Sasee Magazine - March 2021

March 2021

“Because the unfed mind devours itself, water your garden.”

-Tash Sultana

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March 2021 “Planting the Seed”

Contents Volume 20, Issue 3

About the Cover Artist: Legend has it, Dimitra created her first painting when she was just 5 years old. Her parents, prolific artists John and Elli Milan were struggling to create an abstract painting for their Art Dealer. After trying everything they could, they almost gave up. Dimitra begged them to play with their paint and they decided to let her. After an hour of unsupervised exploration, they came back to see that she had created a masterpiece. But it was a one hit wonder. She couldn’t recreate it…

Dimitra has been self-represented with the majority of her paintings selling online and through select galleries throughout the United States. Her extraordinary paintings can be found in private collections across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. Now, Dimitra spends the majority of her time continuing to develop her unique style and push the boundaries of art. Through her pursuit of bringing more beauty into this world, she invites her viewers to step into a new realm of possibilities. She is also a co-owner of Milan Art Institute, and an instructor to students all over the world with online courses.

Her paintings can be described as abstract realism, with romantic elements portraying a dreamy atmosphere where anything is possible.

Her artwork is layered with symbolism, often provoking deep emotions.

Dimitra expresses love, hope, authenticity, and beauty through her brushstrokes.

Originals: www.dimitramilan.com/originals-1 Prints: www.dimitramilan.com/paper-prints Social media: Instagram: @dimitramilan Pinterest: Dimitra Milan

4 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

8

Bloom

by Jessica Lewis

10

Dr. David Grabeman: Getting to the Root of the Problem

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

12

Art Appreciation

by Rose Ann Sinay

14

Elaine Hawkinson: Master Gardener and Grandma

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

16

Deserving of the “Good Paper”

by Wendy Kennar

18

Meredith Harrison: Spring Tide and Murrells Inlet Pride

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

26

Fog and Butterflies

by Linda Vigen Phillips

30

Pandemic Pandemonium, Paranoia, and Politeness

by Erika Hoffman

from the Editor I have not physically planted many seeds that have bloomed. Green thumbs certainly do run in my family, but I am not sure the gene has made its way to me yet. I do enjoy keeping up with my handful of house plants, but due to my busy lifestyle, I only care for the types that do not die easily: succulents, cacti, pothos, and snake plants. My sweet Grandma Susie, my strong Nina, and my gifted Grandmother Elaine all adore their flower beds and watching the birds surround their bird feeders. My plants simply cannot rely on me as well as the botanicals raised by my three wonderful grandmothers.

However, I would like to think that I have a much better understanding of how to best plant seeds that shall someday bloom in a metaphorical sense. I hope I do a good job with planting seeds of perspective into my friends, family, and my fellow Sasee readers. Just like plants, people come in various types, shapes, and sizes. We do not always know where one another came from and sometimes, we are too quick to assume.

We were all sprouted from different beds and raised with unique soil.

We all need special instructions in order to flourish as we should, and unfortunately, those directions do not come attached to us like plants do when bought from a nursery. At the end of the day, we are all human and simply beautiful in our own way, no matter how long it takes us to fully bloom.

Blossoming initially requires a period of dark. This is the time when people may experience feelings of failure or discomfort. We must find a positive perspective within our trials and tribulations as it is these moments that refine us for our future. And when ready, light is required for exponential growth. The question is, what gives you light?

Purpose? Community?

I encourage you to never doubt the process of following your own light.

You grow girl,

Publisher Delores Blount Sales & Marketing Director Susan Bryant Editor Sarah Elaine Hawkinson Account Executives Stacy Danosky Erica Schneider Gay Stackhouse Art Director Patrick Sullivan Contributing Photographer Chasing the Light Photography Web Developer Scott Konradt Accounting Gail Knowles Executive Publishers Jim Creel Bill Hennecy Suzette Rogers PO Box 1389, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 fax 843-626-6452 • phone 843-626-8911 www.sasee.com • info@sasee.com Sasee is published monthly and distributed free along the Grand Strand. Letters to the editor are welcome, but could be edited for length. Submissions of articles and art are welcome. Visit our website for details on submission.

Sasee is a Strand Media Group, Inc. publication.

Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or in whole, prepared by Strand Media Group, Inc. and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited. Title “Sasee” is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

6 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

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Bloom

by Jessica Lewis

“

In that garden, she planted the seeds of self-confidence and self-love in my soul.

Her flower garden was always lovely, the envy of her pristine neighborhood.

My paternal grandmother could grow anything it seemed, and when we would visit her in southern Georgia, her backyard was a haven for grandchildren and their imaginations.

It was where we danced around like fairies, played the part of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and rolled in the grass until we were too dizzy to walk up the back steps for a popsicle. We swung in the hammock among the sweet floral air when the July sun was too much to bear. The tiger lilies left their orange streaks upon our shoulders as we crept from our hiding places and ran for base in one of our many heated games of hide and seek.

It was lovely and magical.

Her garden has left many marks upon my memory, but one of the most significant came on a quiet morning before the sun could scorch our noses.

My grandmother was drinking her coffee when I made my way downstairs from the guest room. We were the only two awake in the full house of cousins and family. I had not expected to meet anyone on my quest for a drink of milk that morning, and I was embarrassed.

I was wearing a nightgown that made me feel too “grown” for my awkward 12-year-old self. Uncomfortable in my skin, I wrapped my arms around myself. She thought I was cold, or at 8 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

least that was her reasoning, and she suggested we go outside to the garden.

She started weeding a flower bed, and when she asked for my help, well, I had to untangle my arms. I knelt there in the wet grass next to my grandmother, and I couldn’t help but compare our bodies. She was petite in every way, and I yearned to have inherited some of her genes (or to at least be able to fit into her jean size). At 12, I was already a few inches taller than her and definitely more than 40 pounds heavier than her. I inherited a curvy figure from my mother’s side of the family, and I was at odds with how I looked.

