South Carolina Living November/December 2011 by American MainStreet Publications

Healing

Hidden

Wounds

S.C. veterans adjust to life after combat SC Tr av e ls

Beyond skin deep

Nov/dec 2011

SC Sto r i e s

Art imitates life Humor me

Building the better mate

SOUTH CAROLINA

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* Federal tax credits of up to $500 on qualifying Energy Star equipment. See your tax advisor for qualifications. Must be placed in service prior to 12/31/2011. WAC.

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 65 • No. 11 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 450,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033

Nov/dec 2011 • Volume 65, Number 11

Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop EDITOR

Keith Phillips FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

FEATURE

16 Healing hidden wounds

Left: Cou rtes y Bigh far left: cou rtes y am fam ily; Josh ua Grim

Pam Martin

Many South Carolina veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have a new enemy to face—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—but they aren’t fighting it alone. Family, friends and volunteer organizations like Columbia-based Hidden Wounds are here to help.

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars Contributors

Becky Billingsley, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Diane J. Epperly, Tim Hanson, S. Kim Henson, Carrie B. Hirsch, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Van O’Cain, Brian Sloboda, Shandi Stevenson, S. Cory Tanner Publisher

Lou Green ADVERTISING MANAGERS

Tel: (800) 984-0887 Dan Covell Email: dan@scliving.coop Keegan Covell Email: keegan@scliving.coop National Representation

National Country Market Tel: (800) NCM-1181 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor. ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send

to your local co-op. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Address Change, c/o the address above.

© COPYRIGHT 201 1. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor. SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.

Cooperative news

6 ON THE AGENDA

Christmas comes early in the form of three holiday festivals in the Upstate. Plus: Learn how LED decorations can light up the season and save you some green.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 Sharing the family legacy

Do you remember when electricity first came to rural South Carolina? F.E. Hendrix does and he shares that story in his just-published memoir, Looking Back on a Lifetime of Opportunities and Blessings. ENERGY Q&A

12 Fireplace cleaning and safety Get the facts on fireplace safety before you strike the first match this winter. SMART CHOICE

14 Top toys

SC LIFE STORIES

21 Art imitates life

Zack Hix, the 16-year-old artist behind Good Boy Roy T-shirts, is well on his way to a career as a professional cartoonist.

TRAVELS

22 Anatomy in 3-D

Body Worlds Vital, the new exhibit at the S.C. State Museum, really gets under your skin. OUTSIDE

26 Life among the trees

Explore a national treasure in the old-growth forest of Congaree National Park. GARDENER

28 Do-it-yourself drip irrigation

Forget sprinklers. Precision watering is the key to a healthier garden. CHEF’S CHOICE

30 Big tastes in a small-town café

The Café at Williams Hardware serves up gourmet comfort food and a friendly, small-town atmosphere.

Eight great gift ideas for all RECIPE the good boys and girls 32 Thanksgiving trimmings on your holiday Best cheese ball ever shopping list. Squash pepper casserole Darlene’s apple crisp

HUMOR ME

38 Moo goo guy pain

Women have always preferred the strong and silent type, but some ladies take it to the extreme.

34 MARKETPLACE 36 SC EVENTS Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 7 million homes and businesses

Healing

Hidden

Wounds

S.C. veterans adjust to life after combat SC Tr av e l S

Beyond skin deep

SC STo r i e S Nov/dec 2011

Printed on recycled paper

Jonathan sloane/iStock

Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, S.C., and additional mailing offices.

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

Art imitates life Humor me

Building the better mate

On the Cover: Combat veteran Joshua Grim of Irmo served his country in Iraq. Today, he is among the new generation of South Carolina veterans fighting the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Photo by Milton Morris. Background photo by Bart Sadowski.

On the Agenda For a listing p m co lete s, see of Event 6 page 3

Highlights Visit SCLiving.coop for a list of South Carolina’s top holiday light displays.

NOVEMBER 29–DECEMBER 18

Three holiday festivals

Get the winter holidays off to a warm start at the Oconee Hospice of the Foothills Christmas Tree Festival. From humble beginnings in 1994, the festival has grown into a week-long celebration (Nov. 29–Dec. 3) with multiple events at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Seneca. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree display, the arts and crafts market and the cookie sale, this year’s festival features luncheons, receptions, charity auctions and even a fashion show. All proceeds go to benefit the nonprofit hospice serving residents of Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties. For details, visit hospicetreefestival.org or call (864) 882-7909.

Christmasville Rock Hill (Dec. 1–4) transforms the Old Town section of the city in a Victorian-era Christmas village featuring 20 tons of manmade snow, an ice-skating rink, strolling carolers in period costumes and the artwork of Vernon Grant, the York County artist behind the iconic Snap, Crackle and Pop characters. For details, visit christmasvillerockhill.com or call (803) 329-8756.

fountaininnchristmasfestival.com or call (864) 862-2586.

Big Band Swing

Dr. Jack McConnell retired to Hilton Head Island in the late 1980s, but instead of spending his days on the golf course, the good doctor founded the Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) clinic to provide free health care for working poor. That clinic serves some 14,000 patients each year, and nationwide there are now more than 80 free clinics operating on the same model. To celebrate McConnell’s accomplishments, the Junior Jazz Foundation is sponsoring Big Band Swing, a night of music, martinis and classic dance moves. The Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa at Palmetto Dunes will be transformed into a 1940s swing club where guests can dance to the sounds of Joe Gransden’s 16-piece big band (pictured) and jazz performer Annie Sellick. It’s a fitting tribute to McConnell, who happens to be an accomplished musician and the father of Page McConnell, the keyboardist for the rock band Phish. Tickets are $100 and proceeds go to support the clinic and the jazz foundation. For details, visit vimclinic.org or call (843) 689-6612.

NOVEMBER 19–20

Berkeley County Antique Tractor Show

South Carolina’s rich agricultural heritage is on full display during the Berkeley County Antique Tractor Show. The two-day event, held at Old Santee Canal State Park in Moncks Corner, will include tractor and lawnmower pulls and races, food vendors and crafts. Admission is $7 ages 11 and older, and free for ages 10 and younger.

For details, visit berkeleycountyfamilyymca.org or call (843) 761-9622.

NOVEMBER 19

Marion du Pont Scott Colonial Cup

In addition to the thrills of steeplechase racing, the 42nd Annual Marion du Pont Scott Colonial Cup offers a salute to the men and women of the U.S. military. Festivities at Camden’s Springdale Race Course include horse races, Jack Russell terrier races, mule wagon rides, a petting zoo and a thrilling landing by the Carolina Skydiving League. Between events, spectators can tour a display on the U.S. Army “Buffalo Soldiers” and view an amphibious vehicle that went ashore at Normandy during World War II. For details, visit carolina-cup.org or call (800) 780-8117.

NOVEMBER 26

Chitlin’ Strut

If the thought of eating deep-fried pig intestines makes you a bit queasy, relax. Nobody is forced to partake of the signature dish at the Chitlin’ Strut festival in Salley, and there are plenty of other good reasons to attend, including a parade, carnival rides, live entertainment, helicopter rides, a dance competition and a hog-calling contest. For details, visit chitlinstrut.com or call (803) 258-3485.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

Cathe rine Frenc h

This year’s Fountain Inn Christmas Festival (Dec. 8–12 and 15–18) celebrates “The Spirit of Christmas Past” with horse-drawn carriage rides to local historic sites dressed up for the holidays. One home on the tour will be transformed into Whoville, and rumor has it that The Grinch will be lurking about. Other events include a parade, breakfast with Santa, a live Nativity scene and a performance of It’s a Wonderful Life. For details, visit

NOVEMBER 17

Email COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

Teachers wanted

is looking for or guidance hers teac ol scho two S.C. high , fun-filled trip free a in ed rest counselors inte electric to Washington, D.C. Every June, the rising send a olin Car th Sou in cooperatives state high school seniors from across the and ory hist of y over disc ing on an electrify cted Sele tal. capi on’s nati our government in visit , ents stud the e eron chap teachers will law monuments, meet South Carolina’s 1,500 than e mor with gle makers and min students from across the country. The 2012 Washington Youth Tour will take place June 16–21. Download an application today at ecsc.org or scan the QR code. The deadline to apply is Feb. 3, 2012. —van o’cain

