Tales out of school

The giddy graduate

In going back through my pictures from the past several months, I realize there are a number of special occasions about which I have not yet told you.

A situation which, I think you will agree, must be remedied, and that without delay.

So let's get started.

Mommy and me

If you've been paying attention and following along, you know that our Dagny matriculated in kindergarten last fall.

I wrote about that momentous milestone, and shared a number of photos, here.

Aunt Erica gets a shot

Then, as we know, it turned into a weird year and she, like all the other children, experienced "distance learning" from the end of March.

On the twenty-second of May, there was a greatly abbreviated graduation "ceremony" in the sanctuary of the church of which Dagny's school is a ministry.

Papaw takes a knee

(It seems wrong to even call it a ceremony; it was most unremarkable, flat, dull, lifeless, and altogther unsatisfying. I'm still trying to figure out how a few five-year-olds marching down an aisle -- six feet apart -- to some music, and sitting -- six feet apart -- in a few pews, miles from everyone else, would encourage the spread of the CCP virus. But apparently now, we are required to approach every situation with abject terror in lieu of actual logic.)

I may be a trifle bored

We did assemble, though, and for that we were grateful. As I said, there was no entrance by the graduates to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance; Elgar was allowed to rest for the evening.

The kids merely wore their caps and gowns and sat with their families until they were called up to receive their certificate of graduation, which was proffered to them from the end of a ten-foot pole by an unidentified person wearing full HazMat garb and standing behind a lead curtain.

Hey Mamaw it's me Dagny

Just kidding about part of that. You can figure out which part.

The service we attended was for K-5 through sixth grade; the K-3s were left out in the cold and the high school graduation took place on a different night.

Graduating is not so bad after all

Naturally we were all there: Audrey and Dagny, TG and me, Chad and Erica. The usual suspects. Other family members watched online.

There were a few happy moments in the lobby before we sat down for the short service. Dagny with her Aunt Erica; Dagny with Papaw; Dagny with her mom. I took all of them with my phone.

Dagny was excited to see her classmates again, if only from afar. Afterwards we had a wonderful reunion with her teacher. I regret that Dagny did not get to benefit from a whole year with Mrs. K.

My first diploma

Afterwards we gathered at Chad and Erica's house for a small family celebration (you know how we are about pawtying).

I had bought a cake which turned out to be mostly icing and rather disgusting in that regard but it was pretty shades of pink and small -- six slices exactly.

Pink is my favorite color

Poor Chad got an end piece which involved perhaps two bites of cake and two cups of frosting, but he didn't complain.

Dagny received some gifts and stuffed toys and there were balloons and she seemed thrilled.

A few days later, Dagny braved the waves for the first swim of the season.

In full-on party mode

It was still too cold for us grownups but she declared it refreshing.

Now the water is at least eighty-eight degrees and feels like a spa treatment.

Delightful, given that we are enduring the dog days of summer.

School days, pool days

But for Dagny, first grade looms. The word came this week that they will be resuming classes on schedule, in person, maskless, five days a week.

Common sense has prevailed in at least one (very important) area of life, for which we are thankful. 

We will keep moving forward, armed with equal parts optimism and determination.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Thursday

Far from the Manning crowd

Matchless Manning

A couple of months ago, on the Saturday after Mother's Day, we went to Manning.

Manning, South Carolina, that is: Matchless for Beauty and Hospitality.

(Open for dispute perhaps, but that is their slogan and I say God bless them for their eager optimism, pride of community, and elegant turn of phrase.)

Johnny Reb

Along for the outing were TG, me, Erica, and Dagny.

Audrey was not able to come along; Chad chose not to.

It was an extremely hot day -- one of the first fiery spring days we'd had.

Charleston to Appomattox

As I've told you before, we enjoyed an uncommonly cool spring in South Carolina.

We loved it. The lovely cool spring weather, that is.

It made the CCP virus "lockdown" situation more bearable.

Dagny and her beloved Aunt Erica

You might have guessed if you know me very well, that it was I who hatched the plan to take a day trip to Manning.