Though my arms were no longer swaddling my chest and holding my nightgown in place, my heart was still guarded from accepting myself. Lost in my embarrassment, I’m not sure how long we weeded that flower bed or if I was helping in any way. Perhaps it was her grandmother’s intuition or maybe she needed to stop me from carelessly picking viable flowers instead of weeds, but at one point, my grandmother complimented my nightgown. Or at least I thought she did. She said, “You look lovely in that nightgown.” I brushed away her words, mumbling, “I love this shade of blue…it matches my eyes.” With her smaller stature, she was able to catch my blue eyes with her loving smile. I felt like she was looking deep within me when she said, “Yes, it’s

”

a nice color, but you are the lovely one.”

I tried to blame my watering eyes on the pollen. She gracefully allowed me to sneak by with that excuse and scooted closer to me. She enveloped me in her tiny arms, and for that moment, I felt small and delicate in her presence. I saw her as a giant…because one must be to have such a large heart. In that garden, she planted the seeds of selfconfidence and self-love in my soul.

With her southern charm, green thumb, and grandmother insight, she weeded away my doubt and allowed me to flourish in the brightness of her light and care.

Jessica Lewis lives in Maryville, Tennessee, with her husband, Josh, and their three sons Patton, Jack, and Noah. She is a literary lover, nature enthusiast, and joy seeker.

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Dr. David Grabeman:

Getting to the Root of the Problem

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

David grew up in Ohio surrounded by family. Although he loves his hometown roots, he wanted a change for his college and thought a southern school would be fun. He received his undergrad in 1975 from Furman University where he studied biology.

He always wanted to go into the medical field but was not sure at first what his specialty would be. David’s father was a dentist and thought he also might enjoy dentistry more than medicine. He returned to Ohio once he decided to enroll in Dental School.

It turns out he was right, he loves dentistry.

After completing all of his training, Dr. Grabeman moved to the Grand Strand.

He worked closely with a dentist who had practices in Georgetown and Andrews. David fell in love with Georgetown immediately. He was heavily involved with the downtown revitalization in the 80s and was even president of the organization for a couple of years. After seven years, his predecessor passed away and David inherited the business. In 2002, he decided to move his practice to Pawleys Island where it is still located now.

Although his heart was in Georgetown, a majority of his patients were from Pawleys Island, so business-wise, it made more sense.

David met his wife, Linda, when he moved to South Carolina while attending a friend’s wedding. Both David and Linda were in the wedding party as it was both of their best friends who were getting married.

David and Linda have been married for 38 years and have two sons and a daughter. When I asked Dr. Grabeman what “seeds” he has planted that he hopes will someday “bloom,” his first 10 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

thought was about his children. He explained that although they are still in the process of blooming, having the ability to watch them grow is a great accomplishment in itself.

Another seed I would say that has blossomed well is his mission work in Haiti. A few friends from church approached David about this venture, and although he was hesitant at first, he is so glad he finally said yes. He quotes, “Initially, I resisted this call to serve until, I believe, Jesus exhausted my excuses and I felt I had to go. I had many fears such as the food, the loss of my ‘first world’ creature comforts in a ‘third world’ country, the potential of contracting an infectious disease, and the physical rigors. To my great amusement, Jesus relieved these fears with protection, comfort, and great joy and happiness I cannot explain.” Dr. Grabeman has been traveling to Haiti for about 22 years now and says every

trip is an incredible experience.

For a while, they only had one trip a year, but due to more people getting involved with the ministry, it has turned into three trips a year. Besides the doctors who go, they always have a group of volunteers from our local area. Most of these folks go intending to help even though they do not have a background or knowledge of what they are helping with. A good friend of David’s has been traveling alongside him for 20 years who does not have any medical training. He is an engineer, but over time, has learned how to help Dr. Grabeman with the process. They also employ about five or six translators for every trip. There is no electricity and no running water. They can only take so much food before it expires, and they cook everything over a charcoal fire.

They travel to an island off of Haiti, La Gonave, and proceed up the mountains to a village called LoTore.

you are keeping up with flossing. Oral health is closely related to overall body health and is much more connected than most of us might think. If you are not keeping up with your oral hygiene, an excess amount of bacteria can lead to gum disease. This issue is linked to multiple organs in the body, but most importantly, it directly affects the heart and can cause coronary artery disease.”

In the morning, the Haitians are always lined up waiting to be seen. They travel all night to get to this village awaiting the doctors and their help. The greatest need is to take care of their pain and infection and the best way to do that is to extract the teeth that are giving them problems. This is the majority of the work Dr. Grabeman is able to do while abroad.

It may sound kind of primitive for our country, but the two countries are radically different. They are grateful to just get rid of the tooth that has been causing them pain for so long. He also helps the children with preventative measures such as fluoride treatments and packets of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss.

Dr. Grabeman and his team did not have an original goal set in mind other than to go and help as they can, but over the last two decades, they have come a long way. It started as dental work, but it has expanded. Now, they offer an eye clinic, an OB/GYN clinic, and both pediatric and adult medicine. They also have an animal clinic and assist with agricultural improvements. Another drastic help has been from All Saints Church. They work closely with the ministers on the island for a better understanding of how to help. There used to be no water available and they would typically travel 5 miles down a mountain with buckets and 5 miles back up.

Now, there are wells put in place for clean water. The only building that existed before was made of palm fronds woven together. Now, there is a permanent building for both the church and school. All Saints supports the school and pays for the teachers’ salaries and needed supplies.

David truly enjoys helping others and his work as a dentist. Although it is hard for him to find time to relax, he enjoys golfing and boating with his family.