The Was hington Yout h Tour

Gameday giveaways

The turkeys won’t be flying, but the footballs and the Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon will be when the Gamecocks and Tigers meet on Thanksgiving weekend in Columbia. On Saturday, Nov. 26, early morning tailgaters might catch a glimpse of the Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon as it flies over Williams-Brice Stadium just after sunrise. The winner of the Touchdowns with Touchstone Energy contest will be onboard the balloon for a bird’s-eye view of Columbia. And later that day, our winner will be inside WilliamsBrice to catch all the high-flying action on the field. Follow us live on game day and get exclusive coverage with our contest winner at Facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving. If you’re going to the game, make sure you stop by the Gamecock Village across from the stadium. The Touchstone Energy crew will be handing out free stuff—including souvenir cups and miniature footballs—to everyone. Everyone that is, except the turkeys. —van o’cain

Seal your home and wallet

Winter is here, which means that roughly half of the energy you consume over the next few months will go to heating your home. If that fact sends a chill down your spine,

then maybe it’s time to make sure your home is properly sealed against the elements. Sometimes air leaks are obvious. If you pass by a window or door and feel a change in temperature, that’s a sure sign that something is wrong. But even small leaks need to be addressed. They let cold air into the house 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and over the course of a long winter, the costs can really add up. To find problem areas, move a

lit incense stick or a recently extinguished match around the edge of closed windows and doors, and watch the smoke for signs of air flow. Adhesive-backed weather stripping is perfect for sealing gaps in the edges of windows and doors, and old or cracked caulking is easily replaced. Just make sure you use caulking designed for the application, and that the caulk can be painted if you want it to blend in with the rest of your home. —brian sloboda

energy efficiency tip

Use motion sensors on your lights to save on your electric bill. These sensors turn on lights automatically when someone enters a room and turns them off after a person leaves. Source: U.S. Department of Energy

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

On the Agenda

Bright lights, low bills

GONE FISHIN’

Here’s a holiday decorating tip that can save you some green and help you avoid seeing red when your January power bill arrives: This year, try trimming the tree with LED holiday lights. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, use 70 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer, and they stay cool to the touch, reducing the risk of fire. Bonus: LEDs are made of epoxy, not glass, making them much more durable than other lights. Available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and lengths, LED lights are more expensive than old-fashioned incandescents, but you’ll make that money back in energy savings over time. Just be sure to follow label directions regarding indoor or outdoor use, and when buying any holiday lighting product, look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label, which means an independent testing group has thoroughly checked the product for safety hazards such as fire and shock. —brian sloboda

By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 35

Domi-No.s A

F O 8

Each letter in this multiplication problem stands for a digit. Repeated letters stand for repeated digits. Given E=8, can you replace the missing digits?

It’s easy to make safety a part of your holiday with these tips. There’s no greater gift you can give your family than a safe and happy holiday! Learn more at holidaysafety.org. What a shocker! Before use, inspect all electrical lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage. Two’s company, three’s a crowd. Do not overload outlets with too many decorations or devices. Is it working? Test your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) to make sure they’re protecting you. Ouch! Prevent trips and falls by keeping cords safely along walls and out of doorways and high traffic areas. Nice and warm. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn— decorations, trees, gifts, and curtains. Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International

Happy holidays! See you next year! We hope you enjoy

S.C.RAMBLE!

Holiday Electrical Safety

this combined issue of South Carolina Living, our last of 2011. We’ll be back in January, with more tips on saving energy, tasty recipes, humor and profiles of the people and places that make the Palmetto State a great place to live. Until then, we wish you a happy holiday season and a fantastic new year!

Write SCL Letters to the editor We love hearing from our readers. Tell us what you think about this issue, send us story suggestions or just let us know what’s on your mind by writing to Letters, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033. You can also email us at letters@scliving.coop or send a note by fax to (803) 796-6064. All letters received are subject to editing before publication.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

The Vector Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after. Minor

AM Major

17 — 18 — 19 12:46 20 2:31 21 8:46 22 9:46 23 10:31 24 11:16 25 — 26 8:01 27 8:46 28 9:31 29 10:31 30 11:16

4:01 5:16 6:31 7:46 3:46 4:46 5:31 6:31 7:16 12:31 1:16 2:01 2:31 3:16

November

December

1 — 4:01 2 — 5:01 3 1:46 6:16 4 7:46 3:16 5 8:46 4:16 6 9:31 5:01 7 10:16 5:31 8 10:46 6:01 9 11:31 6:31 10 — 7:16 11 7:46 12:16 12 8:16 12:46 13 9:01 1:31 14 9:31 2:01 15 10:01 2:46 16 10:46 3:31 17 4:16 11:31 18 12:46 5:31 19 7:01 2:46 20 8:31 4:16 21 9:31 5:01 22 10:31 5:46 23 11:16 6:31 24 — 7:16 25 7:46 12:16 26 8:16 1:01 27 8:46 1:31 28 9:16 2:01 29 9:46 2:31 30 10:16 3:01 31 3:31 10:46

January

1 12:46 11:31 2 4:46 4:16 3 7:31 4:46 4 9:01 5:16 5 10:01 5:31 6 10:46 6:01 7 11:16 6:31 8 11:46 6:46 9 7:16 12:01 10 7:46 12:46 11 8:16 1:16 12 8:46 1:46 13 9:01 2:16 14 3:01 9:46 15 3:46 10:16 16 1:01 11:01

Minor

PM Major

10:01 12:01 7:46 12:46 8:16 1:31 2:01 9:01 2:31 9:46 3:16 10:31 3:46 11:01 4:31 11:46 12:01 5:01 12:46 5:46 1:31 6:16 2:31 7:01 3:46 7:46 5:16 9:01 6:46 12:01 7:46 12:31 1:16 8:31 1:46 9:01 2:16 9:31 2:46 10:01 3:16 10:46 3:46 11:16 4:16 11:46 12:01 4:46 12:31 5:16 1:16 6:01 2:01 6:31 3:01 7:31 4:01 8:31 10:31 5:31 — 6:46 12:01 7:46 1:01 8:46 1:46 9:31 2:31 10:16 3:16 11:01 4:16 11:46 12:01 5:01 12:46 5:46 1:31 6:16 2:16 7:01 3:01 7:46 8:46 4:01 10:16 5:01 — 6:16 — 12:16 1:16 2:01 2:46 3:31 4:16 — 12:31 1:01 1:46 2:31 9:01 10:31 — —

7:31 8:31 9:16 9:46 10:31 11:01 11:31 4:46 5:31 6:16 7:01 7:46 3:31 4:31 5:46 7:16

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Sharing the family legacy yet close enough to save his mama steps. The electric aggravation will you leave washing machine and iron your family? left F.E.’s mama more time My mom’s family has to “mama” F.E.—not that F.E. handed down letters posted from Scotland and Ireland was a mama’s boy! nearly 250 years ago. In Other good things flowed them, young men and right along with the electricity women share dreams of from Laurens Electric freedom and success in Cooperative. No more keroAmerica. My paternal grandsene lamps. Now there were father, a carpenter, left me lights at a flip of a switch. Iced one of his claw hammers. tea was no longer dependent Well used, the handle rubbed on a once-a-week delivery of The Hendrix family purchased this table-top radio in 1939. “When news smooth to an ivory finish, a 50-pound block from the reporter Lowell Thomas came on, all the children had to be quiet so it drove many a nail in lots Greer Ice Company. A young, Daddy could hear the latest news,” F.E Hendrix recalls in his memoirs. of homes including those of strapping F.E. most apprecieight of his nine children. Lessons learned—there can be ated the electric stove and new heater. The “sto-wood pile” for the cook stove and the “firewood pile” for the open firereward from taking risks, and reputations can be gained place were a menace to replenish and a joy to abandon. from measure twice, cut once. Electricity also brought entertainment and news. My mother will leave a written legacy to her family. For Through a table-top radio that F.E. still owns, “The Lone years she has pondered and captured in writing our family Ranger called out to his white horse Silver,” corresponstories, from her fall off the loft onto the back of a pig at dents tracked the Battle of Britain as it raged over London age 4, to the one about my brother and me (ages 5 and 7) rooftops, and FDR and Churchill assured the world that becoming Native Americans using a neighbor’s redwood Allied victory was at hand. F.E. and his brother, Everett, deck stain. She has chronicled the life of my son Campbell most enjoyed the broadcasts of World Series games. A radio from birth, through treatment at St. Jude Children’s plugged in on the back porch and turned up to full volume Research Hospital, to his burial on the family farm at age made cotton picking almost tolerable. 4, including his impish way of performing for doctors and F.E. played first base for a baseball team that was part nurses a perfect, head-bobbing rendition of the Backstreet of a “high-class country league.” His team, Flatwood, drew Boys’ “We’ve Got It Goin’ On.” from the rural area where the Greenville-Spartanburg F.E. Hendrix, a trustee at Laurens Electric Cooperative, Airport and BMW are now located. He lettered in basketrecently published his own written legacy, Looking Back ball at Clemson in the early 1940s, and went on to enjoy on a Lifetime of Opportunities and Blessings. His initial aim a 48-year career in textiles, a continuing avocation for in writing the book was to depict life in his hometown of farming and 67 years (and counting!) of marriage. Shaking Sugar Tit in the early 1900s, but he soon realized that his story was really about folks, friends and family who guided, F.E.’s hand today, you can appreciate in its firmness the confidence that comes from being a man who could grip assisted and encouraged him throughout the past 85 years. a basketball by one hand, claw a baseball out of the dust F.E., or Francis Earle to the finicky among us who insist when thrown wild and low, and cut, split and stack two on full names, was 14 and it was 1939 when life changed cords of “sto-wood” in one day. Lessons learned—a bunch! in rural Spartanburg County. Electricity! Wash day was no longer centered around a 25-gallon iron pot just far enough away from the house to keep smoke from drifting inside