But where is that, and what is there, you may be thinking or asking.

As for the where, Manning is sixty-odd miles due southeast of Columbia. Sort of halfway between the state capital, where we live, and various famed South Carolina beaches.

Little water tower

As for the what? Not much.

But we derive as much enjoyment from the journey as from the destination, and it felt like an adventure, so at around noon on the day, we sortied.

Before reaching Manning proper, we stopped at an exit where there was a promising souvenir-and-treat-type travel store and gas station. Beside it was a shop dedicated to fresh-served ice cream. The kind of place where you can see all of the ten-gallon buckets of ice cream behind glass, half scooped out already, begging you to point to one of them so that the clerk can load up your cone with one to three varieties.

Courthouse architecture

Erica had spotted a billboard advertising the place: Smith's, Exit 98 off of I-95 in Santee, South Carolina.

Think Stuckey's -- if you're familiar with that chain known to most travelers -- but with even more stuff (stuff stuffed everywhere) and lots of handmade treats such as fudge and pralines.

It sounded exciting and in fact, it turned out to be a place so neat, you had to go back a second time. Which we did. But wait for the story to unfold.

There was a pretty sky

Having cased the ice cream shop, we'd gone into Smith's where Dagny was keen for a snack and was eyeing an ice cream novelty. We promised her we'd get her that later if she'd settle for something less sticky for the time being. I think she ended up with a pack of crackers.

On tantalizing display was everything from a full rack of Chick tracts (for free) to kitschy souvenirs by the hundreds, plus beach-inspired decor and cheap fireworks and a dazzling array of fudge flavors, and even a full range of world-famous Claxton Fruit Cake products from the Claxton Bakery in Claxton, Georgia.

(One usually sees those only at Christmas and it's one of my favorite things so I was drooling. Smith's carries them, fresh and festive, year round.)

We had Manning to ourselves

Promising to come back on our way home, we asked the cashier what time they closed.

We're open twenty four hours a day, three hundred sixty five days a year, she said from behind a sheet of Visqueen suspended between herself and customers on the other side of the counter, ending about ten inches above said counter to allow for space to put your purchases down.

It was a hot afternoon

Turns out the Visqueen partial curtain was Smith's sole concession to the "coronavirus crisis." The friendly cashier told us that the owner had been committed to staying open for travelers and the community who depend on them, and despite some lonely days, they had accomplished their goal.

Like Bert's Market at Folly Beach, they may doze but they never close. Delighted to hear it, we said we'd see her again that evening.

Dagny in the bike rack, with a magnolia tree

Once in Manning, we headed for the downtown area and quickly realized we'd have no competition for a parking spot.

They were all vacant. Deserted. As were the sidewalks, and the streets.

We walked around the Clarendon County Courthouse and let Dagny run, and I took pictures, and we quickly realized there was basically nothing to do in Manning.

Old brick and clinging vines

So after walking around a bit, and looking around in the only store that seemed to be open (sort of an old-fashioned small department store type of operation, with outrageous prices for dull and spiritless merchandise), we headed back to the car.

Next up? You knew there'd be a cemetery.

Manning Cemetery, in fact. We decided to go on over there. I'd already scoped it out on the map.

Land of the free

Upon arrival we saw that we'd have that location to ourselves too. We were the only ones still on the green side of grass.

Not that there was much (or any) grass in Manning Cemetery. A few scrubby clumps, was all.

Manning time

Being so close to the ocean, places like that tend to be more sandy, with many live oaks dripping Spanish moss so not much sun gets in, and gnarly roots that you have to be careful not to trip over.

TG let me and Dagny out while he and Erica figured out the best place to park the car.

Come on in

Dag and I stepped through a gate and towards some old plots enclosed in wrought iron. I took a picture of her and she wanted to take one of me.

It was then that we noticed that we in fact were not technically alone.

Low country aesthetic

Mamaw, there are so many ants! Dagny alerted me, and then I saw them. Millions of ants. Maybe trillions.