The thing is, dentistry is also his hobby. A cousin of his who is a dentist mentioned one time that his profession is a “hobby.” At first, David thought it was a strange way to describe it, but now after so many successful years, he understands it and agrees. He says, “when I wake up, I can’t wait to get to work. It is always something I look forward to. Every patient is different, and every day is a new challenge, which excites me. I get to work with an awesome staff and help patients who have become friends. It’s more like a social hour for me now.”

Dr. Grabeman believes that like most things in life, including our oral hygiene habits, we absolutely reap what we sow. He thinks our minds really are like a garden. He says, “whatever you plant is what is going to grow. So, if you’re planting good thoughts and reading uplifting books, I think you’re then going to plant those seeds of life and well-being in your mind. And then conversely, if you’re planting bad thoughts and habits, it will bear bad fruit. What we put into our body and mind will, of course, affect what grows in our individual gardens.”

The trips to Haiti have come to a halt this year due to the coronavirus, but David is looking forward to returning when able. As far as “Teeth Spring Cleaning” for everyone in general, Dr. Grabeman shared some tips with me. He said, “While getting to the root of the problem, there are two essential things to keep in mind for healthier teeth. For one, electric toothbrushes are much more effective and do a better job than manual ones. The second is making sure Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 11

Art Appreciation

by Rose Ann Sinay

“

Bold and beautiful, soft and pastel everywhere I turned there were terraces of color.

By all accounts, I should have green blood flowing through my veins, or at least, a green stain on my thumb.

Mom’s family had been farmers; flowers were incidental, but vegetables were plentiful. Dad’s family also filled the kitchen with homegrown produce as many people did back in their day.

Everyone worked in the garden and had food to put on the table. This talent had to be in my genes, right?

After my mother got married, circumstances allowed her only a tomato cage or two and a rose bush (that sometimes got left behind) as she and dad moved from place to place.

She told me she had missed digging in the dirt, making things grow. When my parents retired, mom spent her days planting assorted flowers to keep her ever-present rose bushes company.

When I left home and got married, my husband and I decided to return to our family’s roots. We cleared our new piece of property, tilled a large plot on the not-so-large acre, and planted a garden with cucumbers, beans, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, and plenty of salad fixings. It was far too much for the two of us - our aspirations had been bigger than our stomachs. Fortunately, it helped us make friends with our new neighbors as we plied them with the fresh produce.

I think at this point, I should qualify my statements. It was actually my husband who had cleared, tilled, and 12 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

planted our endeavor. I made holes in the dirt with a stick for the seedlings.

And later, I picked a few weeds before declaring it too hot to rid the oversized garden of the million “garden leeches” (weeds) that were growing bigger by the day.

I did, however, pack the veggies in cute little baskets that I passed around the neighborhood with cards that said: “From the garden of Terry and Rose Ann.” Guilt made me put his name first, and with that guilt came the realization that I was not a gardener.

Those beautiful red tomatoes, firm green beans, and crisp salad fixings would have died on their vines had it been left to me.

That was the last large vegetable garden we (he) ever planted. I turned my interest to flowers. Creative, colorful, romantic - surely, I could create a paradise of blossoms so magnificent my mother would have been jealous.

I bought seeds and seedlings, rich topsoil, fertilizer, and name stakes. I refused an offer of help and sowed the seeds myself. I was excited when bits of green pushed through the brown dirt. I watered. I raked. I fertilized. The flowers struggled. My husband offered his opinion: “Maybe those flowers need full sun. Did you read the instructions on the packet?”

“Of course I did,” I snapped.

I had not.

”

I went to the store, bought two hydrangea plants (suggested by the garden department expert), planted them in the newly raked dirt, and called it a season.

My two rose bushes, still in large clay pots, miraculously flourished. I did not take credit for their lives. My mother had surely cast her magic over her favorite flowers.

When my husband and I retired to North Carolina, I heard about the beauty of Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. It took us about four years to finally make the trip (just an hour’s drive from our house) to the much-acclaimed botanical gardens.

Supposedly, the place was so big it couldn’t be completely enjoyed in one day. In agreement, the tickets purchased at the gate were for a two-day entrance. I didn’t believe we couldn’t cover the premises in an afternoon armed (footed?) with our new energized Nike sneakers.

We started down the winding paths that circled the beds of blooms that I couldn’t name. Bold and beautiful, soft and pastel - everywhere I turned there were terraces of color. Amazing sculptures belied the presumed fragility at their feet.

A short trail brought us to the rice plantation riverboat tour that packed

Fresh. Clean. Green.

a history lesson into a respite for our over-walked feet. Brookgreen Gardens was so much more than pretty flowers – it was nature, history, and artistic expression.

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By the end of the day, we’d barely seen half of the property. It wasn’t a place to rush through, but one to stop and savor the past, as well as the present.

We never used the second-day ticket.

It’s tucked away in a box of favorite memories. That day had been one of appreciation and realization. I didn’t have “green” DNA or a speck of green on my thumb - nor did I need it. I had a new respect and admiration for nature’s true artists.

These days, I buy my produce at the local roadside farm stands. I understand the work it took to bring the food to my table, and I am grateful. I am also content to see a few lovely blooms on my rose bush, and I hope for enough (caged) cherry tomatoes, lovingly tended by me, to top off my salad.

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Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 13

Elaine Hawkinson:

Master Gardener and Grandma

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

Remember that Grandmother of mine who bakes the best home-made pies?

Well, pies are not her only specialty.

As much as she loves baking, she loves working in her garden even more.

Elaine has loved flowers and gardens since she can remember. Her father grew tomato plants and her mother had a vegetable garden. Elaine said, “My maternal grandmother spent more time gardening than doing housework – I guess I inherited that gene. HA! If I can possibly get out of doing house chores and be out in my yard instead, that’s where I want to be.” Although green thumbs run in her family, Elaine’s was most certainly the greenest of all.