What beyond money or

Visit SCLiving.coop to see more photos and read the excerpt “What Was It Like Before Electricity?” from Looking Back on a Lifetime of Opportunities and Blessings. 10

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

EnergyQ&A

BY jim Dulley

Fireplace cleaning and safety

A sturdy chimney brush is the essential tool needed for chimney cleaning, but you should also have a breathing mask, plus plastic sheeting and duct tape for sealing your fireplace opening.

I use my masonry fireplace often during winter to cut my utility bills, but the draft seems to be getting weaker. What chimney problems should I look for when I inspect it, and how can I reduce creosote buildup?

Periodic inspections should always be left to a professional, but routine chimney cleaning can be a do-it-yourself job if you don’t mind getting dirty. If you are unlucky, there may be a dangerous buildup of creosote inside your chimney. Creosote is a black, tarlike residue created as a byproduct of burning wood. It is highly flammable and even a small buildup in your chimney puts your home at risk of a chimney fire that can spread to the house. Tens of thousands of chimney fires occur every year putting countless lives at risk and resulting in as much as $200 million in property losses. 12

Brad’s Chimney Sweep

Since you have already noticed reduced draft up the chimney, schedule an appointment with a professional chimney cleaner before using the fireplace this winter. If you are lucky, basic cleaning and maintenance may be all that is required. When my fireplace demonstrated similar draft problems, an inspection uncovered a relatively minor problem—the screen of the chimney cap was clogged with soot. Tapping the screening with a rubber mallet was enough to knock the soot loose and restore normal airflow.

Reduced draft may mean you have already experienced a small chimney fire. When creosote burns, it puffs up almost like plastic cooler foam, reducing air flow. The heat from a chimney fire can also cause a chimney’s tile liner to crack and fall from the masonry wall, creating an obstruction. Shining a bright light down the chimney will reveal any major blockage. Some professionals also use small cameras lowered into the chimney to conduct a more detailed examination. If an inspection finds broken tile or puffed creosote, your chimney will definitely need a professional cleaning. If repairs are needed, get estimates from several chimney maintenance companies. In my case, one chimney company claimed to find puffed creosote and loose tiles, and estimated repairs at $7,000. Another company cleaned and inspected the chimney with a camera, but found no broken tiles. For $200 total, they also sealed the chimney crown and my fireplace has worked fine for years now. Periodic inspections should always

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

be left to a professional, but routine chimney cleaning— the National Fire Protection Association recommends you sweep chimneys annually—can be a do-ityourself job if you don’t mind getting dirty. Chimney brushes are sold at most hardware and home improvement stores, and using one is as simple as repeatedly running the brush up and down the length of the chimney to knock soot and buildup loose. Always wear a high-quality breathing mask so you do not inhale the fine dust particles, and seal the fireplace opening into the room with plastic film and duct tape. Also, put a large drop cloth on the floor in front of the hearth. No matter how well you seal it, some black dust is likely to get through. Use caution when climbing ladders and walking on roofs. I recommend you wear a safety harness and tie yourself to the chimney to help prevent falls. To reduce creosote buildup, use well-seasoned wood and do not choke off combustion air to extend the burn time. Wood logs can also be treated with anti-creosote sprays, and there are artificial fireplace logs that contain chemicals to reduce creosote formation in the chimney. Using these periodically can help keep your chimney clean. Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, email energyqa@scliving.coop or fax (803) 739-3041.

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SmartChoice

By Becky BILLINGSLEY

Top toys FULL THROTTLE FUN

HAPPY HUNTING UNDERWATER EYES The boredom of waiting for a bite is cast away with a FishEyes Rod and Reel—the first fishing rig to come with an underwater video camera that lets the fisher see what’s nibbling. The camera, which has a built-in LED light, sends a full-color image to an LCD screen on the 25-inch and 1.8-pound rod, so there’s no guessing about whether the hook was sunk. $80. (800) 727-0331; fish-eyes.com.

Quack up Duck Hunter Extreme from Interactive Toy is a one- or two-player game with the potential to delight the whole family this holiday season. Armed with a plastic pistol, competitors have 30 seconds to shoot infrared beams at a flying duck drone. Score three hits, and that duck is coming down! For added difficulty, your hunting partner can fly the duck by remote control. Play indoors or out. Requires three AAA and six AA batteries. $47. (800) 201-7575; amazon.com. 14

BLAST OFF IMAGINATION BOOSTER Load the moon vehicle and open the solar panels! Space adventures span the universe of children’s imaginations with the Fisher-Price Imaginext Space Shuttle Playset that includes a working elevator, crane and doors, not to mention fun takeoff sounds and blinking lights. $40. (800) 869-7787; toysrus.com.

GOODNIGHT, MOON Fire the imagination of future astronauts with Moon in My Room, an illuminated and authentically detailed moonscape that hangs conveniently on bedroom walls. It changes through 12 phase settings so your personal moon can match the one outside. Includes a remote control and a downloadable audio tour for serious moon-o-philes. $35. (818) 707-0800; unclemiltonstore.com. LIGHTEN UP Can anyone who ever yearned to be a Jedi Knight resist the coolness of a light saber? We’re imagining holiday swordplay among family members of all ages with the Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber that makes the signature whirring sound and has light effects. Pick your favorite character’s color: Darth red, Luke green, Mace Windu purple or Anakin blue. $35. (800) 408-0052; hasbrotoyshop.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

BACKYARD MUDDIN’ Riders as young as 3 years old can run over ruts, get a grip on wet grass and move through mud with a battery-operated Power Wheels Kawasaki KFX. This mini mud-bogger from Fisher-Price has a twist-grip throttle and a top speed of 5 mph. $220. (800) 348‑0751; fisher-price.com/us.

EXPRESSIVE LOCOMOTION Little hands will eagerly play with a Thomas the Tank Engine ready-to-run train set from Bachmann Trains that includes the television locomotive’s coach friends Annie and Clarabel, 36 inches of snap-together circular track with a rerailer, power pack and speed controller. Since it’s HO scale, the toy will be compatible with your budding engineer’s future car and track additions. $120. (800) 356‑3910; bachmanntrains.com. NOSTALGIC RIDE Whether you drive a golf cart on the links or around the neighborhood, heads will turn if you’re tooling around in a Luxury Cart that looks like a ’56 pickup. Standard features include a cherry wood inlaid bed, marine-grade vinyl seats and a 48-volt Club Car chassis. Optional add-ons include 1 7-inch rims (pictured), a chrome tilt column, leather seats, stereo, tinted windshield and golf bag holder. $1 7,000 base price. (866) 772‑2787; luxurycarts.com.

