May 2020
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May 2020
“Nearest & Dearest”
Contents Volume 19, Issue 5
About the Cover Artist: Julie Ryder is an Australian mixed media artist with a background in teaching and floral design. Her passion is color and loves to work on canvas using acrylic paint and combine lots of other mediums such as beads, paper, ink, impasto, fabrics and whatever takes her fancy! She also likes working with watercolors and ink and has her own range of prints, cards and jewelry. When time permits, she also holds workshops in her home art studio, where people can come and learn some of the techniques that she uses in her own artwork. She loves to teach and nurture others along their journey of self discovery in the art world! Her artworks are heavily inspired by her background in floral design and she loves to feature them in her work. To see more of Julie Ryder’s work you can visit: www.juliemryder01.wixsite.com/julie-ryder-art www.etsy.com/au/shop/JulieRyderMixedMedia www.facebook.com/JulieRydermixedmedia/ www.instagram.com/julierydermixedmediaartist/
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8 10 14 16 18 21 26 28 30 32 34 35 36 38 40
Community Life - Stay Involved and Stay Safe, by Leslie Moore Roots and Wings: Paula Thomas, by Leslie Moore Words of Change: Mary Alice Monroe, by Leslie Moore Read It! Reviews by Nicole McManus Kissin Cousins, by Diane DeVaughn Stokes Front Porch Diaries, by Anna Lauren Meeks & Katie Wunder Mom in the Mirror, by Melissa Face A Grandpa’s Tall Tale, by Jeffery Cohen The Days of Shakespeare, by Sally Gosen Case Dianne Dennis: Remembering Her Roots, by Leslie Moore Revisiting What’s Past, by Erika Hoffman Kids Read It! Reviews by Nicole McManus The Cornoavirus Diaries, March 17, 2020, by Lynn Ingram Following in Family Footsteps: Melissa Lee & Mel Healy, by Leslie Moore Miracles Happen, by Perry P Perkins
Dr. Horowitz Receives Dual Diplomate Status in Sleep! The Carolina Center for Advanced Dentistry and Advanced Sleep and Breathing Centers is proud to announce that Dr. Jeff Horowitz has now received diplomate status in the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. This is Dr. Horowitz’s second award in sleep, having been an instructor and diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. What this means for our patients, is that they can expect unsurpassed care and knowledge in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. If you or a loved one snore, have sleep apnea, or can’t tolerate CPAP, Give us a call today!
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from the Editor
Publisher Delores Blount Sales & Marketing Director Susan Bryant Editor Leslie Moore Account Executives Stacy Danosky Erica Schneider Gay Stackhouse
Thinking back over the past weeks, I am very proud of how our community has come together, while literally staying apart, to get through this crisis together. I asked the Sasee Facebook community how they were handling the long hours at home and received some wonderful responses. Nancy says she’s cooking up a storm; trying new recipes every day. Rachel is painting and dancing and hula-hooping! Marsha is going on fun neighborhood walks with her grandson. Our own Nicole McManus, who provides us with wonderful book reviews each month, is helping with virtual author/ reader meet ups through Litchfield Books. Volunteers throughout our area are providing food for shut-ins, doing grocery store runs for those unable to leave their home and generally making sure their neighbors have what they need. Businesses are stepping up in a big way – Tara Grinna Swimwear has dedicated its factory in Conway to repairing medical grade masks. You can read more about that in this issue. Twelve 33 Distillery in Little River is making hand sanitizer instead of spirits! On the south end, Quigley’s is donating meals to medical personnel and first responders weekly. Our own Coastal Carolina University has donated boxes of new tee shirts to Tidelands health to be made into masks. There are many more – too many to list – but we are all very grateful. I hope this issue of Sasee brings you a bit of joy or a smile. Please try to support our local businesses when you can – they need us to help them through. Happy Mother’s Day!
Art Director Patrick Sullivan Contributing Photographer Palm Photography Contributing Writers Anna Lauren Meeks Katie Wunder 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 © 2020. 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.
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Community Life - Stay Involved and Stay Safe by Leslie Moore
While it’s important to stay home and follow the CDC’s guidelines for safety – it’s also important to stay connected. Sasee has put together a list of ways you can stay involved through helping others, shopping local and more! Visit Brookgreen Gardens – you can enjoy the beauty and splendor of Brookgreen for a reduced price – all indoor exhibits are closed. Visit their Facebook page for live events you can watch from home! Visit Brookgreen.org for tickets. Ed Piotrowski, chief meteorologist for WPDE, is doing live Weather School videos for kids. And, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy them. The videos stay up on his Facebook page, @EdPiotrowskiwpde, so you can go back and watch the ones you missed. Enjoy a meal to-go! Many restaurants are offering curbside service and delivery. Visit Georgetown County Curbside, Delivery & Take Out, or Horry County Curbside & Delivery on Facebook for a comprehensive list of restaurants. View and purchase local art by the artists of Waccamaw Neck Arts Alliance – wcwnaa.org/shop! Buy a Mother’s Day gift from your favorite local boutique. Good Deed Goods has a wide selection of gifts and will gift wrap for curbside pickup and delivery. Visit Good Deed Goods on Facebook and Instagram, or gooddeedgoods.com – and call 843-651-7979 for personal shopping! Let’s face it; the current turmoil is causing many of us to feel anxious. Portside Grand Dunes shared a wonderful booklet outlining ways to help us cope. Find it at sasee.com. Portside Grand Dunes is also hosting a virtual Financial Seminar, led by James Croland of Edward Jones, on May 21st at 2pm. To join please contact Hollis Hartman at 843 595 8262 or MarketingIL@portsidegrandedunes.com. We know our readers want to help – here’s a link to Tidelands Health with a list of their needs: tidelandshealth.org/coronavirus/helping-the-helpers/. Details by Three Sisters has a headband/bandana that can also be worn as a non-medical, washable face mask. It’s made of breathable rayon in tropical colors. Call 843-235-0502 for delivery or shipping. 8 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
Fins First in Myrtle Beach has cute masks, mugs and tee shirts that say, “Social Distancing is the New Black.” Finsfirstmb.com SaraBeth’s in Georgetown has a drive through window to help you shop safely! Call 843-546-2880. Twelve 33 Distillery is making hand sanitizer! Curbside pick up in Little River – call 843-663-3344. Limit two per customer. Are you considering assisted living for your parents or other relative? Virtual tours are available at The Florence Presbyterian Community. Call 843-656-2901 or visit prescomm.org. Mail a card and brighten the day of a senior shut-in: Bethea Retirement Community. Send cards to: Resident, 157 Home Ave., Darlington, SC 29532. Brightwater Activities Director, Shirley Klee would appreciate nice letters, drawings, and words of wisdom for her members. Mail to Shirley Klee, Activities Director, 101 Brightwater Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29579. The Lakes at Litchfield would love notes and fun letters for members. Please mail to: The Lakes at Litchfield, Shelby Duke – Activities Director, 120 Lakes at Litchfield Dr. Pawleys Island, SC 29585. Ocean Isle Concert Series is scheduled (outdoors) for Fridays the 22nd & 29th this month, from 6:30-8pm. Museum of Coastal Carolina parking lot, E. Second St., Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Please call 910-398-2538 to confirm dates! Litchfield Books is hosting Virtual Reader Meets Writer events. Visit litchfieldbooks.com for details. If you’ve never joined, our Sasee Bookclub meets monthly on the Sasee Facebook Page. Led by our book reviewer, Nicole McManus, I know she would love for you to join in!