Elaine’s four children did not carry on the tradition of gardening, but they did enjoy the outdoors. Elaine’s daughter, the youngest, would help her plant new flowers if her mother asked. All three of her boys mowed lawns in high school for their jobs, but they were so busy that Elaine would usually end up mowing their lawn herself. The oldest son who was very specific about it would say, “Mom! Your lines are not straight! Do not mow the grass, just wait, and I will do it right.” Even though green thumbs did not reproduce into her offspring, we can still say with certainty that the quality of being particular still runs in the family.

Before Elaine was a true master of caregiving to her botanicals, she spent a majority of her life nursing humans. Elaine grew up in Northern 14 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

Indiana and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Nursing at Indiana University. Thirty years later, she attended Valparaiso University to get her master’s and became a Nurse Practitioner. Elaine has a bond with her garden as if they are real patients though. She worries about

them and gets upset if she sees there is a disease or a struggle. She talks to her plants and is proud of them when they are flourishing. She said, “I am especially vocal in the Spring when my yard comes alive with the Perennials that emerge from Winter’s

dormant period.” She also names some of her plants. “Big Mama” is a huge Thanksgiving cactus. Elaine informed me that Cacti are easy to propagate so when a branch falls off, she sticks it in the soil, and it roots quickly. “Little Sis” is a testament to this statement; she became her own cactus from branches from Big Mama, and many other “sisters” have found homes with friends of hers. Elaine states, “I just cannot throw away any plant if there is a chance it can survive.”

I asked Elaine what unique tips she has to be a successful Gardener and she replied with, “Sometimes my efforts for success don’t happen. I just keep trying. I amend my flower beds with compost every two years.

Last spring, I had three yards delivered and it took me two weeks to spread – I got to know my wheelbarrow very well. If I have certain plants that are struggling, I take a sample of the soil to get it tested. For a small fee, you receive the analysis of Ph (soil acidity and alkalinity), the mineral content of the soil, and how to amend it if there is an imbalance. This testing can be done at the Clemson Extension office in Georgetown or the True Blue Nursery in Pawleys Island.

I also read articles from various gardening magazines, but my ‘garden bible’ is the Southern Living Garden Book (2016 edition). Every Gardener in the south needs it!”

Elaine met my Grandpa Allen a few years after receiving her master’s degree. The married and newly retired

couple moved to the Grand Strand together in 2004. During their first holiday season living in Pawleys Island, my parents, Mark and Tara Hawkinson gave them a membership to Brookgreen Gardens as a Christmas present. During their first visit to the eclectic botanical gardens, Elaine discovered that Brookgreen offered a Master Gardener class through the Clemson Extension program. Becoming a Master Gardener was always a dream of Elaine’s, so she was thrilled to advance her horticulture knowledge in such a beautiful setting. After forty volunteer hours and several weeks of training, Elaine was a certified Master Gardener and she was even the Grand Strand Master Gardeners Association president for a few years.

Both Allen and Elaine have been volunteering at Brookgreen for fifteen years. Allen volunteers in the galleries while Elaine mostly tends to the greenhouse and the gardens. She refreshes the display table twice a week. She goes out into the garden and selects cuttings from whatever is growing according to the season. Right now, Camellia Japonicas are abundant. Elaine and Allen both give sculpture garden tours.

Elaine likes to think that she plants seeds of knowledge while leading the tours. She gives tips about pruning, soil maintenance, water requirements, and does her best to answer all the questions she is asked. She also likes to think that she planted the seed of love of horticulture in her husband. Twenty years ago, he had no interest in gardening. Now, Allen has a good base of knowledge and enjoys talking about what is growing in their yard.

evacuate due to the last hurricane, her scrapbooks were the first thing she packed. The duo loves to travel and enjoys the culture overseas. She also claims to be an “active old gal” as she still jogs, and lifts weights a few times every week.

Relaxing for Elaine usually involves working in her yard, walking on the beach, or reading a good book. Five O’clock is the time she and Allen sit down together with a glass of wine to discuss the day. This time is mostly spent on their Carolina back porch, which is also when Allen points out all of the parts of the yard that he thinks she needs to prune.

Elaine finds contentment, accomplishment, and peace of mind when she works in her garden. She calls it her “natural anti-depressant.” There are scientific facts about plant life boosting your mental health. It is very satisfying to see the results of all your effort in helping them grow.

The last question I asked Elaine was, “Do you believe that we reap what we sow?” She nodded her head yes, and said, “Absolutely, and right now, we need to sow more tolerance, compassion, and forgiveness for others.” I agree with my wise grandmother, it is very much the time to be as patient with people as Elaine is with her plants.

When I asked Elaine what else she likes to do for fun or to relax, she replied, “Remember the word, ‘retirement.’ I have plenty of time for myself. I can make the day as busy as I want, or not. That’s one perk of being a senior citizen.” Elaine loves craft projects such as card making and creating scrapbooks from trips or events. When we had to Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 15

Deserving of the “Good Paper”

by Wendy Kennar

I credit Mrs. Jones. She planted the seed. She made me believe I could be a writer.

I remember coming into my secondgrade classroom, excited and proud to show my lovely teacher a story I had written over the weekend. Though, looking back now, I’m not entirely certain the story was my original idea.

In all fairness, I may have “borrowed” the story’s plot from an episode of Sesame Street.

In any event, Mrs. Jones loved it.

Later that day she handed me a “book” she had made for me. A book with a yellow construction paper front and back cover. A book filled with the “good paper” - the white paper with the blue lines. That was special paper.

Our class only used it for final drafts.

For everything else, we used the brown paper - the more easily torn, not-asnice-looking paper. Yet Mrs. Jones had given me a book full of good paper.

I was deserving of the good paper.

My stories were good-paper worthy.

Mrs. Jones conveyed no doubt. No skepticism. No criticism. Her gift conveyed absolute encouragement. I told her I wanted to be a writer. She told me I could do it.

