cancer), I have put all my focus on looking forward to Myrtle Beach. G's grandma lives down there, so we planned to take off a couple days of work, drive down to the beach, and DO NOTHING. And of course, I welcome any chance I have to go home to South Carolina.

We left Wednesday night after work and drove through the night, and left Sunday after church. While it was a mostly cloudy/windy/rainy trip, it was so nice to see the beach and know that yes, it does still exist. I am a firm believer in the restorative power of a real, true vacation.

G left his swim trunks at home so we had to stop at Wal Mart. It turned out to be unnecessary since we didn't see ANY SUN.


Thursday night we watched "Glee" and then "Scandal" (OMGGGG OLITZ!!! #whoisthemole) while facetiming with R. #LRG


Friday morning we ran along the beach. Love love love.



Then we went to lunch at Tommy Bahama with Gs grandma and I tried on my bridesmaid's dress for Lauren's wedding at Anthro. LOVE IT.


Friday night we went mini-golfing. First to Captain Hooks, then to Jurassic Park land. We both got a hole-in-one yessss PROS.



Saturday we spent the day in Columbia. My grandparents lived there for 40+ years after my grandpa retired from the Marines-my mom went to high school there-and I have spent so, so much time there I consider it a second home. Before we left Charleston in 1996, we were only 90 minutes away, then about 7.5 hours when we were in Virginia Beach, and about the same from NoVA. I spent a LOT of time there and many of my first memories of life include Columbia...the first time I saw snow, my grandma coming in my room in the morning to get me out of the crib, doing morning walking laps around the Mall, watching "101 Dalmatians" and "Sister Act" over and over because they were the only movies they had that I liked, getting fresh water from the spring out near Springfield, going to Cromers and getting boiled peanuts, driving by the temple, and simply sitting in the living room spending time together. I realized that night after we returned that I was feeling really sad; this was the first time I had ever been to Columbia without at least one member of my family. I walked through my grandparents house and saw all the boxes, books and memories and was overcome by emotion. I am so grateful that I was blessed to be born into my family; that I have so many memories that I'll always cherish.

As soon as we got to Columbia, we went and had a nice visit with my grandpa's dear friend, Brother Phipps. He watched out for my grandparents for so many years and he and my grandpa still keep in contact with each other. Anyway, he has a little farm where he raises corn, a couple other vegetables, and chickens/roosters/quail. I asked my grandpa if he wanted me to pick anything up from the house when I was there. He said no, but that he would like it if I could visit his friend. So we stopped by. Then we went to Wal Mart and got some spring flowers for my grandma's grave, before going to downtown Columbia to eat (Cookout...yummmm). It was a nice trip, but bittersweet.



Sunday morning we went to church with Gs grandma in a beautiful white building on the marsh. The pastor had just returned from a trip to Israel and gave an wonderful sermon on peace-I really enjoyed it.

Then it was time for our adventure to end. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo by driving through South of the Border (NC/SC state line on I-95) and had Cookout again.


Hey thanks!



YAY VACATIONS!!!

2 comments:

  1. YES! First, good pick on that Anthro dress for her wedding! YOU LOOK GOOD GIRL! Also, so excited about this trip you two got to do! And....I miss your face. ALL. THE. TIME! :) Visit west soon!

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    1. Thanksss! Lauren did a good job with our dresses :) wish you were coming!You know as SOON as I visit Utah i'll let you know! LOVE YOU.

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