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Roots and Wings: Paula Thomas by Leslie Moore
Since COVID 19 brought our lives to a standstill, Paula Thomas has been spending her time feeding chickens (and one duck who identifies as a chicken), stocking her pond with fish, and making plans to add pastures and a barn to the new Thomas Family Farm in Murrells Inlet. She is also continuing her work serving as Judge Paula Thomas on the South Carolina Appellate Court – and is fortunately able to work from her desk in the farmhouse recently purchased by Paula and her husband, Don. This move marks a return to her rural roots, and the realization of a long held dream. While both sets of grandparents spent their lives in Manning, South Carolina, Paula didn’t actually start her life as a country girl. Her father was in the military, and the family lived all over the world. It wasn’t until Paula reached third grade that her dad left active service and brought his family home – first to Sumter, and then back to Manning where she was loved and guided by a large extended family. By the time the family moved back to Manning, one grandfather, her dad’s father, had passed, and her grandmother owned a farm, wrote for the local newspaper and even started her own newspaper. “She was always working on the farm and was also the librarian in Manning,” Paula remembers. “Her house was the informal SPCA – people would dump animals and Mabel Hinson would take care of them – I definitely inherited her love of nature.” Paula’s business acumen and drive for success were fostered by her other grandmother who owned a small business selling children’s clothing while continuing to care for her home and family. Paula’s mother was an RN and while she stayed home with Paula and her siblings, she went back to work after they were older – first as an RN and then a personnel manager. “I was surrounded by nothing but strong women,” she said, continuing. “My dad was always fond of animals as well. He was 10 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
our informal veterinarian – and he was never much of a hunter, preferring to be the fixer-upper of animals.” Paula’s father recently found a sickly puppy in his pump house and after he nursed it back to health, he placed it in a good home – this value and care for all life is how Paula grew up. When I asked how Don feels about country life, Paula said, “I took a city boy and slowly brought him into my rural mindset. I tell people Don and I are Green Acres in reverse.” She laughed telling me this, and emphasized how fortunate she feels to have such a supportive life partner. “It was a dream of mine to own this property,” Paula said, telling the story of how they found their home. “Don and I used to ride by the property and I’d call it ‘my property’ years before we were able to buy it.” Paula’s son, Austin, called her nearly a year ago, and said the property was for sale. “It looked a little different than I remembered – the owner had added acreage, and there was a house!” This was a big move, and would change the Thomas’ everyday lives – initially Paula had doubts about their decision. But, not long after buying the property, Paula, who had lost her mother months before, began seeing white feathers randomly – and felt they were a sign from her mom. “I saw them everywhere – one morning I walked out onto the porch and saw yet another white feather and knew this was meant to be.” Paula’s return
to her roots was now confirmed as the right thing to do. Paula and Don just bought another lot, increasing the farm to seven acres. They have a pond and wetlands – and the property abuts a portion of Brookgreen Gardens. They’ve added chickens and a duck. “We took them in from a friend who could no longer keep them. My aunt has a donkey for me when we’re ready, and I have two mini-horses that are now therapy horses in Myrtle Beach.” As soon as Paula and Don finish the barn and pasture, these animals, plus her beloved, retired show horse will come live on the farm. “All the animals are boarded and being well cared for, so we can take our time,” Paula laughed when I asked her how many other animals would eventually make Thomas Farm their home, “Well my father used to call me Ellie Mae, so we will have to see!” Paula also wants to use the farm to give back to her community. “I have lots of ideas – maybe open it up for people to come and enjoy. I feel so blessed, I would love to extend my blessings and share them. The farm lends itself to so many possibilities.” As long as she can remember, Paula has loved horses and shared her joy in her first horse, Ranger. “When we moved back to Sumter, my dad asked me to go for a ride one day. We pulled up to a barn, walked in and he introduced me to the owner. And he brought Ranger out to meet me. I had him for many years and brought him to Manning when we moved.” Paula would take Ranger to her families’ lake house in the summer where the two would play in the lake. “Ranger figured out how to open the screen door and would clomp right in!” As a woman with a successful career, I asked this amazing woman about how she dealt with the demands of career and family. Paula remembers always working while raising her three children – Austin, Kelly and Kristen. “I became almost bitter about it and confessed this to a group of ladies who had all stayed home with their children. I was surprised when they admitted they were looking at me with envy and sometimes felt bitter that they didn’t have the opportunity to pursue their careers – and that they didn’t feel their work staying home and raising children was very important. As a result of this talk, we all understood and had a new admiration for the paths we each chose.” Continuing,
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Paula said, “We all do the best we can. I really do embrace those women who are stay-at-home moms. I see my daughter-in-law doing it now, and I admire her. But if my daughters choose another path, I completely understand. You can’t have it all – but I learned from speaking honestly that we all have more in common than we realize.” Paula’s climb up the ladder of success began with her work as a counselor. “While I was working, I realized the law was a way to help more people. I saw so many young people trying to get in to the pretrial intervention program, and there were inequities regarding who was allowed in and who wasn’t.” Paula went back to school to study law and when her oldest child, Austin, was a baby, the family moved to the area. “It was a challenging time. I was a brand new lawyer and was pregnant with twins (Kelly and Kristen).” Paula’s search for justice for all led her to run for House of Representative Seat 108. “Don
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encouraged me so I ran in 1992 and represented District 108. It was there I was encouraged to become a judge.” In 1995, Paula was elected to the South Carolina Circuit Court Bench and resigned her seat in the House. In 2006, she ran for the Court of Appeals and has been there ever since. “It’s an honor being part of a system that keeps society together. We have the best system of justice in the world - the best man has ever made. Each case has real people that are involved and looking for justice. They depend on the courts for that justice.” As we continued, Paula talked about her life and family. “I’m so blessed to have a husband who always makes me laugh – he’s such a positive person and sees the world in a beautiful way – and my children have grown into really good people. Family ties are important.” Paula is also grateful to have her dad in her life. “I hang on his every word,” she laughed, but it was easy to feel the
genuine emotion behind her words. The addition of a beautiful daughter in law and grandson, plus a new son-in-law make her life complete. “My grandson Boden has my heart already. I have big plans for fun times with him, and maybe I will be blessed with more grands!” Family ties have given Paula a love of family, nature and learning – and a sense of responsibility to help those less fortunate. “If we really take the time to focus – on a flower or even an earthworm – if we look at it as if we’ve never seen it before you can’t help but be amazed and blessed. And God is good. That’s what being around the outdoors and animals does for me.” “Hold on to your dream,” Paula said as we were finishing our chat. “You’re never too old or too young to dream – and make sure your dreams include the ones you love. If you can’t imagine them with you in your dream, dream another dream. It’s important that they’re included in your heart.”
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Words of Change: Mary Alice Monroe by Leslie Moore
If you love books and loggerhead turtles, it’s likely you recognize the name, Mary Alice Monroe. Bestselling author many times over, this well-loved writer is probably best known for her Beach House Series, whose characters have become a part of us over the past 15 years. I was honored to chat with Mary Alice by phone while she was in her mountain home in Tryon, North Carolina. Of course we had to first talk about what’s happening in the world right now. Mary Alice believes she may have contracted the coronavirus early on. “I went on a cruise early in February, and on the plane ride home, a woman from my cruise was hacking and coughing.” Continuing, she said she began having a fever, cough and chills a few days after getting home – and also had trouble breathing. “I was tested for the flu, but didn’t have it. I was told I had ‘a virus.’ But they did not have Covid 19 tests. I stayed home and thankfully recovered.” Mary Alice said she now realizes how important physical distancing is to keep the virus contained. “I’m solitary by nature and because of my writing – I’m not very inconvenienced.” “I believe my readers trust me and know I’m going to write a story that will evoke human emotions and touch real issues,” said the author and environmentalist when I asked her to talk about the amazing popularity of her work. Before writing a word, Mary Alice does her research in order to be accurate. “I talk to experts. I go out to work with the animals. In my novels I never proselytize or point fingers. I’m a storyteller. I want readers to become aware of the animals the same way I became aware–through experiences. Still, my response is always human.” Readers have told Mary Alice that they enjoy the stories, but they especially enjoy the learning –and there is a lot to learn in the beloved Beach House Series that teaches us about the natural world through characters that become like family. “I get letters begging me to never stop writing them.” And luckily for us, Mary Alice is currently working on the next book in the series. While we dive into On Ocean Boulevard, released this month, this prolific author is working on The Next Generation, another exciting chapter in the lives of the characters we have come to love. “I’ve been writing this for 20 years,” Mary Alice said. “My characters have aged. Now it is Cara’s second wedding, and in this story there are a lot of complications that readers will identify with – Cara has come full circle. It’s her turn to be the matriarch for the next generation.” “I’m changing my story line in the novel I’m writing because of what’s happening in the world,” continued Mary Alice. “I’m looking at what’s happening on the beach. The SC Aquarium has just closed its doors, people are being laid off…and this one family, the Rutledge family, comes together during this time of social distancing. They have struggled through adversity for years, and discover that love, perseverance and commitment gets them through. After this summer, I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say!” “My mountain home is my escape from hurricanes,” laughed Mary Alice when I asked her about her second home. “I am always writing in the fall.” As much as she loves her ocean-side home, the beauty of the mountains draws her in for a different kind 14 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
of inspiration. “Creativity stems from both, it’s just different. How wonderful that we live where we can easily go from place to place. Nature has such variety, that no matter where we go– as long as we go outdoors, we will be inspired.” When she’s in the writing mode, Mary Alice writes all day – and sometimes into the night if deadlines are approaching. And she loves the whole process – from researching, to volunteering, to writing, to editing the first draft with her editor, to copy editing and finally book tours. “Sometimes, though, I choose not to write. I give myself a vacation to let go of Book A before I begin Book B.” We are all aware that one of Mary Alice’s passions is the protection of the loggerhead turtle. “We had such a good year last year; I wonder what this year is going to look like? The environmental issue in On Ocean Boulevard is plastic and the damage it’s causing.” On Mary Alice’s Facebook page, there is a link to join “Light One Candle,” a group highlighting her vetted information about what is happening in the natural world, and how one person can make a difference. “My dad used to tell me not to try to change the world, just light one candle.” Continuing, this passionate environmentalist said, “People are overwhelmed with climate change and now the coronavirus. Knowledge is power and action stops fear. I want people to know there is something they can do to make a difference in their own life.” “In writing you always take your hero, hit them with all the problems and box them in a corner. This is the dark moment. Action is what creates a hero – she decides what to do and acts. We can become heroes in our own life. I invite everyone to join us and light one candle.” I asked about the future and was very relieved by the answer. “I do want to slow down, but I don’t ever want to stop writing.” Mary Alice has three
“I am usually touring around Mother’s Day, but I try to be in Chicago where one of my daughters lives, but everything is on hold.” Mary Alice does have a plan in the works to host an online book club, reading the entire Beach House Series. “I hope to have a discussion about each book leading up to On Ocean Boulevard and The Next Generation. It will be a lot of fun and a great way for us to get together with old friends. I hope it brings joy and comfort.”