Mrs. Jones didn’t just impact my writing. Her belief in my dream, her confidence in me, was something I carried with me and applied throughout my own teaching career.

I always made an effort to encourage my elementary school students. To express enthusiasm, curiosity, and interest in anything they spoke to me about. A love of pandas. A desire to be a dancer in music videos. A wish to be a veterinarian. A strong 16 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

calling to become a doctor who cures cancer. An interest in vegetarianism.

A passion for the violin. A creative LEGO-building interest. These were my students’ passions. And I wanted to be a cheerleader in their corner. The person who said, “Go for it. Of course, you can do it.”

For many years, I was a teacher. And only a teacher. I still liked writing, but writing was what I did in-between everything else. Until it wasn’t anymore. Until I couldn’t keep denying the fact that I had words and ideas in my head that wanted to live on paper.

Words and ideas that I wanted to share with others.

I began by following the often quoted, “write what you know” advice. I wrote about my teaching experiences. About choosing to rent instead of owning a home. About my small diamond wedding ring. Not all my personal essays were published, but many were.

And I knew none would be published if I didn’t submit them. If I didn’t believe in myself enough to give them a chance and send them out.

in effect, making my own books.

But I would enviously gaze at other books. Leather-bound journals.

Hardcovers and paperbacks. Journals with embossed covers. Journals with Monet prints on the cover. Journals that looked too pretty to be written in. I’d visit my local bookstore and my local office supply store, and my eyes would wander. I’d think, “Someday I’ll get those for myself.”

One June, a student gave me an endof-the-year gift card for our local bookstore. I wandered the shelves, trying to decide what to buy myself.

And then I knew. “Someday” had become “this day.”

My words - rough drafts, scratch-outs, in any and all forms they took - my words were worthy of these pretty journals. My words deserved to be on “good paper.”

Mrs. Jones said so.

Years later, in a creative writing class I took for personal enrichment, another esteemed teacher, the writing instructor, told our class something I have never forgotten. She said, “Writing is a verb. If you write, you are a writer.” So, I kept writing.

First, I wrote on random scraps of paper. Then I got organized and wrote in spiral notebooks, the same ones I provided my students. I filled my spiral notebooks with ideas, and paragraphs, and lists. Then I typed my stories, printed them out, and put the pages in three-ring binders (again the same ones I provided to my students). I was,

Wendy Kennar

is a writer, mother, and former teacher.

Her writing has appeared in a number of publications and anthologies, both in print and online. You can read more from Wendy at www.wendykennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).

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Meredith Harrison:

Spring Tide and Murrells Inlet Pride

by Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

There was a seed planted within the community of Murrells Inlet after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that has well blossomed. It started with a group of local creek rats who deeply care for the area. They wanted to clean up the debris that flooded our beautiful inlet.

The founders named it Spring Tide and with the help of the community, 600 volunteers gathered 70 tons of trash out of the creek in one day. April 18, 2021 will mark the event’s 32nd year of wholesome success.

The Spring Tide event takes place during high tide and begins with an introduction given by one of the founders, Chip Smith. I can personally say with absolute confidence that Chip is one of the most diverse and intelligent creek rats around. He is an admirable photographer and an exquisite writer. The signs along the MarshWalk with descriptions about the local wildlife and fish were narrated by Chip. He also helps with designing all of the T-shirts and stickers for both Spring Tide and Plus-One Boating, another idea Chip brought to life. The objective is that anytime a boater is out on the water, they return to shore with a piece of trash. Chip is no stranger to getting his feet wet and dirty in the salty marsh pluff-mud and he profoundly claims that Spring Tide is “the best day of the year.”

Spring Tide ends with the volunteers bringing their trash back where it belongs just in time for a celebration. Local restaurants donate soup for a Chowder cook-off and Danny’s BBQ contributes their delicious food as well so that all of the volunteers eat for free. The community is able to enjoy a Spring Sunday afternoon together full of Lowcountry love and great music played by local bands. Everyone involved genuinely wants to help and have a good time doing so.

The original founders of the Spring Tide Clean-Up wanted to be an advocate for their treasured coastal home. This monumental sprout of an idea has flourished into a fully operating organization. In 1997, they decided to form 18 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

Murrells Inlet 2007 which was an allvolunteer-based organization with a 10-year vision set in place. Now, this seed is kind of like the gift that keeps on giving or the plant that never stops growing. It became so essential that it transitioned from a volunteer-based organization to a full-force 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

In 2007, the name was changed to what it is now known as, Murrells Inlet 2020, which does not mean the year, but a vision. The original goal is the same as it is today which is to create a delightful place to live, work, and visit through a combination of environmental awareness, infrastructure improvements, economic development, and community involvement. The first few accomplishments were the building of the MarshWalk and the community center off of Murrells Inlet Road, as well as establishing water quality monitors, and of course, the annual Spring Tide Clean-Up. There are not any memberships, but they acquire financial support from donations, fundraisers, and grants. Murrells Inlet 2020 now has a full board and a paid staff. When I say paid staff, I mean one singular Executive Director, and right now, that position is held by the ever so lovely and versatile Meredith Harrison.

Meredith is a Grand Strand native who graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 2004. She received her undergrad and master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina where she studied higher education and student affairs. For a decade, Meredith gained experience from an assortment of jobs such as an academic advisor, a marketing director, and positions within multiple nonprofits. Shortly after moving home, Meredith started as a board member for Murrells Inlet 2020 in hopes to help with their marketing and grant writing. However, at her first board meeting, the current Executive Director announced her resignation and they immediately asked Meredith to apply for the position.

This April will mark her 5th year as Murrells Inlet 2020’s Executive Director.

Meredith said, “It took me awhile to find my perfect career, and now that I am here, I know this is it. I love a challenge, and this is the kind of work that always has room for improvement.”

inlet or for bands to play and other potential events. There will be lights and recycle bins installed as well as a bike rack and pump. This phenomenal project is expected to be done around the time you are reading this issue of Sasee.