The little suckers were everywhere. There was nowhere you could step or stand or even look, that they were not swarming.

Dagny gives a thumbs up

Now, these were extremely tiny black ants, of the completely harmless variety. Not the red fire ants we're known for in this part of the country, and in which I have stepped in cemeteries, and which bite you with a vengeance, and it hurts like crazy.

But the ants crawled on every square inch of that cemetery. They were frenetic and relentless. We walked around and as I said, it was mostly sandy dirt, whitish in color, and the black ants were seen no matter where you looked.

I'm sure there were ants on me

And if you dared stand still for even a few seconds, they climbed up and crawled all over your feet and would have aimed for your knees if you hadn't stomped and swatted at them.

Dagny and I started walking fast. By then, TG and Erica had parked and gotten out of the car and were coming towards us.

The Santee Dam

We yelled for them to be careful of the ants, and they looked and gasped as they witnessed firsthand the overwhelming ant activity.

It was not going to be possible to take pictures.

They didn't get far

We all got back into the car, stamping our feet and making sure we didn't bring ants on board with us.

I was not sure what to do next, but I'd seen some mention of the nearby Santee Dam, so we headed in that direction.

At the water's edge

The Santee Dam was constructed in 1941 and created Lake Marion, the largest lake in South Carolina. Lake Marion is so large, in fact, that it is known as South Carolina's inland sea.

Lake Marion is right beside Lake Moultrie, South Carolina's third largest lake. Serious lake country, paradise for boaters and water skiers and fishermen. The dam itself is eight miles long.

Put your shoes back on

So we tooled over in that direction and found the place where folks are meant to park if they want to walk on the dam.

And we intended to do that, but we quickly realized that it was going to be pretty boring even for us, whose standards for what constitutes interesting and exciting are fairly low.

So we settled for standing at the land-end of a small fishing pier and let Dagny wade in the water a few feet away.

Jordan United Methodist Church

She was so thrilled by that; I can't tell you how much that child loves to be near or in water. It never fails to light her up.

After we'd done that for a while, we decided it was time to go and find something for supper.

We stopped at a restaurant that was about one-fourth open; as in, they were letting people sit at one table per section. The whole experience was unremarkable.

Steeple sunset

In addition to the billboard that led us to Smith's, Erica had spotted a picturesque church on the road to Manning.

We followed the road back to it -- Jordan United Methodist of Manning -- and pulled in not long before sunset. It was peaceful and quiet and pretty, so white and small, with a little graveyard and a steeple that let the sun's rays shine through. We spent fifteen minutes there.

Once back in the car and headed for home, we hadn't forgotten that we intended to stop once more at Smith's at Exit 98.

Day is all but done

Our second visit was even better. I ended up buying a Claxton Fruit Cake to keep in the fridge for snacking; TG picked out some fudge. I don't remember what the others got but we had a good time looking around.

I asked the still-friendly cashier whether they had a web site where one could purchase their many offerings, and she said no, but she gave me several plastic drinking cups emblazoned with their contact info, and a few pamphlets, and said to just call if there was anything I wanted, and they'd ship it right to me.

I promised that I would, but I may just go back when I get another Claxton craving. It's not far.

Smith's. Yay.

It was dark when we got home, and we were tired, but we'd had a great time and made a few interesting discoveries.

As well as good memories, for which there is no substitute and of which there are never enough.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Tuesday

Blessed with birthdays

Chad on his thirtieth birthday

As I mentioned in my last post, our Chad turned thirty in late June.

To mark the momentous milestone, TG and I and Audrey and Dagny gathered with other family members at the home of Chad's parents, Greg and Jane.

We came bearing gifts

Chad's grandmothers, Miss Annie and Miss Claudia, as well as his Uncle Doug and Aunt Becky, were also there.

Miss Annie lives next door

Naturally we are well acquainted with all of these lovely people, given the fact that, just over two years ago, we celebrated Cherica's wedding.