children, and six grandchildren, and does plan to take a little more time to enjoy her family. “Writing is all I do, it’s my life. Researching or writing. Two things I enjoy.” The looming shadow of the coronavirus kept creeping back into our conversation. Mary Alice’s book tour has been cancelled – including the huge launch party at the SC Aquarium. Her daughter has postponed her wedding and her future son-in-law has coronavirus (recovering well). Mother’s Day plans are also on hold.
Learn more about Mary Alice Monroe and her work on her website, www.maryalicemonroe.com. Find her on Facebook and Instagram @maryalicemonroe. Join “Light One Candle” from her Facebook page by clicking on “Groups” from the home page. On Ocean Boulevard will be available on May 19th at booksellers everywhere and online. To learn more about the work being done locally to protect the loggerhead turtle, visit S.C.U.T.E. (South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts) on Facebook. Local volunteers walk our beaches every morning around sunrise to check for new turtle nests and then report their findings. If you see a “turtle walker” on the beach, stop and thank her! (From six feet away please.)
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–Read It!– I Love You More Than Coffee, by Melissa Face Sasee readers should recognize this author – Melissa Face’s essays are always hilarious while making the heart smile. Her book, I Love You More Than Coffee is the same style. In a very honest way, she shares memories of being a mom, from the very first moment with the positive pregnancy test. The trials and tribulations of adjusting to the new norm with a baby, to the golden advice from a friend, Melissa shares it all. This book is a great night time read, for each chapter is only a couple pages long. However, I think this book should be read together with your mom and mom friends, because it will spark conversations and you can share your own memories. This is a lovely gift, for someone you love. Note: Due to COVID-19, publication of Melissa’s book is delayed until September 2020.
Fighting Lions with Loo Rolls, by Kathleen Rigby Kathleen Rigby and her family moved to Kenya in the 1980s and in her book, Kathleen shares their incredible journeys with readers. This book reads like an epic saga of action and adventure, and readers will easily devour it in a couple of hours. There are family pictures and anecdotes from her children interspersed throughout. Not only does this book talk about all the wildlife, it stresses the importance of accepting and learning from different cultures. Readers who love to travel though reading will want to add this one to their wish lists.
On Ocean Boulevard, by Mary Alice Monroe Cara Rutledge is back! Cara is planning her second wedding, and as the rest of the Rutledge family return to Charleston, things take a different turn. Linnea is back after her dreams were dashed in California. Everyone in the Rutledge family has endured deep hardships, but nothing can prepare them for what’s to come. Mary Alice Monroe is one of the greatest authors that I have ever read. Her books always feature strong female characters, and the themes of family, friends, and nature radiate deep into reader’s souls. In this book, the loggerhead turtles are back and bring with them the centuries-old wisdom of the ocean. The hot topic of vaccinations is featured with all sides being represented. When readers pick up a Mary Alice Monroe book, they pick up a story that they will enjoy on a summer day, but they will also pick up a tale filled with lessons that they will carry for the rest of their lives. This book is another incredible must-read. Note: See Mary Alice Monroe’s interview in this issue!
Reviews by Nicole McManus Nicole loves to read, to the point that she is sure she was born with a book in her hands. She writes book reviews in the hopes of helping others find the magic found through reading. Contact her at ARIESGRLREVIEW.COM. 16 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
Happy Mother’s Day to our beautiful customers. We hope everyone is staying safe, we miss you and can’t wait to see your smiling faces again soon.
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Kissin’ Cousins by Diane DeVaughn Stokes My grandmother, we called her Nana, was one of eleven children growing up in Pittston, Pennsylvania, a coal mining county. Born in 1903, she was the oldest sibling and helped her parents raise and care for all that followed. They were very poor in wealth, but very rich in love. Nana married my wonderful grandfather from Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1922. Even though they were both very close with their respective families, they chose to move to Newark, New Jersey, to find employment. At that time, the only jobs that existed in Pennsylvania paying a decent wage were in the treacherous conditions of the coal mines. Both my grandparents had lost loved ones in the underground blackness and knew there had to be a better life. Yet leaving their parents and siblings behind was very difficult for both of them, and they promised to keep in contact and visit often. Let’s fast-forward thirty-five years when I was about seven years old. Nana and Papa would take my mom and me back to their former homes to visit cousins at least twice a year. It was always a love-fest, and for me, having grown up in the city, this was quite an adventure, heading to the “rural-ness” of country life where there were rabbits, and chickens, gardens of veggies, butterflies and fireflies, fruit trees, and blackberries to pick in a nearby cemetery. Devilish cousin Regina said eating blueberries from the cemetery, which frightened me, connected us to the dead in a really good way. I did not buy it! Like most kids today, I had no idea where 18 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
“
Yes, the highlight of growing up was being with cousins.
food really came from other than the grocery store, so this was a thrill as well as a real education. I was shocked to see a string bean on the vine when my cousins showed me how to pluck and eat one raw. There was even an outhouse in the backyard that literally scared the crap out of me as it had spider webs and dead bugs hanging from the rafters, and an old wooden seat that gave you butt splinters if you made a wrong move. My cousin Sandy in New Jersey was my favorite babysitter. Okay, I wasn’t a baby at the time, but too young to stay home by myself. She was always so much fun. I remember going to see her on stage in the production of Guys and Dolls and being totally absorbed by the theatrics of the whole thing. When it was over, I told her I wanted to do that play someday. She asked me if I wanted to be “Sister Sara” who worked for the Salvation Army in the show, but I knew I’d be a much better “Adelaide” due to the outrageousness of that character. Lucky for me, I have played that role twice, ten years apart, at the Theatre of the Republic opposite my husband as Nathan Detroit! But her passion for theatre fueled my own. It was Cousin Darwin who gave me my very first feeling of puppy love at age five. Whenever his parents brought him to visit, I was infatuated with him, battling for his attention with my live-in cousin, Elaine, who was four months younger than me. Hours before one of Darwin’s visits, my grandfather’s dog Trixie had puppies, and I remember trying to explain to him how these puppies came into the world, and he was as shocked as I was!