Murrells Inlet 2020 is currently working on its 3-year strategic plan involving more community clean-ups, water quality monitoring, beautification projects, and permanent paths for biking and walking. The organization surveys its residents, business owners, and visitors. At the top of the list is always better and safer places to recreate and green space to enjoy. Meredith is most proud of the recent onemile completion of the five-mile plan for the new Inlet to Intracoastal Multipurpose Path. It is an 8-foot wide biking and walking path that connects to the East Coast Greenway with new crosswalks and light signals allowing a safer way to cross the highway. Meredith explained, “When we had our ribbon-cutting ceremony, I just felt so proud. This pathway is something tangible our community can see and use. It is something that they genuinely asked for and we made it happen.”

Meredith says, “So much background planning is put in to make these things come to life, from the people you have to get to know, to the fundraising and surveying, and understanding the engineering. It brings me so much joy and satisfaction to know that one day when my children are able to utilize these nice things, I was instrumental in making these experiences possible.”

The next big project Murrells Inlet 2020 is in the process of building is at Morse Park, where the Spring Tide celebration is held. Part of the objective for this park is to implement best management practices for a watershed plan. Right now, this is a major area where the dirty rainwater runs back into our precious inlet water. There will be two rain gardens planted with native salt-tolerant plants which are where the stormwater will be redirected into. The plants will naturally filter the water before it returns to the creek helping keep it clean. The park will have a state-of-the-art playground, benches, picnic tables, and a limestone walking path surrounding the green space area. There will also be a gazebo down by the water for people to sit and enjoy the

The organization pushes the hashtag “love where you live” to explain why their organization is a good one to support.

Meredith explained, “I ask people, ‘do you love where you live?

What are things you love about it?’ And usually, the reason behind why they exist, is because of a lot of the work that we are doing. So, I would say if you want it to stay the way it is and you want to continue to live in a place that is clean and safe, then support us so we can keep on doing the work the community wants and needs. We are all about conservation, commerce, and community.” Besides donations, the biggest way our community can help is by volunteering. If

Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 19

If You’re Lucky Enough to Live Here. . .

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Continued from Page 19

there is a specific event that a patron is passionate about, they are highly encouraged to get involved. To be even more active, the organization also has several committees to serve on. All skill sets are needed and valued. Meredith also encourages anyone with an idea or goal for the inlet to reach out to her and discuss it, and if it is beneficial for the community, she wants to help make it happen.

I asked Meredith what the phrase, “your mind is a garden” means to her.

She replied, “Honestly, I think it’s the reason Murrells Inlet 2020 was established and the reason we continue to grow. Our projects prosper because somebody thought up an idea and put their mind to it to figure out how to make it happen.” Meredith believes that one of the most important seeds you can plant is simply being kind to others regardless of how different their age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status may be from yours. She explains that if you can plant that seed of genuine politeness, she feels like that seed will then be planted within someone else in hopes that it spreads and blooms within even more humans. I agree that being friendly with humans as well as our earth can go a long way if enough people contribute the same positive way.

Parallel to the original founders of Murrells Inlet 2020, Meredith undoubtedly has a big heart and deeply cares for our community, including the environment and the people within it.

She feels humbly blessed to grow up along the Grand Strand and to be an advocate for making a difference where it truly matters. She loves going boating with her husband, Chuck, who boats every day after work. He never leaves the water until he has done his part in participating in Plus-One Boating.

Meredith is excited for Spring, for community events, and for us all to get outside and enjoy our clean and safe coastal home.

20 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

COMMUNITY HOSPICE FOUNDATION

ScholarshipScholarship Opportunity Opportunity Mary Atmar Johnson SCHOLARSHIPS Mary Atmar Johnson, affectionately called “Mamar,” served on the original committee that brought Tidelands Community Hospice into being in 1985 and helped to make it what it is today.

Atmar Johnson To perpetuate the cycle of caring and community Mary commitment and to honor Mary, “Mamar” Atmar Johnson, Tidelands Community Hospice Foundation awards each year SCHOLARSHIPS four (4) $1,000 scholarships to individuals who are or will be affectionately called pursuing aMary degreeAtmar in NursingJohnson, or Social Work.

“Mamar,” served on the original committee that brought Tidelands Deadline for submission is 4:30 pm Monday, March 15th Community Hospice into being in 1985 and helped to For Scholarship Information and Application make Packet, it whatContact: it is today.

Barriedel Llorens, Foundation Director at 843-520-7714 OR visit tidelandshospice.org under News.

Tidelands Community Hospice Foundation ToFraser perpetuate the cycleSCof29440 caring and community commitment 2591 N. Street Georgetown, 843-546-3410 and to honor Mary, “Mamar” Atmar Johnson,

Tidelands Community Hospice Your community’s only locally based not-for-profit hospice, servingFoundation awards Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg counties since 1985. four(4) $1,000 scholarships per year to individuals who are or will be pursuing a degree in Nursing or Social Work.

Deadline for submission is 4:30pm Monday, March 15th For Scholarship Information and Application Packet, Contact: Barriedel Llorens, Foundation Director 843-520-7714 or www.tidelandshospice.org under News.

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Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 21

Spruce Up Your Spring Q: What is your mission?

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Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 23

Spruce Up Your Spring Q: What Spring Trends are you seeing for 2021?

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Fog and Butterflies

by Linda Vigen Phillips

“

The metamorphic possibilities within our souls are endless.

It creeps in like a bank of fog just off the coast, Sandburg’s “Little Cat Feet,” and it watches us silently for a time before it moves on. It’s like that, this stealthy virus, in the way it sneaks upon us, but otherwise, it’s evermore beastly than a cat.