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Healing HIDDEN wounds 16

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

Friends, families and volunteers unite to help veterans adjust to life after combat BY JAN A. IGOE

After two combat tours in Iraq, Marine Lance Cpl. Mills Palmer Bigham returned to Columbia with all his limbs, but desperately seeking relief from invisible injuries—emotional trauma, depression and anger. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the 23-year-old honorably discharged veteran was almost unrecognizable to his family and friends. Before the war, Mills Bigham had been an athlete at A.C. Flora High School, a laidback prankster who could make anyone laugh, says his sister, Anna Bigham. After Iraq, she’d find him curled up in a ball on the floor after blowing bullet holes in his front door. When Mills couldn’t hold down a job, Anna supported him. She and her mother filled out piles of Veterans Administration paperwork when he was too frustrated to cope with it. Soon after her brother moved in with her, a neighbor called to say Mills was out in the street with a machete, wearing only his boxers. On October 19, 2009, still waiting to enter a VA inpatient treatment program for PTSD and

Hidden Wounds Hotline Military veterans or family members in need of assistance can call Hidden Wounds at

(888) 4HW-HERO

For more information or to support Hidden Wounds, visit hiddenwounds.org or call (803) 403-8460. Donations can also be mailed to: Hidden Wounds, 4840 Forest Drive, Suite 6B, #317, Columbia, SC 29206

depression, Mills Bigham sat in the cab of his pickup truck, pointed a shotgun at his head and took his life. In memory of her brother and best friend, Anna founded Hidden Wounds to spare other families the heartbreak of losing a warrior to ll

Mills Bigham in happier times, before post-traumatic stress disorder drove him to commit suicide. To honor his memory, the Bigham family founded Hidden Wounds, a Columbia-based nonprofit offering emergency mental health services to veterans.

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

The war at home

Military families share the burden of post-traumatic stress disorder

milton morris

At 6 years old, Hannah Grace doesn’t understand wars, flashbacks or night terrors. But she already knows the most vital intel to gather from former Army Spc. Joshua Grim each morning: “Daddy, are you in a bad mood today?” During operation Iraqi Freedom, Joshua Grim spent 14 months in combat as an infantryman in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. From 2005 to 2006, his unit was deployed to Mosul and Baghdad where seven days a week, he and his fellow soldiers engaged insurgents, “kicking in doors and performing missions during all hours of the day,” he wrote in his journal. As a Radio Telephone Operator (RTO), Grim was a prime target for enemy snipers and hard to miss wearing “a 15-pound target strapped to my back with an antenna sticking up in the air.” Though he managed to avoid catching any bullets in Iraq, Grim didn’t return unscathed. He brought home all the sights, sounds and smells of modern war—AK-47 rounds pinging off the armored personnel carriers, the whine of incoming artillery shells, the IED explosions that splattered “blood and guts and pieces of flesh everywhere.” Honorably discharged in 2007, Grim is one of nearly 300,000 returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan dealing with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depression. Everyday frustrations have the potential to trigger an emotional crisis. He can’t tolerate crowds or anyone “sneaking up” behind him. He scans unfamiliar places for exit routes and the pop of fireworks sends his mind rocketing back to Iraq. A mere whiff of Parmesan cheese reminds him of rotting bodies, stockpiled in the desert heat. If he can get to sleep, nightmares make staying in the same bed with his wife or napping with Hannah Grace or 2-year-

Joshua Grim continues to make remarkable progress against PTSD, thanks to the support of his wife Heather and the love of his children, Hannah Grace and Kaysen.

old son, Kaysen, impossible. It isn’t just the veterans who suffer from PTSD. Friends, family and loved ones often find themselves the target of their veteran’s rage, and the burden of keeping families together falls to spouses like Heather Grim. “He doesn’t talk to me much about his time over there. All I know is he tells me he wants me and our kids to ‘stay innocent,’” says Heather Grim, who describes her husband as emotionless and robotic much of the time. “When Josh first came home, he was so sweet when

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

we were together—unless he would drink. Then the anger would come out.” Haunted by memories of the buddies he lost, Grim would experience bouts of depression and rage that served as “his first wake-up call that something just wasn’t right,” she says. “Honestly, I thought he was bipolar. He would be the sweetest person in the world for four months, then he’d crash. I love my Josh. I don’t love the other person.” Wives and children suffer as much as the veteran with PTSD, says John Garland, a Rock Hill clinical therapist who counsels veterans, National Guardsmen, reservists and their spouses in North and South Carolina.

“When the one you love has PTSD, your entire world begins to center around keeping your veteran happy and calm,” Garland says. “Unfortunately, every attempt in the world [can’t] control the veteran’s anger, fear, resentment, depression and anxiety. Spouses must take steps to protect themselves from the onslaught of demands on their time—and that will be one of the hardest things to do while dealing with PTSD.” Over the past five years, Heather Grim has been at her husband’s side as he’s fought for every small victory over PTSD. Josh gave up alcohol and avoids

Josh presents Hannah Grace with a corsage before going to the father-daughter school dance.

situations that might trigger a crisis. He’s been keeping his counseling appointments, taking his medications, and making remarkable progress. “He has worked so incredibly hard to get to where he is now,” she says. “It’s something he will have to deal with forever because there is no ‘cure.’ ” Earlier this year, Josh escorted Hannah Grace to a father-daughter school dance and got in one dance before the noise and crowds redlined his anxiety level. Retreating to a back wall, he texted his nervous wife and observed his daughter’s joy from a safe distance. Entering a strange environment and risking a panic attack was a selfless act of courage that won’t earn Josh Grim a military commendation, just his little girl’s happiness—the only reward he needed. “He tells me all the time Hannah and I saved his life and he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for us,” Heather Grim says. — JAN A. IGOE

Editor’s Note: Joshua Grim avoids encounters that could exacerbate his PTSD and declined to be interviewed for this story. Details of his combat experiences were gathered from his journal.

ll suicide. Now in its second year of operation, the Columbia-based nonprofit augments VA mental health services by providing a toll-free hotline for veterans and active-duty military personnel in crisis. Callers are linked to peer counselors and a network of 5,600 volunteer mental health professionals who can provide services within 24 hours. Hidden Wounds also raises funds to pay for private counseling within 10 miles of the veteran’s home.

“ If my brother was seeking help— screaming for help—and couldn’t get it, what happens to those who are afraid to ask for it?” “He fell through the cracks,” Bigham says of her brother’s failure to get treatment in time. “If my brother was seeking help—screaming for help— and couldn’t get it, what happens to those who are afraid to ask for it? This can’t happen to anyone else. They served our country. It’s not right.” Since 2001, close to 2 million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 26 percent of returning troops exhibit symptoms of PTSD, anxiety disorder or depression, according to a RAND Corporation study. Those seeking care may languish on waiting lists for months, while the Department of Veterans Affairs scrambles to cope with the enormity of the mental health crisis. The VA reports that its Suicide Prevention Hotline handles about 10,000 calls a month. Every day, 18 veterans take their own lives, and another 33 attempt suicide. “These guys can’t wait four to six months for help,” says Hidden Wounds co-founder Chris Younts. “These guys are good at hiding things until they snap.” PTSD symptoms range from re-experiencing a traumatic event, to auditory and visual hallucinations. Veterans may be hypervigilant—constantly aware of who is behind them and where windows and doors are located for a quick exit, says Rock Hill licensed clinical therapist John Garland, an Air Force veteran and volunteer with Hidden Wounds. For many veterans diagnosed with PTSD, the skills that kept them alive in combat, work against them as they try to re-enter civilian life. Military training teaches soldiers to rely on instinctive responses to survive. “If they ll

Anna Bigham and family friend Chris Younts founded Hidden Wounds to help veterans with PTSD get emergency mental health services.

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

ll perceive a life-threatening situation, it’s purely reaction—an obligatory response like a rubber mallet on the knee,” Garland says. Veterans with PTSD are unable to moderate that fight-or-flight instinct in civilian settings and small triggers, the backfire of a car for example, can spark an uncontrollable emotional crisis or a violent outburst. Embarrassed or ashamed at their reactions, those with PTSD often withdraw from social contact. “Vets may stay in the garage

Resources for veterans Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

109 Bee Street, Charleston (843) 577-5011 PTSD Outpatient coordinator Carol Denier, Ph.D. (843) 789-7721 ext. 7721

Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center

6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia (803) 776-4000 PTSD Outpatient coordinator Joanna Plunkett, LCSW (803) 776-4000 ext. 7473

Hidden Wounds

4840 Forest Drive, Suite 6B, #317 Columbia (888) 4HW-HERO hiddenwounds.org Provides interim and emergency counseling services to ensure the psychological health and well-being to combat veterans and their families.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

(800) 273-TALK (8255). Press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line suicidepreventionlifeline.org veteranscrisisline.net The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans and their families to qualified Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline and online chat service.

Coaching Into Care

(888) 823-7458 mirecc.va.gov/coaching This VA program supports family members seeking to help a veteran with post-deployment difficulties.

Military One Source

(800) 342-9647; International collect (484) 530-5908 militaryonesource.com Toll-free hotline provided by the Defense Department to assist the families of active duty military, including National Guardsmen and Reservists being called to active duty.