Chad and Erica were there too, with Sibyl, their Chihuahua-Yorkshire Terrier mix.

Sibi the chorkie observes the festivities

Once everyone got settled in and the gifts had gathered on the sideboard, Jane announced that dinner was served.

On the dot

She'd made baked spaghetti and baked ziti, with salad and Italian toast (it wasn't exactly garlic bread; it was better).

Jane can cook

Everyone loaded up their plates and found seats and the repast was most enjoyable, along with fellowship and much talk about the CCP flu that's going around.

Maternal grandmother: Miss Claudia

Miss Claudia revealed that one of her elderly neighbors, after "sheltering in place" and "social distancing" and masking and sanitizing and doing everything within her power to embrace the vile "new normal," had contracted the virus anyway.

And has made a full recovery.

Paternal grandmother: Miss Annie

No one else at the party knew of anyone who has had the CCP flu, except for Chad, who had been informed several weeks ago of two people in his building at work who recovered from it while everyone was still "in lockdown."

Chad is gifted

There's that herd immunity working for you.

After supper we decided it was time for Chad to open his gifts.

Chad gets grilled

TG and I gave him an indoor grill, a handy item that allows you to grill meats and vegetables either in the kitchen or at the table.

High on birthdays

He and Erica are avid cooks -- foodies, even, if anyone still says that -- and we thought they'd enjoy grilling chicken tenderloins and Carolina Pride sausage discs and sweet peppers and zucchini chunks tableside.

Cherica

Chad said he loved the grill and loved the idea.

He received several other nice presents. Dagny, as at every birthday party, relished helping to direct the flow of boxes and bags and balloons and greeting cards into the hands of the birthday boy.

Grandsons are special

Then it was time for cake but I insisted on taking some group pictures first.

I hadn't brought the Nikon but I had my phone so we were good to go. Out onto the side porch, that is.

Uncle Doug and Aunt Becky

First I wanted Chad's picture alone with each of his grandmothers, and one with the three of them together.

The guest of honor and his loving parrots

Both of my grandmothers were gone by the time I was in my mid twenties. Chad is fortunate to have turned thirty with both of his beloved Mimis still around and relatively healthy.

Chagny: mutually devoted

Then it was Doug and Becky's turn, then Dagny's (she adores Chad to distraction and he loves her right back), then our crowd, then Chad and Erica together.

I'm so glad we did that. I plan to give Chad and his grandmothers the photos of them together, framed for posterity and against the inevitable (but far away) time when it's no longer possible to take such pictures.

Core group for most of our parties

That accomplished, we set about serving cake. Chocolate-chocolate is Chad's favorite so of course that's what Erica had ordered from the Publix bakery, which, for a grocery store bakery, does an excellent job with cakes.

Cherica: lovebirds still

You can even order your cake online late the night before you need it, and they'll have your decadent and decorated dessert ready for you the next afternoon.

(Erica is known for procrastinating so that last bit is handy.)

The man of the hour

Chad regarded his cake with admiration for several minutes before blowing out the numerical candles as we serenaded him with "Happy Birthday."

Then Jane served coffee and the slabs of chocolate cake were loaded onto plates for our enthusiastic consumption.

What have we here

Delightful.

For the rest of the evening we sat around and talked, which is always the best part of parties.

This year has been harrowing in some respects but I've been encouraged, as always, by family gatherings during which all of the negative news can be forgotten, or at least pushed off to the side, in the shadows where it belongs.

Cake News

In the coming days I'll be sharing with you other family celebrations for which we've congregated since the spring, complete with photographic proof of the excellent use we made of each special occasion.

Chagny: Buddies

They -- both the occasions and the stories -- are plentiful.

Meanwhile, keep your chin up, a smile on your face, and a song in your heart.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Wednesday

Our cause it is just

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L e t   F r e e d o m   R i n g

Broad River at the Harry Easterling Trestle Bridge

Peak, South Carolina

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 O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

= Francis Scott Key =

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Happy Independence Day Weekend :: God Bless America