”
I guess you could call that “double puppy love.” Speaking of Elaine, I saved her until last because we have a very special bond. Elaine’s mom and mine were sisters and both were divorced from our fathers. We all lived happily but tightly in my grandparent’s twobedroom apartment. We fought like cats and dogs but we learned so much from each other about life and survival. We call one another “sister-cousins.” And even though over the years we have gained other half siblings that we love, our bond is like no other. Our memories of our shaken world as a result of divorced parents brought us closer than anyone could imagine in many, many ways. Yes, the highlight of growing up was being with cousins. These kinfolk looked like me, shared the same faith, and treasured a family bond that still exists among us all today. No doubt about it. How do I know? Well, let me fill you in. Twenty years ago in 2000, I planned a Kissin’ Cousin Reunion here in Myrtle Beach. My parents were transferred to South Carolina in 1966 so that was the last time I had spent any time with my cousins, except at the funeral of my beloved grandfather in 1978. However, we stayed in touch through phone calls, sometimes only once or twice a year. Christmas cards were part of the connecting ritual too. So when I announced a welcome to my hometown in Myrtle Beach for a threeday gathering, I was overwhelmed when 28 showed up. It was magical to see and feel the love and bond we all
had, sharing not only blood but heart, as we flipped through black and white, slightly faded photos in dilapidated albums holding memories of ancestors we all share.
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10
And even though each returned home with warm, fuzzy family feelings, agreeing to get together more often, it did not happen, not that I did not try to re-organize the group. As you know, jobs, life commitments, health issues, children and grandchildren kept us from getting back together until this year. Another Kissin’ Cousin three night reunion was planned here in Myrtle Beach for the last weekend in March. They would have come from Seattle, Houston, California, New Jersey, and of course Pennsylvania. But as you have probably already guessed we agreed to cancel the big gathering due to the corona virus, especially since more than half of the cousins are over sixty. It was tremendously sad, but the right thing to do. However, everyone insisted we reschedule the event for the first weekend in November, hoping the pandemic will be under control. We could have been the elbow bumping or fist pumping cousins instead of the Kissin’ Cousins, but we decided we would rather be Kissin’ in November! I can only hope by sharing my reunion info with you that I have inspired you to organize one of your own when it’s safe once again to do so. Remember, it’s never too late to re-connect with your roots and the ones you love. Don’t delay. Life is short. You’ll be amazed by the joy of planning it and watching the magic happen.
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Diane DeVaughn Stokes Diane is the host and producer for “Inside Out” as seen on HTC TV Channel 4, and serves as a commercial spokesperson for several local businesses. She and her husband Chuck own Stages Video productions in Myrtle Beach and share passions for food, theater, travel and scuba diving. They own three four legged kids that they adore!
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Front Porch Diaries
by Anna Lauren Meeks & Katie Wunder • Photography by PALM Photography When 2020 began, so many people made yearly resolutions for their lives – businesses, relationships, etc. Going back and doing a search for #2020resolutions, I found the overly popular “workout more,” and “eat healthy,” but some of the other more popular ones were: • Spend time outdoors doing things like climbing trees and walks with family • Be more picky about who I spend time with • Read more books • Learn something new • Be more organized • Cook more and order out less Fast forward to March 2020: Welcome to the Pandemic; to the Quarantine; to restaurants having to close; to students being out of school for 4+ weeks in some places; to more than 40 million people being forced to stay home – just in California alone; to life quickly becoming completely, unexpectedly different. Being from a tourist-driven city, I knew the impact here would be a bit greater than in areas that don’t rely on people going out to eat and tipping their servers, putt-putt courses getting mobs of amateur golfers trying for those holes-inone, and spring breakers and families wandering in and out of stores while walking through places like The Boardwalk, Broadway at the Beach, and Barefoot Landing. The truth is, we’ve only been shut down for about three weeks now, but
the lack of tourism has hit, and it has hit this city hard. I’ve been able to talk with some of the people in the Horry County area about how the Quarantine has affected them. I was expecting all of the stories to be about how hard it has been, about how this is going to cause long-term effects on lives and businesses, and I did hear these stories, but was also surprised and inspired when I heard some of the positive, funny, happy stories of the area, too. I wanted to find a way to share these stories with the community and to shed some light on what’s happening…hopefully bringing some positivity to the situation while also giving a glimpse to everyone on how this is really affecting those in our community. It doesn’t seem “real” until we hear the heart-felt stories from the restaurant owners who have to shut down and aren’t sure how they’re going to pay their employees; students and travelers abroad who have been abruptly brought back home without being able to share goodbyes with friends and colleagues they may never see again; or the doctors who have to face the disease day-in and day-out watching their patients – our relatives and friends – suffering alone in their hospital beds without the comfort of friends and family around. These are a few of the stories that I have heard from over 60 families in just two short weeks. These are the people that I have had the pleasure of photographing safely at home on their doorsteps. These are The Front Porch Diaries from around the Horry County area. Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 21
focused on sewing masks with strips of elastic that would normally be used to hold together top-ofthe-line swimwear.
In the last few weeks, I have witnessed so much good happening around me. Families are spending more time together, neighbors are playing and walking (at a safe distance) in the streets, home meals are being cooked, and business owners are doing all they can to protect and provide for their employees. The simple, important things are becoming the center of life once again. One local business is spending its time selflessly focused on the safety of our healthcare workers. You’d think this business was directly associated with healthcare, but it is not. This is a swimwear and resort wear design and manufacturing company. So what do bathing suits and healthcare workers have in common? Sewing machines. The Tara Grinna factory has a full staff of volunteers, and these volunteers are working for Tidelands Health helping replacing dated elastics on tens of thousands of desperately needed brand new N-95 masks. When I arrived at the factory, I saw bathing suit parts piled high on shelves, as if they’d been thrown to the side for more important matters. The sewing tables were strategically placed more than six feet apart for appropriate social distancing work, and everyone was 22 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
Two weeks ago, Kirsti, Tara’s daughter and one of the swimwear designers, posted to her social media page: “Yesterday we began to replace the elastics on the N95 masks for Tidelands Health. I now understand why I see photos of nurses with deep red marks and bruising on their faces from the sides of the masks. At first you think they are soft, but after working with a few they begin to be very rough on our skin. My job, along with many other volunteers, is to remove the elastics from the masks and make sure they are ready for the new elastics. After removing over 1000 elastics yesterday, my fingertips were numb, bright red and raw feeling, and the other volunteers were feeling the same. Gloves helped but did not make it much better. As I was working, I kept thinking, wow, their faces must truly hurt. This may take us two weeks, but the nurses will experience this for months.” Every time the group of seamstresses and volunteers finishes another case of masks to be sent to the hospital, a bell is rung and everyone cheers. There are 35 masks per box and 210 masks per case. Tara said they average over 4,000 masks a day to be sent back and checked by the hospital, and then distributed to the healthcare workers. The group at Tara Grinna factory has a running tally on a board to see who finishes the most masks…a friendly competition to keep them going! As if this isn’t inspiring enough, Tara and Kirsti told me that each day a business or individual donates food for the group or gives a monetary donation to buy lunch for everyone at the factory. It’s their way of helping
the helpers: a chain of helpers, a chain of good. I know you’ll all agree with me when I say, “Thank you, Tara, Rune, Kirsti, Brendon and all of the seamstresses and volunteers for your efforts and time.” *** Jamie, a marine biology high school teacher, is teaching double-time. As a mother to two elementary school-age daughters, she’s become an interim home school teacher while tackling the immense task of being the best possible virtual teacher for her high school students. When photographing her family, we focused on humorously realistic and sweet images. I asked her how she is juggling everything and this was her response. “Teachers are putting in very long hours these days. Creating assignments to take the place of hands-on learning is one thing, grading those assignments in the various formats they come in is another entirely, but that is just the beginning. The most exhausting part is the emotions. I worry about my students, particularly the seniors. Of my 87 students, almost 80 are seniors. I loved watching this group of seniors’ excitement and anticipation for the spring semester: prom, the Disney trip, field trips, senior awards, and of course, graduation!