VA Caregiver Support

(855) 260-3274 caregiver.va.gov Provides services and support to family members who are caring for a veteran.

Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center

4254 Stella Court, Little River (843) 427-4568 veteranswelcomehomeand resourcecenter.org The center helps veterans of any conflict with services, emergency aid and benefit claims. The nonprofit group also arranges a hero’s welcome for troops returning from deployments.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

New York and Washington, D.C. N.Y. : (212) 982-9699; D.C. : (202) 544-7692 iava.org IAVA is a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan address mental health issues, a stretched VA system, inadequate health care for female veterans, and GI Bill educational benefits.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

or shed. They believe removing themselves from the situation keeps themselves and others safe,” he says. The stigma of PTSD, in spite of the military’s efforts to dispel it, often prevents veterans and active duty personnel from seeking help. When

“ I had a pretty bad breakdown in September ’09. I hit bottom. If I didn’t get help then and there ... it would have been over.” they do reach out, they respond best when talking to a fellow combat veteran, says retired Marine Dan Ramsey, Hidden Wounds executive director of strategic outreach. “We find common ground and bring them back from the edge,” he says. “A lot of guys who are struggling are more likely to talk to us than someone who hasn’t been in combat.” Ramsey can relate to the men and women he counsels. He served two tours in Iraq and was serving in West Africa when he was thrown from a 7-ton truck, breaking his neck in three places. He was also diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and struggled to readjust to civilian life. “I had a pretty bad breakdown in September ’09,” he says. “A moment of insanity. Drinking a lot. I hit bottom. If I didn’t get help then and there … it would have been over.” Ramsey, 31, enrolled in a 13-week course for drug and alcohol users at a private treatment facility in Columbia. “It wasn’t quite right, but it was the only option. It helped me manage my emotions better,” he says. He credits his family for helping him stay grounded, and today he’s working on a master’s degree in social work at the University of South Carolina. After hearing about Hidden Wounds, he signed on to help his fellow veterans battle kindred demons. Ramsey isn’t sure when VA services will be able to meet the mental health needs of America’s newest veterans. “The system hasn’t caught up with us yet. It’s still clogged with Vietnam, Korea and even WWII veterans,” he says. But time is of the essence for anyone with PTSD, so private organizations like Hidden Wounds must fill the gap. “We can help,” he says. “We’re here for all veterans.”

SCStories Art imitates life Of all the products Zack Hix has designed as the artist-in-

chief of GoodBoyRoy.com, he still favors the original T-shirt his mom printed for him—the one with a sketch of Roy, his first cartoon character. Diagnosed at age five with neuropsychiatric disorders, Zack occasionally experienced uncontrollable outbursts. He would apologize for them, saying “I really am a good boy.” Kim Hix recognized that drawing helped calm her son, and had a shirt featuring Good Boy Roy made to encourage his artistic talent. “After I saw how proud Zack was of his shirt and other people liked it, a light bulb went off,” she says. “I felt like we were onto something big.” Kim and Zack now work side-byside creating and selling T-shirts, greeting cards and other items that are popular among kids who relate

SC Life to the characters and situations drawn from Zack’s life. “God Rocks” is the company’s best-seller. “Volleyball Girl” was inspired by his kid sister Kelsie. “Angry Allen” features an anti-bullying message. “Hollywood Here I Come” expresses Zack’s desire to become a professional cartoonist and was inspired by his recent invitation to the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. During the trip, he met Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creator of the Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb. Marsh gave Zack his personal email address and sent him a photo of Vincent Martella, the young actor who voices Phineas, wearing one of Zack’s shirts. “I hope one day Good Boy Roy will have a huge following,” Zack Hix says. “I hope I’ll get it onto TV as a cartoon series too, and I can be the voice of Roy.” —s. kim henson

Zack Hix AGE: 16 HOMETOWN:

Simpsonville

Artist and designer behind Good Boy Roy T-shirts; junior at Hillcrest High School OCCUPATION:

FAVORITE CARTOON:

Phineas and Ferb Drawing, fishing, playing sports and hanging out with friends

Milton Morris

HOBBIES:

November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCTravels

BY DIANE J. EPPERLY

Anatomy in 3-D The S.C. State Museum’s new exhibit really gets under your skin

The Flamenco Dancers, two of the 15 whole-body plastinates on display, are posed to show muscular balance. The trapezius muscles of both figures, and the gluteus maximus muscle of the female dancer above have been lifted to highlight how muscles differ in size, shape and contraction force. Below, girls examine cross sections of organs.

photos courtesy of S.C. State Museum

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

The female Flamenco dancer

stands on the balls of her feet, head turned over her shoulder and facing down as if listening intently for the first note of the music. Fingers extended, her left arm is poised across her chest and neck ready to swing into motion. It is a moment of peak athleticism, frozen in intricate detail—every muscle taut and on display. Every muscle. Opening Nov. 13 at the S.C. State Museum, Body Worlds Vital is an intimate and sometimes startling look at what lies beneath human skin. What makes the 3-dimensional anatomy exhibit unique is the fact that the organs, limbs and whole-body figures are not models. Each display is donated human tissue preserved through an extraordinary process called plastination. Pioneered by German anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the process is used by physicians and medical students to study the intricate details of human anatomy and the effects of disease. In 1995, the Institute for Plastination created its first museum display, and since that time multi ple Body Worlds exhibits have toured the world, fascinating more than 33 million museum-goers. Body Worlds Vital is the latest collection to tour North America, and explores the relationship between lifestyle choices and disease. Though the displays can be a bit shocking, the side-by-side comparison of healthy and diseased tissue is a powerful teaching tool, says Tom Falvey, director of education at the State Museum. “Any time you can look at a liver shrunken by cirrhosis or a heart enlarged from heart disease, it can have an effect on how you are living and what you put in your body,” he says. The museum has dedicated 6,500 square feet of space to host more than 200 exhibits of human organs plus 15 aesthetically posed whole-body plastinates. ll

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scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCTravels

photos courtesy of S.C. State Museum

The muscles of The Runner are folded back to allow examination of the skeletal system. Organs on display include lungs from a nonsmoker and a smoker.

“The realistic poses, designed to show musculature and how the body works, achieve this in an exciting and exceptional way,” says Dr. Angelina Whalley, creative and conceptual designer of Body Worlds Exhibitions in Heidelberg, Germany, and the wife of Dr. von Hagens. Each plastinate figure is created from a body donated for that purpose, and anatomists dedicate about 1,500 hours over the course of a year to complete each display, she says. Visitors will come face to face with plastinates like The Singer, a male figure with an expanded rib cage that showcases the respiratory system at work. Flamenco Dancers, The Fencer and the Acrobatic Couple with Lifted Woman show how muscles, bone and connecting tissue work to facilitate movement. Other plastinates, such as The Runner, have been dissected to provide an exploded view of multiple muscle layers. Science and anatomy teachers from around the state are scheduling field trips to the museum, taking advantage of the displays to augment their lesson plans. Dr. Erika Blanck, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, says she will bring her graduate students to view the exhibit. She’s also looking forward to escorting her mother and grandmother to see Body Worlds Vital. “Whether you know a little or a lot about anatomy, you’ll be able to find something intriguing or inspiring,” she says. The display is not for everyone. Museum officials recommend the exhibit only for children in grades five and up, says Tut Underwood, the

museum’s director of public information. “It’s for anyone who has a mature desire to better understand his body, anatomy and how to take care of himself,” he says. Whalley also advises parents to consider the maturity level of their children, but says that over the years she has seen children as young as four or five who, after viewing the blackened lungs of a smoker, were determined never to pick up a cigarette. She’s also witnessed the fascination of children and adults alike, “that draws visitors … in a way that plastic models cannot replicate.” Fascination and a sense of awe are the most common reactions to plastinate displays, says Dr. James R. Wells, a research professor of cell biology and anatomy at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Wells, who served on a committee that advised the museum on bringing the display to South Carolina, has been trained in the preservation technique and established a plastination lab at the School of Medicine in 2007. “Dr. von Hagens and his wife have an amazing ability to introduce us to the marvelousness of what we look like on the inside,” he says. “You’ll leave with a new realization of how incredibly wonderful your body is.”