I planned to travel to Albania on March 20th to speak at two schools, the result of a series of serendipitous events resulting from a Skype call in the classroom experience a year ago. Even as I made reservations, there was talk of the virus, but it seemed too remote to be worrisome. I was excited and energized about this opportunity to speak about my books to students and faculty at two schools as I purchased tickets on January 22, 2020.

Within three weeks, friends start urging me to reconsider. News from China, Korea, and Italy begins worming into my thoughts. Even though there are no known cases in Albania - after all, who goes to Albania?

- and only a slight cause for concern in the airports I will pass through, I cancel the flight on March 9, 2020. While I am on hold with the airline, a teacher from one of the schools sends a text to say classes have been canceled indefinitely.

The nature of this beast quickly turns exponential. By Thursday night, March 12th, the pastor of my church cancels services and all meetings, gatherings, and activities for two weeks. This news hits me hard. About eighty percent of my life is connected to this faith community. I spend the 26 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

next day canceling events I facilitate and receiving cancellations of events I follow. Despair, in spite of my faith, threatens to creep in on those little cat feet.

Saturday, a day often jammed with double-booking conflicts, dawns with a stark, blank schedule. Restlessness sets in. There are at least two postponed events I should/could be working on, but I have zero enthusiasm or motivation to do so. They’ve been moved to late April, a far-away place that does not hold meaning for me right now. Two weeks? How can that possibly be enough to cause the bell curve to flatten in the US, bringing us into less danger as the scientific experts advise, and how do I cope with this stretch of stagnate time?

Sunday morning, I wake with new energy and something that resembles peace, partly because no early service means more sleep and the possibility of a relaxed pancake breakfast. I have just enough time to walk off this sumptuous treat before the live streaming of services begins, another first that allows my clergy husband and me to attend a service side-byside. We settle onto our couch-turnedpew and tune in to three sermons, including one delivered by our own clergy son. I’m sure he’s mindful of his worrisome mother as he preaches how God spreads His grace, one day at a time, just as he provided manna to the Israelites wandering in the desert. Note to all hoarders including me: the leftovers turned rancid if kept

”

overnight. One day at a time is clearly the message I need to hear.

I stroll around my yard, released from fussing about tomorrow’s manna, freed to rejoice that the North Carolina Spring is arriving in good health without cancellations. The Buddleia in my yard has new leaves, promising purple flowers to entice the butterflies, hence its common name, the Butterfly Bush. Anticipating this season’s colorful visitors flitting around this bush later in the season piques my imagination and inspires a novel -pun intended - thought. This present time of cancellations, of social distancing, of disrupting normal life for the sake of slowing or stopping the Covid-19 virus is like being a caterpillar inside a chrysalis. Around the globe, we are being encapsulated, stopped in our busy-life tracks, and handed a time frame, at least two weeks if not more.

For each of us, the clock is ticking, and if we follow the guidelines and wait it out, we are more likely to emerge unscathed and well, even beautifully new.

The metamorphic possibilities within our souls are endless. We could all leave this cocoon with new and gloriously bedecked wings. Some will gain new skills. Some will discover new or buried talents in art, writing, music, cooking, or an endless array of unique pursuits. Others will find new direction, new focus, new purpose in life through innovative forms of social media, expanded forms of communication, maybe six-foot-apart

encounters on the street. Many will face new challenges that are not positive, like loss of jobs, death among family or friends, and mental health that has deteriorated. In all circumstances, it’s important to remember this: we could all gain new wings, new tools, new perspectives before this is over. Imagine the caterpillar’s utter astonishment when he realizes he can fly out of the cocoon instead of crawl. To top it all off, he wears a spectacular new outfit, a gift according to the terms of the confinement.

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The fog comes on little cat feet.

It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.

-Carl Sandburg-

Linda Vigen Phillips writes young adult verse novels, adult and children’s poetry, and things from the heart concerning body, mind, and spirit. She and her husband live in Charlotte, NC.

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Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 29

Pandemic Pandemonium, Paranoia, and Politeness

by Erika Hoffman

“

I hope we will aspire to become, once again, friendly Americans and I hope we will give one another the benefit of the doubt.

I see neighbors walking their dogs with masks on, all by themselves en plein air. One lady, nearby, who’s deathly afraid of the virus made her lawn guys wear booties to mow her lawn. The same woman sanitized everything early on and even put her six-pack of Coke into her dishwasher, where it later exploded; she thought she was under attack! Last May, I witnessed two women on the beach scurry to relocate their huge sun umbrella and chaise-longue chairs to another section because someone laid down beach towels within 12 feet of them.

young teen servers at drive-thru fastfood restaurants roll down the window to take your order while wearing their masks around their necks, like scarves, as they shout the order to the kitchen.

It’s hard to know when to say something. Do you correct a stranger and risk angering the person or embarrassing the fellow or gal? Isn’t it also true some folks are so paranoid that they do unscientifically based protocols while thinking themselves completely justified denying someone entry? My pregnant daughter and her husband took their barely two-yearold to a museum in Detroit where they weren’t allowed entry because the toddler didn’t sport a mask. When my son-in-law, a surgeon, explained that masks weren’t required for children so young, the cashier wouldn’t budge on the mandate. He asked for his money back. So, they rode a couple of hours home and didn’t see the museum.

Sometimes, people don’t know the rules and have no common sense.

On the other hand, I’ve also seen maskless twenty-somethings drink beer and laugh and yell when they were nose-tonose in the parking lot of a restaurant on the coast, without a worry in the world about spreading germs. I’ve seen folks in grocery stores pull down their masks to sneeze. And I’ve noticed

That gets me to manners. A couple in our neighborhood had a going-away party for an elderly couple who was going to move to an assisted living arrangement. They invited folks in the small cul-de-sac and a few others and held the get-together outside in their ample driveway. Everyone

Whenever a shift in society or culture occurs, folks don’t have a paradigm to follow and find adoption of a new normal challenging. The year of 2020 isn’t the first year that our country has had to adjust to unsettling events, but it may be the first time for many of us, including the over-75 crowd, to have to learn new, uncomfortable ways of coping.