Seeing them on our ZOOM meetings, they say they are having the best “senior skip days of all time,” but they are really scared. ‘Are we going to have prom? Are we going to still have a graduation ceremony? Am I ever going to see you again?’ These questions led me to a complete meltdown after the first meeting. These seniors are my babies, and they are scared and worried – but not about college or the next steps in life. They are worried about how this chapter ends. Not having answers for them is the hardest part. I’m teaching them the most important messages from my class, the ones past students told me helped them the most in their future endeavors, but making sure they are okay right now is most important. Tracking down students I have not heard from in three days – that’s what really matters. As for my own children, we work hard to stay on task with all the distractions of being at home. We try to balance ‘Sorry, mommy has to work right now,’ with ‘Yes, I would love to play the math game.’ The worry for them is different. Are these assignments enough to make sure they are ready for next year? Did my kindergartener learn enough about procedures and how school works to be ready for first grade? Is my fourth grader getting enough social interaction through her ZOOM meetings? My children are in public schools because I believe in the process, but part of that process is socializing and learning structure, two things that are difficult to provide in this situation.
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I am out of my element. I’ve learned there is a reason I’m a high school teacher, not a kindergarten or 4th grade teacher. Teaching my passion –ocean awareness doesn’t easily translate to virtual schooling. Students learn best with field studies and hands-on experiences like dissections. On a positive note, we are spending more time as a family. We are working as a team. My girls are growing their relationship as sisters. ‘The new normal’ is starting to get easier. My girls miss their teachers and friends, and I miss my senior babies, but together, we will get through this.” ***
When I think of Croissants Bistro and Bakery and Hook & Barrel, I think of amazing food, home-style atmospheres, incredible baked goods, and great personal service. Heidi’s Corner Restaurant Group is family owned and family operated by Heidi Vukov and two of her children, Alex and Ben. Maybe that’s why all three restaurants have that “family feel” no 24 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
matter what day you visit or who your server happens to be. This feeling stems all the way back to when Heidi opened the first location of Croissants Bakery and Café in 1995. I remember it well: a quaint cafe and bakery on 27th Avenue N. with black and white checkerboard floors, teacup wallpaper, and a few tables sitting between the door and a counter full of delectable, fresh treats of all kinds. Fast-forward and Croissants has continued to remain one of Myrtle Beach locals’ favorite food establishments. In fact, on March 20, 2020, they celebrated their 25th anniversary. Unfortunately it wasn’t with the big celebration they had planned, but celebrated none-the-less! In these 25 years, the business has faced many challenges, but has continued to prosper and grow. Now the once quaint cafe has two different locations in Myrtle Beach, serving breakfast and lunch, still baking incredible desserts and wedding cakes, and offering catering. In 2017, in addition to adding the second location of Croissants, they opened a sister restaurant, Hook and Barrel; a fish and wine house, serving some of the best seafood dinners you’ll find in the Grand Strand. After deciding to close the restaurants temporarily due to Covid19, Heidi said, “Now we are facing a health crisis in our nation and our world that no one was remotely prepared for. We had to close our restaurants to the public this week in an effort to stop the spread of this terrible virus. As an owner, it is my first and foremost duty to protect my rockstar staff and the customers we serve. This has been the most painful situation I have experienced in our 25 years of business. I am hopeful that this will move along, and we will all be able to get back to work next to our cherished
colleagues. And furthermore, that the spread of the virus and the pain and financial burden it is causing our staff and our faithful customers will be gone forever so that we can return to our restaurants to make more memories with family and friends through our passion for southern hospitality and delicious food. May God bless you.” Heidi made the decision to close Heidi’s Corner Restaurants, including both Croissants locations and Hook and Barrel, to the public mid-March. It was definitely a tough choice but one made to ensure the safety of staff, their families, and loyal customers. While the restaurant is closed, Heidi, Ben, Alex and others involved with the business have spent their time detailing equipment, redoing floors, painting, and getting the buildings back to what they were before they were opened to the public. They are working on new menu items as well as new software to make them smarter and more efficient operators. Croissants (both locations) and Hook and Barrel are planning to open in May with curbside options for family meals. After things settle down, and it is safe for them to finally reopen with full service, they are planning a “Re-Grand Opening” with new menus and new options to target the new needs of their guests. I’m excited to see what they have in store for us when we can visit again so I can enjoy more “memories with (my) family and (my) friends” through their passion for southern hospitality and delicious food.
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Mom in “ the Mirror by Melissa Face I’m thirteen years old, riding in the backseat of my parents’ Chevrolet Celebrity with my sister. We are headed south to Florida with several hours of flat asphalt stretched before us. Luckily, my mom has her trusty bag of treats, doled out at appropriate intervals in order to curb our boredom. My sister and I are past the age of frequent bickering and intermittent threats from Mom and Dad. “I will pull this car over,” our dad used to warn. And when absolutely necessary, Mom reached her arm over the backseat to slap our skinny legs. We quickly slid over and dodged her palm. We may be too old for misbehavior, but we are not too old for Mom’s bag of surprises. Every few hours, she gives us something to keep us occupied. Sometimes it’s a snack. Sometimes it’s an activity, like car bingo or my favorite, Mad Libs. We complete one Mad Lib after another, yelling out colors, plural nouns, and verbs that end in “ing.” Mom watches in the rearview mirror, all of us laughing until we reach the Disney World entrance. We arrived at our destination, but our fun had started miles earlier. *** I never set out to be like my mother. It was quite the opposite, actually. I refused to major in English, even though a college professor told me I was making a big mistake, “ignoring my calling.” I also tried to avoid teaching. I couldn’t take the same paths my mom traveled because that 26 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
I couldn’t take the same paths my mom traveled because that would mean acknowledging her choices and agreeing with them.
would mean acknowledging her choices and agreeing with them. I would be admitting that she had good ideas and attempting to emulate them. The horror! My twenty-something self couldn’t let that happen. Despite my plan, my mom’s preferences gradually snuck into my life. One can of vegetables at a time, until I realized that I was purchasing all the same brands my mom bought. Why? Why did I need Leseur Peas? Weren’t Del Monte peas tasty, too? I became even more similar to my mom over the years, including adopting an appreciation for proper grammar and great books. Another interest we share is our love for researching and planning vacations. In the 1980s and ‘90s, my mom requested AAA travel guides through the mail. When they arrived, she spread them across the floor and spent hours mapping out our trips, noting important landmarks and popular restaurants. I neither understood nor appreciated the time and work my mom put into planning our family vacations back then. She may have been enjoying the process, but her primary goal was making sure we had fun. Perhaps it takes aging or becoming a parent to realize that life is packed with more days of downtime than moments of exhilaration. So, we must be wise enough to sneak in the fun wherever we can. Thankfully, my mom knew that and my childhood was filled with many carefree, fun moments. ***
”
Today, my husband, my kids, and I are headed to the mountains to spend a weekend in a log cabin. We’ve been planning this trip for months, even though we will only be there for two full days. We will make gingerbread, take hikes, paint ornaments, and relax in the hot tub. But even as we are headed down the driveway, the fun has already begun. That’s because I have a bag of goodies in the front seat for my two children. The first thing I give them is gummy candy from their favorite downtown store. They are beyond ecstatic, and I can’t help but look back at their happy faces in the rearview mirror. I watch them organize their candy by color and decide which piece they will try first. For a brief moment, I see my mother where my reflection should be. And I wonder why it has taken me so long to embrace the ways of a woman with whom I have so much in common and am fortunate to call Mom.