Each plastinate figure is created from a donated body, and anatomists dedicate about 1,500 hours to complete each one.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

GetThere The South Carolina State Museum is located at 301 Gervais Street in Columbia. Body Worlds Vital runs Nov. 13, 2011 to April 15, 2012. Exhibit Hours:

Monday (Nov. 13–Jan. 16) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: In addition to general museum admission ($7 for adults; $6 for seniors 62 and older; $5 for children ages 3 to 12), Body Worlds Vital admission is $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and $7 for children. Special pricing is available for schools and groups of 10 or more. Details: (803) 898-4921, scmuseum.org

Discover What You’re Made Of

Opens Nov. 13 for a Limited Engagement scmuseum.org I bodyworlds.com

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCOutside

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY TIM HANSON

Life among the trees Park Ranger Stuart Greeter leads our small troop of nature lovers through the dense forest of Congaree National Park at a comfortable pace, even stopping occasionally to point out wildflowers and wildlife tracks, but it’s clear he’s a man on a mission. He wants us to see the trees. The park is home to at least 25 champion trees, judged by naturalists as the largest living examples of their species, and several times a year, Greeter guides visitors on a “Big Tree Hike” for an up-close look at the ancient oaks, elms, maples and pines. “If you want to see what mature, old-growth forests looked like before Europeans came to this land, come visit this park,” he says as we make our way through a portion of the sprawling 27,000-acre tract, one of the last remaining floodplain forests in North America. Several hours into the trek, Greeter leads us to a 170-foot-tall loblolly pine and pulls a tape measure from his day pack. It takes three of us literally hugging the tree to wrap the tape tight and low around the massive trunk and read the results: 15 feet around. “That’s the biggest loblolly

in the country,” Greeter says, not bothering to conceal his enthusiasm for this national treasure. The tree hike is just one of the free, ranger-led excursions offered in Congaree National Park. Other nature outings include butterfly counts, bird watching expeditions and nighttime hikes called “owl prowls”—all of which explore the diverse plant and animal life of South Carolina’s only national park. Visitors can also take self-guided tours on more than 20 miles of hiking trails and 2.4 miles of boardwalks that explore the natural and human history of the Congaree swamp. South Carolina was once home to millions of acres of towering pines and huge hardwood trees similar to the ones found in Congaree National Park. Around the turn of the 20th century, lumber companies purchased vast areas of land throughout the state and spent the next two decades harvesting timber along the Santee and Congaree river systems. Ironically, the woodsmen

Free, ranger-led excursions, including canoe tours of Cedar Creek, start at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. The vivid beautyberry is an important, though not favorite, food for birds in winter.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

“ When you come to Congaree you experience all of the wonders and beauties and splendors of a living earth.” left the largest trees untouched. They were simply too big to remove once felled. At the close of the 1960s, however, owners of timber-rich floodplain land started looking at new ways of harvesting the trees they’d missed. It was only then that environmental organizations and concerned citizens—inspired by outdoor writer Harry Hampton, the “founding father” of the state’s conservation movement—began working to protect the floodplain forests. Their efforts paid off in 1974 with Congaree Swamp being designated

a National Natural Landmark. Two years later, Congress provided further protection when it established the area as the Congaree Swamp National Monument. And finally, in 2003, Congress upgraded the national monument to Congaree National Park. Today, the history of the area is preserved in the exhibits of the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, located at the park’s entrance near Gadsden. The building also serves as the starting and ending point for all of the ranger-led excursions, including guided canoe trips along Cedar Creek, a beautiful stretch of black water that flows lazily through a 130-foot-tall canopy of bald cypress and water tupelo trees. On a recent morning paddle, park volunteer John Galbary helped lead a group of more than a dozen outdoor enthusiasts. A retired life sciences teacher, he would stop paddling often to lean back in his kayak and point out the abundant wildlife hiding in plain sight. At one point in the trip, Galbary

Ranger Stuart Greeter and Terri Hogan, the park’s chief of resource management, examine woodpecker damage to one of the trees in the floodplain forest. Left, Greeter enlists help measuring the circumference of a loblolly pine; far left, a brown water snake suns itself in the branches over Cedar Creek. Below, a golden orb weaver spider patiently awaits its next victim.

showed us a fat, three-and-a-half-foot cottonmouth resting at the base of a water tupelo tree. Further along the creek, he told us to look up at the brown water snake sunning itself on a branch overhead. Nothing escaped his keen eye, including the numerous golden orb weaver spiders standing guard over their intricately

constructed webs and the extensive areas of creek bank torn up by wild hogs looking for their next meal. Galbary has made this trip at least 150 times before, but the swamp never fails to amaze him, he says. “When you come to Congaree you experience all of the wonders and beauties and splendors of a living earth.”

GetThere The Harry Hampton Visitor Center of Congaree National Park is located at 100 National Park Road (off Old Bluff Road) near Gadsden. For driving directions, visit the park’s website. Open 24 hours a day year-round. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days per week, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Hours:

Entrance to park and ranger-guided tours are free.

Admission: Details:

(803) 776-4396, nps.gov/cong/index.htm

scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation Watering plants is a science and an

The goal is to get the just-right amount of moisture to the roots, and only the roots, to promote healthy growth. Hand watering is always an option for small gardens, but for larger plots, most gardeners rely on sprinkler systems. Unfortunately, sprinklers are a terribly inefficient method of irrigation. On a sunny day, up to 50 percent of the water sprayed into the air evaporates before it hits the ground. Sprinklers apply water indiscriminately, providing moisture to both garden plants and weeds alike. They also wet foliage, leaving plants at risk of disease. Drip irrigation systems, which apply water directly to the soil at a plant’s root zone, are a better alternative. They are up to 95 percent efficient, and by keeping foliage dry, they can reduce or even eliminate the need for fungicides. Simple drip irrigation systems are easy to install in your home garden. There are “off the shelf” kits available, or you can build your own using the parts available at most lawn and garden stores.

art.

A water filter and pressure reducer are necessary components of a drip system. Most can be attached directly to an exterior hose bib.

“Off-the-shelf” drip irrigation kits usually supply everything needed to get started. Clockwise from top: black drip tubing, water filter, pressure reducer, assorted fittings and brown dripline. Punch-in drip emitters and factory-installed emitters are equally effective.

Place the dripline above the soil and mulch over it to maximize efficiency and minimize clogging. For precise irrigation control, gardeners can use solid drip tubing and manually install external, punch-in emitters to deliver water to specific plants. Emitters are commonly sold in ½-, 1- and 2-gallon per hour (gph) flow rates, allowing you to regulate water flow as needed. The easiest way to start with drip irrigation is to use dripline—flexible polyethylene tubing with pre-installed drip emitters spaced at regular intervals. Dripline systems create a uniformly moist soil area in the planting bed and are well-suited to both landscape applications and vegetable plots. In either case, drip emitters have small pores that cannot tolerate standard household water pressures and are easily clogged. Look for connection hardware that includes a 30-psi pressure reducer and a 150 mesh filter. Most of the commonly

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

available drip irrigation kits come with these two necessary components. When placing dripline in vegetable gardens, run the tubing along the crop stems to create a wet strip of soil that supplies water to the crop’s roots, but not to the middle of the row, where weeds often proliferate. In a flower or shrub border, install the dripline in a grid pattern, woven among the plants. In both instances, place the dripline above the soil and mulch over it. This maximizes efficiency, minimizes clogging and gives your garden a tidy appearance. For easy math, I recommend using dripline that has 1 gph drip emitters spaced at 18 inch intervals along the tubing. Space the individual driplines 2 feet apart, and you will have a system that applies a little more than the equivalent of 1 inch of water in 2 hours. Of course, you must also

Incomparable...

consider your soil type when determining how often your system should run, as sandy soils require irrigation more frequently than clay soils. As South Carolina’s population continues to grow, there will be increasing demand on our limited water resources. Precise irrigation methods will enable us to keep our plants vigorous and healthy while reducing stress on our water supply. For more details on drip irrigation, visit Clemson Extension’s Home & Garden Information Center at clemson.edu/hgic. is an area horticulture agent for Clemson Extension based in Greenville County. His responsibilities include assisting nursery growers and landscapers by providing educational programs and consultation services, coordinating the Greenville County Master Gardener program. Contact him at shannt@clemson.edu.