30 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

”

brought their own beverages and snacks. Everyone wore a mask and only lowered it to sip a little wine or whatever they’d brought. No sharing. Nothing communal. Well, the community curmudgeon showed up later although his wife had already been there mingling for a while. When he strode into the driveway, he saw a lady with her mask lowered as she sipped and snacked and talked with me. This fellow is no favorite of ours, and when he soon departed after just arriving late, we didn’t think too much of it until our host bounded over and told us that “Bernie” left swiftly because “Karen” didn’t have her mask covering her face! “But he never came near us!

And we’re not sick anyway,” I said.

No matter. That geezer wanted to make a point. Drama queen. What I thought a bit ironic was he left his wife there socializing with everyone. Wasn’t he afraid she’d catch something from the unmasked nibbler and carry it home to him?

There have been a lot of casualties from the fallout of this virus besides the obvious health ones. Of course, loss of income, loss of education, loss of entertainment come to mind.

The list goes on. So, it might seem like flotsam and jettison to even

mention the loss of manners. But I’ve noticed this disagreeableness that plagues society nowadays. Everyone is afraid to greet anyone with a verbal salutation because of spreading germs, but they also seem reluctant to throw up a hand in a friendly wave or nod the head to acknowledge a passerby. Rude behavior seems to be a la mode, today.

It’s accepted and a bit encouraged. Fear will do that to folks.

So, I think that perhaps when things resume and vaccinations are plentiful and taken, I hope we will aspire to become, once again, friendly Americans, less judgmental and more tolerant, and I hope we will give one another the benefit of the doubt. And if we are afraid to speak to strangers then let’s hope Netflix starts programs in sign language where the first expressions we learn are: Hello, Please, Thank you, and God Bless.

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These seeds of kindness we need to plant now!

Erika Hoffman is a mom to four, a wife to one, a motherin-law to three, and a grandma to eight.

She also writes.

Sasee.com :: March 2021 :: 31

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32 :: Sasee.com :: March 2021

Vintage Wares, Women’s Apparel, Wonderful Goods & Boutique Clothing Labels Mon thru Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4 (unless it’s a Holiday) 720 Sunset Blvd N, Sunset Beach, NC 28468 bleuboutique.blogspot.com (910) 579-5628 @BleuInCarolina #bleuatsunset

SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 | 4:00 PM CLASSICAL SERIES CONCERT:

Sunshine is the Best Medicine

THE HISTORY OF A SOLDIER Featuring actors from Atlantic Stage

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | MYRTLE BEACH, SC TICKETS: $15 VIRTUAL ACCESS

TICKETS GO ON SALE February 22

For the most current information on in-person attendance to concerts, visit www.LongBaySymphony.com or call 843.448.8379.

Licensed & Insured • Commercial • Residential

Cleaning & Linen Rentals 843-299-0247

671 Jamestown Dr., Unit R2 • Garden City, SC 29576 thecleanupclub@gmail.com

SHOP THE UNUSUAL

HOME FURNISHINGS • ACCESSORIES ANTIQUES • INTERIOR DESIGN CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS OT RED D UTS O CLOSE FF O 70%

YELLOW DOT CLOSE OUTS 60% OF F

John S. Gore, Owner, Designer, Allied ASID 843-692-7844 • bgrahamint@aol.com SHOWROOM LOCATION: 1307 ENTERPRISE AVE. MYRTLE BEACH BETWEEN GRISSOM PKWY. & SEABOARD STREET • BGRAHAMINTERIORS.COM MON - FRI 9am - 5pm • SAT BY APPOINTMENT

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Advertiser Index Angelo’s Steak & Pasta......................... 20 Barbara’s Fine Gifts.............................. 21 Bethea Baptist Retirement Community...................... 27 B. Graham Interiors Collection.............................. 33 Bleu..................................................... 32 BloominGail’s Consignment................ 28 Brightwater............................................ 7

31 DAY

Buy One Get One Window

SALE 50OFF

%

FREE Upgrade to our SmartSun™ glass to help keep your home even more comfortable.

Don’t pay anything for 2 years with our financing.

BUT you only have 31 days so call today to set up your FREE In-Home Consultation!

Hurry! This sale ends March 31, 2021!

Brookgreen Gardens.............................. 5 Carolina Car Care............................... 32 Chapeaux de Femmes.......................... 28 The Clean Up Club............................. 33 Closets by Design................................ 29 Coastal Luxe Interiors.......................... 29 Custom Outdoor Furniture................. 36 Dr. Grabeman..................................... 21 Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss & Esthetics Centers............................. 17 Grand Strand Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.................... 31 Good Deed Goods.............................. 13 The Lakes at Litchfield......................... 35 Long Bay Symphony........................... 33 Moore, Johnson & Saraniti.................... 9 Palmetto Ace....................................... 32 Papa John’s Pizza ................................. 31 Prodigy Kitchens & Baths.................... 25 PruittHealth.......................................... 2 Renewal by Andersen........................... 34 Shades and Draperies........................... 13

(919) 568-3120

St. Gabriel Assisted Living & Memory Care.................................. 20

EnergySavingsWithWindows

Sunset River Marketplace.................... 27

Offer expires March 31 2021. Minimum purchase 4 windows. Call for details

Call today for your FREE In-Home Consultation!

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Sunspace of Myrtle Beach...................... 3 Tidelands Community Hospice........... 21

Call Us Today • (843) 353-6040

PAWLEYS ISLAND’S ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY 120 Lakes at Litchfield Drive • Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (843) 353-6040 • Lakes-Litchfield.com

Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Skilled Nursing • Rehab

2415 hwy 17 south | garden city, sc 29576 843-651-9633 | customoutdoorfurniture.com