Melissa Face is the author of I Love You More Than Coffee, an essay collection for parents who love coffee a lot and their kids...a little more. Her essays and articles have appeared in Richmond Family Magazine, ScaryMommy, and twenty-one volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Read more at melissaface.com
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A Grandpa’s Tall Tail by Jeffery Cohen
I wasn’t lucky enough to have had a real relationship with my grandparents. By the time I was born, my grandmother and grandfather were well into their eighties, feeble and sickly. So, when my granddaughter was born, I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to give her the experience that I had missed. I wanted to be the best grandfather a kid could have, and I set out to do just that. In summer we splashed in the ocean playing Marco Polo and building sand castle cities on the sandy shore, the sun on our faces. When fall came, we piled leaves high, laughing as we dove into raked stacks, carved jacko-lanterns, and created Halloween disguises for trick-or-treating. As soon as winter’s white flakes began to fall, I was waxing up the toboggan and searching out the steepest sledding hills. We built armies of snowmen, created flocks of snow angels. When spring arrived, there were Easter egg hunts and visits to a historical farm where my granddaughter would pet farm animals and was even able to try her hand at milking a cow. On Saturdays we would see children’s plays or magic shows. My Sunday ritual of watching football on TV was replaced with DVDs of movies like Annie or The Little Mermaid which we watched together so many times that I could sing and recite every word of dialog along with the characters. 28 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
“
And then one day it happened. I would be tested to see just how great a Grandpa I really was. Every birthday was wrapped in crepe paper and floating balloons as we baked and decorated a cake together. I truly felt that I had lived up to the promise I’d made myself – to be the best grandfather a kid could have. And then one day it happened. I would be tested to see just how great a Grandpa I really was. “Where are we going?” my four-yearold granddaughter questioned. “It’s a surprise.” I smiled. “Are we going to the ride park?” she asked, and before the twinkle in her eye had a chance to fade, we were passing through the entrance of Playland. From that second on, tracking her was like following the ball in a championship ping-pong tournament. She darted from the motor boats to the swings, then the fire engines and cars. After the love bug, and the scrambler, she raced for the carousel. There were rope nets to climb on, shoots to slide down, and a sea of colored balls to dive into. It took three hours before total exhaustion set in. Mine, not hers. “Bria, you’ve been on almost every ride here. Aren’t you getting tired?” I asked hopefully. “I wanna go on the parachute!” she cried out. I squinted my eyes searching for anything that flew. “You mean the airplanes?” She shook her head, no. “The helicopters?” Again, no. “There are no parachutes here,” I tried to explain.
”
“Yes there are,” she corrected and pointed over my shoulder. There, off in the distance, on the other side of the park in the adult section, it stood. The Parachute Jump. In an instant I was transported back with memories of my own childhood. I recalled how my brothers and I would stare up at the towering Parachute Jump, the biggest ride in Coney Island – even bigger than the old white-washed wooden roller coaster that whipped the screams out of its riders as it creaked and dipped through the park. We would watch people change to the size of ants as they sat below collapsed parachutes while thick metal cables slowly towed them up toward the heavens. They would pause for just a second, and then, they’d fall back to earth. We vowed to one day mount that great ride, but we were just kids, content with the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Steeple Chase horses. The parachute jump would just have to wait. And so, while that great behemoth of metal waited for us to grow up, its bolts loosened, and its cable went slack, until one day, the parachute jump was no more. The tower still stands, silhouetted against an Atlantic sky, a reminder of a road never taken. “Can we go on it?” my granddaughter pleaded, pointing her tiny finger at the looming tower. “That’s not for you.” I laughed. “That’s a big ride...for big people.” “Like you, Grandpa?” she asked innocently. “Yes, Like me.”
“Then you can take me on it,” she smiled and nodded. I can’t tell you exactly what happened next. I did try to dissuade her. I told her it was too high. I told her she was too small. I told her I was too heavy. I told her everything except the truth –that I was scared to death of heights. I get woozy standing on the top of a step ladder. What she was asking wasn’t to fly a kite or have a catch. It wasn’t joining her dolls at a tea party or riding a bike. She was asking me to ignore my greatest fear. I had to decide if I could overcome the terror I was feeling for my granddaughter’s sake. I was still pondering that question as I was strapped into the seat next to her. As the cables began to strain and we headed skyward, I pulled my granddaughter closer and tried to steady my other shaking hand by gripping on to the guardrail for dear life. “Isn’t it pretty up here?” I kept repeating as the colored lights from the midway began to get tiny.” Yeah, pretty. Really pretty.” My teeth began to chatter. “Yep, reallllly pretty.” By now, I was so terrified I didn’t even know what I was saying. We finally reached the top and stopped. There we were, hanging above the world. Waiting. At the top of the Parachute Jump. Just waiting. And as I tried to unclench my teeth, about to ask my granddaughter if she was okay... we dropped. Suddenly, sharply, instantly. We dropped! “Whooooaaa!” I screamed. As much as I wanted to reassure her that we would be fine, I simply could not breathe. All that came out was “Whooooaaa!” After fifteen feet, the parachute kicked in and we began to gently float down. As I gasped for air, Bria looked at me, not with terror, but with a grin. “Grandpa, I wasn’t even scared. Let’s do it again!” As we reached the ground, the four-year-old sitting next to me fidgeted to get out of her seat as I tried to open my eyes, stop praying, and take a breath of relief. It was only then that I realized that I wasn’t the one who took my granddaughter on the parachute jump at all. She was the one who took me!
Jeffery Cohen
Freelance writer and newspaper columnist, Jeffery Cohen, has written for Sasee, Lifetime and Read, Learn, Write. He’s won awards in Women-On-Writing Contest, Vocabula’s Well Written Contest, National League of American Pen Women’s’ Keats Competition, Southern California Genealogy Competition, and Writer’s Weekly writing contest.
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843-395-4402 www.bethearetirement .com Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 29
The Days of Shakespeare by Sally Gosen Case The foam swords are non-negotiable. Discount-store toys from years gone by; they reside in the serious, missionstyle umbrella stand in my entryway. Their long, squishy blades and brightlycolored guards stand out oddly among the sober black and taupe umbrellas. I should have gotten rid of them long ago. They look silly there. What possible use would a middle-aged woman have for a pair of foam swords? Besides, I’m supposed to be downsizing. I’m always giving things away, useful things handed out freely as I settle into a smaller, more practical, empty nest. My son says he wants to have them. He thinks he could have sword fights with his college friends. I can picture his buddies, athletic, high-spirited young men, spending an evening sword fighting, laughing, forming life-long bonds. But they’re my swords. These useless weapons are my mementos from the days of Shakespeare. Without really meaning to, we homeschooled from Day One. Before Day One, actually; more than two decades ago, I laid my guitar over my swelling belly and sent chords through amniotic fluid to budding ears. We had waited so many years for this one precious, unlikely pregnancy, our son was a miracle we never took for granted. Teaching him about the world around us was our delight. By the time he reached school age, education was 30 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
our daily pattern. We rearranged our work schedules so that we could simply keep going. We were people of words, and our son naturally became a voracious reader. When he was still fairly young, though, an older kid warned him of the literary horrors to come, namely: Shakespeare. English and reading are all well and good, he was told, but the fun ends when you have to start reading Shakespeare. So what is a parent to do? We started reading Shakespeare. In elementary school. At first we relied on various explanatory supplements and notes, stopping frequently to clarify. As time went on, though, the notes were seldom consulted. We were too busy absorbing the language and following the story. And we followed the story. Each character had his or her special hat, chosen from our personal collections of headgear. Youths wore beanies, workmen donned ball caps. Good queens wore one of my sparkly necklaces fashioned into a tiara, naughty queens wore my leopard pillbox. Princes wore a puffy, velvettrimmed beret. We pinned each character’s name to his or her hat and stacked them all on the sofa at the beginning of our readings, or, more accurately, our performances.
“
We schemed, we triumphed, we loved hopelessly, all the facets of life as set forth by the Bard.
”
The sessions went quickly, each of us balancing our book in one hand and switching out hats with the other. A play’s worth of hats required a considerable pile and a lot of changing. We were kings, queens, and dukes giving orders. We were young girls exchanging confidences. We schemed, we triumphed, we loved hopelessly, all the facets of life as set forth by the Bard. We threatened, we fought, we defended ourselves, and we murdered, brandishing our foam swords. Year after year Shakespeare came alive in our living room. There were amusing moments, such as the time that, due to bad planning, I was required to catch myself when I fainted. There were sad times, too, as three players became two. Still, the show went on. Even after my son started taking college classes part time, name tags were neatly pinned to stacks of hats. Long, rainy afternoons still melted away as the drama unfolded beside our sofa, foam swords at the ready. But our local college is small, their offerings few. A college in a big city, hours away, called my son to a different life. I slowly accepted the awful, painful truth: I couldn’t keep up our home in the country by myself. The tall, windswept trees, the overflowing gardens, the cozy guest cottage, the muddy little path to the sea – all of those became beloved memories, polished smooth like beach stones. I have slowly sorted our things. So many cherished items have no place in a tidy little house in town. Even some of the hats were donated to our local thrift store. The big family sofa was sold at a garage sale. And in the bustle of activity, with boxes stacked up and remodeling progressing, the foam swords waited in the umbrella stand.