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scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCChef’sChoice

BY SHANDI STEVENSON

Big tastes in a small-town café If you bike or walk the Swamp Rabbit

Photos by Milton Morris

Trail from Greenville to the small town of Travelers Rest, chances are you’ll be thirsty and craving a bite to eat right about the time you look up and see the tables on the inviting back deck of the Café at Williams Hardware. That’s no accident. Sisters Joyce and Nancy McCarrell opened the café and gift shop in December 2008 shortly before Chef Michael the northernmost Burnham and segment of the trail co-owner Joyce McCarrell great opened as part of lunchtime guests. a downtown revitalization project. Having grown up in Travelers Rest, the pair knew the former Williams Hardware building was the ideal location to serve locals and visitors alike with a community gathering place. “We saw this as an opportunity not just for us, but for Travelers Rest,” Joyce McCarrell says. The bakery case is always stocked with homemade desserts, but the Café is best known as a casual, sit-down eatery with

The meat loaf sandwich is one of Chef Burnham’s personal favorites — “Crazy good,” he says with a smile. an ever-changing menu of “gourmet comfort food,” says Chef Michael Burnham. The Café’s offerings are structured around a “core menu” of traditional sandwiches, such as their classic Reuben, chicken salad and pimiento cheese, with changing specials, sides and fresh-baked desserts. But there are always a few unusual items on the menu, like the Café’s signature Southern egg rolls, filled with country ham, collard greens and black-eyed peas. “We have things here you can’t find anywhere else,” Burnham says.

Sauce

GRILLED SALMON WITH BLACKBERRY CHIPOTLE SAUCE Serves 10

Note from Chef Burnham:

This recipe is very easy to prepare and a great way to make use of South Carolina’s fresh blackberries. It is also healthy and low fat. The blackberries have antioxidants and salmon is a good source of omega 3 oils. It is perfect served

2 pounds fresh blackberries 2 cups white sugar 1 cup water 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce* 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Place blackberries, water and sugar in saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves and black berries soften. Remove from heat Salmon and cool. When cooled, place in 10 8-ounce fresh salmon food processor or blender and filets puree. Place a mesh strainer over Coat lightly with olive oil, salt and a bowl and strain the mixture to pepper. Grill or pan sear until done. remove the seeds from the liquid.

with basmati rice and your favorite fresh vegetable.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

Discard the seeds and place the blackberry syrup back into the saucepan. Finely dice two chipotle peppers and add to the sauce. Bring to a simmer. Dissolve the cornstarch in ¼ cup cold water and add to the sauce to thicken. * Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can be found in the Mexican foods section of your grocery store. Use caution when handling chipotle peppers. Wash hands after handling chipotle or any other hot peppers and avoid rubbing eyes.

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Café at Williams Hardware 13 S. Main Street, Travelers Rest (864) 834-7888 cafeatwilliamshardware.com Serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week; dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and breakfast on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The gift shop and bakery case are open with the café.

A few of his personal favorites: The meat loaf sandwich (“Crazy good,” he says with a smile), chicken and biscuits, and the barbecue chicken quesadilla. For lighter fare, Burnham and his kitchen staff offer made-from-scratch black bean burgers and entrees like grilled salmon with blackberry chipotle sauce. Whenever possible, the chef and his kitchen staff use the freshest local and seasonal ingredients. As proud as Burnham is about his menu items, he’s also the first to say that people visit the Café not just for the food, but also for its signature small-town atmosphere. “When people walk in the door, they feel like they are coming home,” he says.

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scliving.coop | November/december 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCRecipe

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Thanksgiving trimmings Jonathan sloane/iStock

Squash pepper casserole Stephanie Frey/iStock

Best cheese ball ever Serves 8

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 4 ounces Clemson blue cheese 1 small onion, grated 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 teaspoon garlic salt ½ cup pecans, chopped

Mix all ingredients together, except pecans. Shape into ball, then roll in pecans. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with assorted crackers. Mary willis, spartanburg

Send us recipes! We welcome recipes for all seasons:

About submitting recipes Entries must include your name, mailing address and phone number. When writing recipes, please specify ingredient measurements. Instead of “one can” or “two packages,” specify “one 12-ounce can” or “two 8-ounce packages.” Note the number of servings or yield. Recipes are not tested.

Send recipes to South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, by email to recipe@scliving.coop or by fax to (803) 739‑3041.

3 small yellow crookneck squash, sliced 1 small Vidalia (or white) onion, chopped 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 small green pepper, seeded and chopped ½ cup celery, chopped 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients except butter and brown sugar in 1 ½-quart casserole sprayed with cooking spray. Dot with butter and brown sugar. Bake, covered, for 50 minutes. Marion mobley, aiken

Darlene’s apple crisp Serves 6–8

6–8 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1 stick butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon (more if darker color is desired) Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together butter, flour and sugars using a knife cutting through mixture until it looks like crumbs. Place apples in 8-by-8-inch pan. Pour crumbs over top, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover with foil and bake until apples are done, about 45 minutes. Remove foil to brown crumbs during the last 10–15 minutes of baking time, if desired. Serve warm or cool. Top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Darlene ruthenbeck, honea path

2 tablespoons long grain rice, uncooked 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon brown sugar

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | November/December 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Calendar of Events Please confirm information before attending events. For entry guidelines, access SCliving.coop. NOVEMBER

17 • Laurens Blues Legacy with Hunter Holmes, Laurens County Library, Laurens. (864) 681-7323. 18 • Winthrop Wind Symphony, Byrnes Auditorium, Winthrop University, Rock Hill. (803) 323-2255. 18–20 • Fall One-Act Festival, Johnson Studio Theatre, Winthrop University, Rock Hill. (803) 323-4014. 19–Jan. 1 • Holiday Lights Safari Benefit, Hollywild Animal Park, Wellford. (864) 472-2038. 20 • Jumpin’ Jive, Electric City Big Band, Rainey Fine Arts Center, Anderson University, Anderson. (864) 231-6147. 21 • Karkowska Sisters Duo: 90 Minutes Around the World, Lander University, Greenwood. (864) 388-8326. 24–Dec. 25 • Anderson Lights of Hope, Darwin Wright Park, Anderson. (864) 933-2547. 24–Dec. 30 • Roper Mountain Holiday Lights, Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville. (864) 355-8900. 25–Jan. 8 • UBS Ice on Main skating rink, Downtown, Greenville. (864) 467-4489. 28–Dec. 2 • Oconee Hospice Christmas Tree Festival, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Seneca. (864) 885-7912. 28–Jan. 8 • UBS Ice on Main outdoor skating rink, Village Green, Greenville. (864) 232-2302. 29 • A Dickens of a Christmas, downtown, Spartanburg. (864) 494-9621. 29–Dec. 3 • Oconee Hospice of the Foothills Annual Christmas Tree Festival, various locations, Seneca. (864) 882-7909. DECEMBER

1 • Anything Can Happen in the Music Business, Laurens County Library, Laurens. (864) 681-7323. 1–4 • ChristmasVille, downtown, Rock Hill. (803) 329-8756. 2 • Christmas on Limestone, downtown, Gaffney. (864) 487-6244. 3 • An Evening of Opera Scenes, Barnes Recital Hall, Winthrop University, Rock Hill. (803) 323-2255. 4 • Winthrop Collegiate Choir, Ebenezer AR Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill. (803) 323-2255.

8 • History of the Banjo & Authentic Mountain Music, Laurens County Library, Laurens. (864) 681-7323. 8–11, 15–18 • Spirit of Christmas Past, various locations, Fountain Inn. (864) 862-2586. 9–10 • Christmas at Rose Hill, Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union. (864) 427-5966. 10 • ’Tis the Season: The Joy of Christmas, Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson. (864) 231-6147. 17 • A Celtic Christmas at Hagood Mill, Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center, Pickens. (864) 898-2936. JANUARY

7 • Hyatt Downtown Wedding Festival, Hyatt Regency, Greenville. (864) 235-5555. 13–15 • South Carolina International Auto Show, Carolina First Center, Greenville. (864) 233-2562. ONGOING

Daily • Art Gallery at the Fran Hanson Discovery Center, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405. Daily • Trail Riding, Croft State Natural Area, Spartanburg. (864) 585-1283. Through Dec. 10 • New Harmonies Celebrating American Roots Music, Laurens County Library, Laurens. (864) 681-7323. Dec. 3–Feb. 9 • David & Denise Woodward-Detrick: Sculpture & Ceramics, Pickens County Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963. Dec. 3–Feb. 9 • Michael & Lynda Slattery: Drawings & Collage, Pickens County Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963. Dec. 3–Feb. 9 • Flowers Squared: Three Generations of Art, Pickens County Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963.

MIDLANDS NOVEMBER

17 • Carolina Backcountry Oyster Roast, Sumter County Museum, Sumter. (803) 775-0908. 19 • Colonial Cup with Salute to the Military, Springdale Race Course, Camden. (803) 432-6513. 19–20 • Festival of Trees, Village at Sandhill, Columbia. (803) 434-7275.

Anne McQuary/SCPRT

UPSTATE

Rose Hill Plantation in Union dresses up for the holidays December 9–10.

19–Dec. 30 • Lights Before Christmas, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. 22–Jan. 1 • Children’s Garden Christmas and Kids’ Walk, Edisto Memorial Gardens, Orangeburg. (803) 533-6020. 23–Dec. 31 • Holiday Lights on the River, Saluda Shoals Park, Columbia. (803) 772-1228. 24 and 27 • Tales for Tots, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. 25–26 • McConnells Christmas Craft Show, McConnells Community Center, McConnells. (803) 230-3845. 26 • Chitlin Strut, Civic Center and Fairgrounds, Salley. (803) 258-3485. 26 • Christmas in the Backcountry, Living History Park, North Augusta. (803) 279-7560. DECEMBER

1–31 • Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights, Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 2 • Christmas Tree Lighting and A Walk with St. Nick, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter. (803) 436-2248. 2–3 • North Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes, throughout town, North Augusta. (803) 279-4844. 2–3 • Holly Hill Christmas Festival, downtown, Holly Hill. (803) 496-3951. 3 • Sumter Council of Garden Club’s Holiday House Tour, Alice Boyle Garden Center, Sumter. (803) 469-8143. 3 • Christmas for the Birds, Living History Park, North Augusta. (803) 279-7560.

4 • Evening Optimist Christmas Parade, downtown, Sumter. (803) 983-3916. 8–Jan. 15 • Camden Art Association Members’ Show, Bassett Gallery, Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, Camden. (803) 425-7676. 10 • Colonial Christmas in Camden, Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841. 23 • Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker,” Township Auditorium, Columbia. (800) 320-1733. 31 • New Year’s Eve at Noon, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. JANUARY

5–7 • Grand American Coon Hunt, Orangeburg County Fairgrounds, Orangeburg. (803) 534-0358. ONGOING

Daily • Trail Riding, Kings Mountain State Park, Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209. Daily • Trail Riding, Lee State Park, Bishopville. (803) 428-5307. Daily • Trail Riding, Poinsett State Park, Wedgefield. (803) 494-8177. Daily, except Thanksgiving & Christmas • SOS Planet Showing, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s 3-D Adventure Theater, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. Daily, except Sundays • Living History Days, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. (803) 684-2327. Daily, except Mondays • Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

Daily, except Mondays and major holidays • Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841. Tuesdays through Sundays through Jan. 8 • Amusement Park Science, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. Sundays • Docent-led Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005. Mondays through May • Homeschool Mondays, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. Fridays • Main Street Marketplace, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005. First Saturdays until Dec. 3 • Rivers Bridge Battlefield Guided Tour, Rivers Bridge State Historic Site, Ehrhardt. (803) 267-3675. Second Tuesdays • Family Night $1 Admission, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. Saturdays • Behind-theScenes Adventure Tours, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113. Saturdays and Sundays • Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810. Daily, Nov. 19 through Dec. 30, except Thanksgiving & Christmas • Lights Before Christmas, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. Daily, by appointment • Overnights and Night Howls, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717, Ext. 1113.

LOWCOUNTRY NOVEMBER

1–30 • Gallery Exhibit: Works by Lori Starnes Isom and Jule Rattley, Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854. 11–Jan. 1 • Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park, James Island. (843) 795-4386. 17 • Big Band Swing, Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa, Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island. (843) 689-6612. 19 • Jingle Market, Andrews Christian School, Andrews. (843) 264-8413. 19–20 • Berkeley County Antique Tractor Show, Old Santee Canal State Park, Moncks Corner. (843) 761-9622. 20 • Open House, Koger House, St. George. (843) 563-9504. 24–Dec. 31 • The Brendlens’ Lowcountry Christmas, 1570 Driggers Lane, Ridgeland. (843) 305-0141.

DECEMBER

1 • Christmas Tree Lighting, Town Hall, Surfside Beach. (843) 650-9548. 1–4 • The Lowcountry Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration, various locations, Beaufort County. (843) 689-6767, Ext. 224. 1–31 • Charleston Christmas Sleigh Ride, Charleston Harbor, Charleston. (843) 276-4203. 3 • North Charleston Christmas Festival, Park Circle, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854. 3 • Charleston Tree Lighting Ceremony, Marion Square, Charleston. (843) 724-7305. 10 • Holiday Market & Craft Show, Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884-8517. 10 • Christmas Parade, Ocean Boulevard, Surfside Beach. (843) 650-9548. 11 • Christmas Parade, Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884-8517. 17 • Breakfast with Santa, Ryan’s Steakhouse, Surfside Beach. (843) 650-9548. 31 • Happy New Year Charleston, Marion Square, Charleston. (843) 724-7305. JANUARY

13–15 • Charleston Marathon, festivities at various locations, Charleston. (843) 300-7500. 14 • Champions of Magic, Gilmore Auditorium, Myrtle Beach. (843) 626-8191. ONGOING

Daily • Trail Riding, Cheraw State Park, Cheraw. (843) 537-9656. Daily, except Christmas • Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-6000. Daily, except major holidays • Parris Island Museum, Beaufort. (843) 228-2166. Daily except Mondays • Feeding Frenzy, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440. Daily Nov. 1–Dec. 31 • The Meeting Place Window Exhibit: Works by Jeffrey Hair, The Meeting Place, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854. Daily • Nature Center, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-7437. Saturdays–Tuesdays • Mansion Tours, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville. (843) 546-9361. Second Saturdays • Local League of Artisans Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Yesterday’s, Hartsville. (843) 498-6576.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

Moo goo guy pain There’s a reason my friend

isn’t married. For 29 years, she’s been trying to order the perfect mate off a Chinese menu, where she can pick something from column A, and something else from column B. She’s been seeing some great guys lately, but an hour later, she still wants another date. Anita loves Robert’s brain, but would like it served with Danny’s wallet and Jason’s body (hot and spicy). Until she finds that combo platter, she’ll go the all-you-can-date route. Mortal men aren’t for everyone. I’ve been reading about a woman who wrote them off altogether and married the Eiffel Tower. She changed her name to Erika La Tour Eiffel, out of respect for her tall, strong, French ... I’m searching for the right word here ... man-ument ? To some, that might seem a little odd, but Anita gets it. “He’ll never run off with his executive assistant or pitch a hissy fit because he wants a bigger boat,” she huffs. “And Erika will never get stuck sleeping on the downstairs futon because La Tour snored her right out of bed.” (True, that.) Eija-Riitta Berliner-Mauer would probably agree. The 57-year-old Swedish woman, who also had a brief affair with a beguiling guillotine, found marital bliss with the Berlin wall. Even though he’s quite a bit younger, “True love can easily transcend a few years,” she says on her website, berlinermauer.se.

Anita

Berliner-Mauer has been forced to tolerate a long-distance love affair, since her better half doesn’t travel much. “My husband’s job was to divide East and West Berlin. He is retired now,” she wrote of the wall she adores. “Like every married couple, we have our ups and downs. We even made it through the terrible disaster of November 9, 1989, when my husband was subjected to frenzied attacks by a mob.” If you’re a guy and you find this strange, it’s only because walls don’t have wheels. We all know inanimate soul mates aren’t just a girl thing. Every day, several thousand males— all in deep, committed relationships with their cars—are tenderly buffing their darlings’ chrome curves, often in

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/december 2011 | scliving.coop

plain view of their wives. Mechaphilia, they call it. That’s physical attraction to autos, helicopters, Harleys and most any mode of transportation, including Volkswagen Beetles. Mechaphilia afflicts many families. My brother is a great husband who is madly in love with his wife, but would leave her in a heartbeat if the right car made him an offer. Grounds for divorce: Lamborghini Murcielago. Meanwhile, Anita is still moaning about a lack of suitable mates. So I’m packing her in the car and heading upstate, where I’ve located a match that meets all her criteria: 1) Tall, strong and dependable 2) Has a steady job with a future 3) L oyal and unlikely to chase other women I’m taking her to meet the Gaffney Peachoid, if he’s still single. The fourstory water tower has been derided by some for looking more like a body part than a peach, but Anita doesn’t need to know that. I just hope they’ll hit it off. If not, maybe we can find a good Chinese place nearby. Jan A. Igoe is a writer from Horry County who enjoys matchmaking, but won’t turn pro until she sees how the peach thing turns out. Share your experience with fruit and monuments at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

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