As seasons come and go, we will build new lives for ourselves. Someday the renovations on the new house will be complete. My son will finish his education and perhaps move into a house of his own. Those Shakespeare years remain as a topic of late-night telephone conversations, yearning backwards together toward a time when we were three and days were measured and predictable. But perhaps some rain-soaked afternoon we will dust off those books together. Maybe there will be three players again, or even four or five. Hats will be retrieved from closet depths and Shakespeare will live again beside the new sofa. Swords will be drawn from between the tasteful umbrellas, ready for battle. Home, after all, is not that creaky old house by the sea. Home is where we laugh ourselves silly together, grabbing the wrong hat and picking up at someone else’s line. Home is where Macbeth bloodies his hands, and Julius Caesar crumples to the Senate floor. Home is where we parry and shout, slicing the air with swords made of foam. Yes, they will stay with me in the new house. You never know when it may again be time for foam swords.
Move-in ready homes and apartments are available!
Retirement that feels right at home! The Florence Presbyterian Community is a perfectly sized and friendly community that’s ready to welcome you to the neighborhood. At our Life Plan Community, you can enjoy an active retirement lifestyle plus all levels of care on one campus: • Independent Living Patio Homes and Apartments • Assisted Living • Memory Support • Short-term Rehabilitation • Healthcare Contact us today! We can take you on a virtual tour via Facetime, send you information and photos by email or text, or even plan an in-person visit when the time is right.
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Sally Gosen Case lives and writes on the beautiful Oregon coast. Her poetry and nonfiction have appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Horticulture, Rocky Mountain Rider, and Time of Singing. Sally and her son coauthor a popular Oregon travel blog, casingoregon.com.
2350 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501
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Serving Seniors of All Faiths Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 31
Dianne Dennis: Remembering Her Roots by Leslie Moore
Dianne Dennis is the marketing director for Wilson Senior Care – you probably recognize the name Grand Strand Rehab & Nursing Center here in Myrtle Beach. We asked her to talk about her family and how they helped her become the person she is today. My family ties and connections are a vital part of who I am and have impacted me more than I could ever put into words. My father and grandfather were ministers and both always put an emphasis on God and family. My mother and grandmother were two of the strongest and most creative women I’ve ever known – they always told me that I could do anything I aspired to do, encouraging me to always stand up for myself. My uncle was a very successful man – a hard worker and world traveler so I learned a lot from him as well. My family ties and background have helped me in my career, and I pray I will pass the work ethic and values they taught me on to my children. We can all learn so much from the generations before us. I remember my grandmother sharing the struggles her family had during the great depression. With technology our lives are so different – sometimes slowing down and enjoying life’s simple pleasures and spending time together as a family is a priceless opportunity. Thinking back to my childhood, memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons or playing Nintendo are not as important as the memories I cherish of times in the field with my grandfather, going to get ice cream after school with my dad, the lessons my mom taught in children’s church, spontaneous adventures with my uncle, and the time my grandmother spent playing games with me. All of those memories created a wealth of lessons. I am so blessed that my son and daughter are enjoying similar experiences to those I had growing up. My parents, my husband’s parents and my uncle are an influential part of their little lives, and I know they will grow up stronger and wiser learning so much from those that have a lifetime of lessons to pass down. Walking through our nursing facilities, spending time with seniors . . . this is always time well spent! Whether a resident 32 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
is a veteran, an Elvis fan, a musician, a retired teacher, or an artist, each of them has a story that we can learn from, and one that can make us stronger and better for pausing and simply taking the time to listen. I believe it is so important to slow down and enjoy our seniors – we can gain a lifetime of inspiration, strength and knowledge from those that have seen so much. I absolutely love the company I work for – Wilson Senior Care. They always keep the safety and wellbeing of our residents first and foremost. Our President & CEO will quickly remind new employees that the “residents are our reason for being!” Without them there would not be a Wilson Senior Care! By keeping our residents the main priority and focus, along with the company being “Employee Owned” it is a wonderful work environment. I actually do not have an opportunity to work with our seniors that often, as we are one of the largest providers of skilled nursing beds in the Pee Dee Region, but I love knowing that my marketing efforts and special projects impact them in a positive way. To learn more about Wilson Senior Care, contact Dianne at 843-616-8654. In Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand Rehab & Nursing Center is located at 4452 Socastee Blvd. Call 843-293-1137 or visit www.wilsonseniorcare.com.
Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 33
Revisiting What’s Past by Erika Hoffman On a literary site, Catapult, I read a piece by Michael Venutolo-Mantovani, entitled “In Search of Grandmas.” His essay revolves around his situation – raising his son without a grandma; both he and his wife lost their own mothers years before they themselves became parents. As I read the piece, tears welled up. That’s how powerful, touching, and relatable I found it. Michael keeps his mom alive by talking about her to his young son. He and his wife share countless stories about their mothers, making these important ladies real to his child. I felt pangs of guilt, realizing how little I had spoken of my mother to my young kids. The memory of those last tortured years of her illness, hospitalization, and demise loomed over happier memories, blighting them. I banished many recollections and lived life with my small stair-step children one day-at-a -time. Now, my children have become parents of children themselves, and concurrently, reminiscences of my mom float back to me, sometimes unexpectedly. Certain of her characteristics manifest themselves in my kids. When I see my second son grinning optimistically for a photo, I see her wide smile and confidence. When my oldest boy buys something for his baby nephew, I recall her generosity and love of small children. When my third son strives so hard to succeed, I recall Mom, the teacher, proudly wearing her Phi Beta Kappa Key on her lapel at PTA meetings to impress parents, who sadly wouldn’t have a clue of its significance. And when I see my daughter’s pretty face and her can-do attitude, I know where she got those traits from. Like her, my mother was physically attractive. And on it goes. Though long gone, I discover reminders of Mom in addition to the knick-knacks, furniture, and Phi Beta Kappa key bequeathed me. Genes are stronger than I’d ever imagined when I was young and especially during my rebellious teenage years, when at times I hoped I’d been adopted. 34 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
So, this resonating piece – read on my desktop computer in my study during this time of social isolation as the coronavirus rages outside my microcosm of a world – has opened a flood of memories: memories of my mother, some suppressed for decades. That’s the thing about reading, be it fiction or non-fiction, it flings open a portal into other worlds. Some of them are worlds inhabited by people you once knew and loved and still miss. The realization that the past is never totally past hits you as you behold familiar habits in your offspring. This awakening gives you hope and comfort at any time but especially during crazy times and maybe these recollections provide a necessary medicinal boost during times of uncertainty and turmoil. Some things are meant to last.
“
That’s the thing about reading,
be it fiction or non-fiction, it flings open a portal into other worlds.
”
Erika Hoffman writes stories of human interest and essays about writing or travel. Collections of them are for sale on Amazon.
Nicole Says...Read These books to the Kids Reviews by Nicole McManus Fred and Ted: A Day at the Beach, by Lizzie Gallo - Illustrated by Carolyn Pais
The mischievous little bears, Fred and Ted, are back. This time they are headed to the beach. They get to see sand and waves and meet animals that live in the ocean. However this turns out to not be just a fun day at the beach, because Fred and Ted see several animals in need of help. A sea turtle, a dolphin, and a pelican all have different types of litter causing them harm. Will Fred and Ted be able to save them all? This adorable picture book is beautifully illustrated. This story will teach children how they can help save animals, too. Whole families will enjoy reading this together and coming with ways to recycle to help the environment.
I Can! Adventures with Birdie (A Magnificent Brookgreen Gardens Story House Book) Written and Illustrated by Suzi Youatt
Birdie is very young and wants to know who he is, so while his parents are away he leaves the nest for an adventure. Birdie meets lots of different birds, and he learns what makes each of them unique. Despite their differences he makes friends with each and every one of them. This book is all about making friends and learning what makes us all special. The illustrations are wonderfully lifelike, and the book includes interesting facts about eagles. This is a must have for children of any age.
Lubbers & Weavers & Bees – Oh My! by Liz Gallo - Illustrated by Millie Doud
Matilda is terrified of bees and her sister, Annabelle, loves all insects. Both sisters enjoy their trips to Brookgreen Gardens. One day, Annabelle decides to teach her sister all about bee facts, but Matilda falls asleep. Matilda has a dream and learns how important bees are in every aspect of life. This book teaches families about the importance of bees. Filled with lots of facts about different insects, this book gives inspiration for families to plant flowers to do their part. Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 35
The Coronavirus Diaries: March 17, 2020 by Lynn Ingram
“
Yes, I know, given the state of the world right now, lacking pine straw does not EVEN make the top 1000 concerns.
I last left my house on Friday, March 13, and truly, I’ve been fine, pulling all those weeds, repotting plants, planting seeds and itsy-bitsy slips of things that have been rooting for awhile. And reading, and cleaning – and cleaning, and cleaning, and washing my hands, and washing my hands again, and again – well, you get the picture. So, back to the weeding. When I get an area cleared, I like to put down layers of newspaper, topped with pine straw, in the ever-delusional hope that the weeds will give up from lack of sunlight and die forever and ever, amen. I had a problem: No pine straw.
I have SOME dignity.
”
I pondered a little, and I came up with a plan. I drove to Stevens Hardware on Dawson – big ol’ shout out here to locally-owned businesses – parked by the fenced and locked enclosure that holds the pine straw, popped my trunk, and called the hardware, explained my idea. I wanted that pine straw, I said to the young lady who answered, yet not bad enough to risk exposing either of us to something we might not know we had, so could I maybe read her my credit card number, sitting in the parking lot as I was, and could maybe someone come out and unlock the pine straw pen, and I could load up my three bales?
Yes, I know, given the state of the world right now, lacking pine straw does not EVEN make the top 1000 concerns. I hesitated a bit making this post, for fear someone might take me to task for frivolity.
Yep, sure could.
Still. I DID do all that weeding. I DO want my desired plants to flourish. And gardening soothes my soul, grounds me, reminds me of real and solid and true things, and may very well keep me from baying at the moon.
Nobody, nowhere, no how got within six feet of anyone else.
And it turned out even better: The guy who came out to unlock the pen loaded my bales for me.
Heck, I didn’t even get within six feet of my own pine straw – until I got it home. Moral of the story: A little out-of-the-box thinking is gonna help us through the next while.
Naked, even. Whoever heard of curb service for pine straw before today? So. Pine straw I need. And I know, I know, I know: I am not ABOUT to go out and buy some pine straw - pine straw! When people are needing toilet paper and Lysol and wine – oh, yes, more wine, because we did not KNOW this was going to require several bottles a day, and we are SERIOUSLY under stocked – so yes, I am not ABOUT to go buy pine straw somewhere and catch coronavirus and then die because I had to have some pine straw. 36 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
Lynn Ingram tells stories to make sense of the world in which she lives, hoping to inspire laughter, tears, and introspection. In her psychology practice, she listens to the other people’s stories and helps them create authentic lives in line with their values. She grows flowers and vegetables and herbs and hope.
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papajohns.com Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 37
Following in Family Footsteps: Melissa Lee & Mel Healy by Leslie Moore
The mother-daughter team of Good Deed Goods, located inside Lee’s Inlet Apothecary in Murrells Inlet, is mother, Melissa Lee, and her daughter Mary Emily (Mel) Lee Healy. The two women talked with Sasee about the importance of family ties, and how they are carrying on the traditions passed down through the generations. “Both sides of our family owned and operated family businesses and that’s a big part of our lives,” Melissa began. Her parents owned Southside Pharmacy in Myrtle Beach. “Being a part of a family pharmacy helped us develop Lee’s Inlet Apothecary. Southside had a soda fountain, similar to ours, and we even used the same red stools. More importantly, it’s the way we treat our customers.” Growing up, Melissa worked in the front of the store. When her father built his larger store, well before any of the big box chains came to our area, the store sold everything from makeup and perfume to floats and suntan oil. “Southside Pharmacy was a place where the community gathered,” Melissa remembered. “My husband Willie’s parents shopped with us, and we ate at their seafood restaurant (Wallace Lee’s Seafood) every Friday night as a family.” Continuing, Melissa told me that her husband, Willie interned with her dad in college, and that’s how they started dating! “My dad pierced baby’s ears – they would come in at a week old to get them done. And, I remember one time he got a fiddler crab out of a boy’s curly hair...so many fun memories.” Laughing, Melissa told me she always asked to work on the night the lifeguards would come in to cash their paychecks. “I got to see a lot of cute guys.” Mel spoke up with her memories of Lee’s Inlet Apothecary. “I was maybe 11 or 12 when the pharmacy opened. I was so excited to work behind the soda fountain.” Mel did work in the soda fountain and in every aspect of the store except the pharmacy. “I grew up here – all of my siblings did. When we were sick, my parents would put a pallet in the back of the pharmacy, and we would sleep while Mom and Dad worked.” Mel especially loved making floats and ice cream sodas for customers. “They always got excited because they couldn’t find them elsewhere.” By the time she reached 8th or 9th grade, Mel was going with her mom to market. “I would tag along and help her choose gifts, and as I got older it was good to have someone to brainstorm with about the best things to buy.” A year and a half ago, Mel came on board full time. 38 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
Mel shared how the idea for Good Deed Goods came about – she and her mom were at market while Willie and Mel’s brothers were on a church mission trip. “We were talking about the contrast in what we were doing, and Mom came up with the idea for Good Deed Goods. Now we give back 10% of every gift sold to our charity partners.” The charities change every six months, and there is one local, one national and one international organization. The mother-daughter team also purchases many gift items that already give back a portion of their proceeds. “Our give back mission is so important to us.” I asked Melissa to talk about the changes brought about by COVID-19. “When the quarantine first came down the pipe, about four weeks ago, we decided to stop allowing customers inside the store, and go totally curbside. In times of crisis our focus immediately shifts to the pharmacy, we must make sure people get their medicines.” The pharmacy offers curbside pick-up or free delivery for its customers. “It’s weird to not have people in the store, and we miss seeing our customers who are also our friends.” “In the past couple of weeks, we’ve been able to focus on the gifts again. We’re promoting curbside pickup for purchases and have even shipped gifts.” Melissa continued, saying, “It’s so important to allow people to buy a Mother’s Day gift or a birthday gift, even if they have to leave it on the doorstep of the recipient. It gives some normalcy, and giving gifts is a part of the beauty of living. We can have a life within this chaos.” Mel has been posting Mother’s Day gift ideas on Instagram and Facebook. “If anyone is interested, they can call or direct message us on social media. They can pick it up curbside or we’ll deliver it. We gift wrap as well.” Good Deed Goods, located inside Lee’s Inlet Apothecary, is open from 9am-6pm, Monday-Friday, and 9am-2pm on Saturday. Call 843-651-7979 and ask for Mel or Melissa. They’re happy to be your personal shopper for Mother’s Day or other occasion. Watch for frequent updates on Facebook and Instagram - @gooddeedgoods.
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Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 39
Miracles Happen by Perry P. Perkins My wife and I spent ten years trying to have our daughter. Ten years of frustration, and disappointment, and tears. Ten years of smiling through the pain, as we held our friend’s babies while knowing we were going home with empty arms. Sometimes it felt like there’s no hope, like our miracle would never happen. Sometimes it felt like there are no miracles. So, I want to share my story, our story, in hopes that it will remind those who may have grown weary, that miracles do happen. As I mentioned, we spent ten years trying to have a baby. We read the books, we took the vitamins, we followed the advice, and nothing worked. Finally, we had to face the facts that it just wasn’t going to happen the “old fashioned way” and, now pushing forty, our chances weren’t getting any better. We decided to go the IVF route. We sold our home to pay for the treatments and, after what seemed like an eternity of tests, and medications, and doctor appointments, we finally got the call that it was time. We were scared… no, we were terrified. We had one shot at this, and we’d pushed all our chips to the middle of the table. Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Jack Canfield When the clinic called and told us that we had four viable zygotes (fertilized eggs), only half of the optimal number, it was another blow. We made the 40 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
implanting appointment for early the next morning. Arriving at the clinic, blurry-eyed and stomachs churning, the final blow landed. Now there was only one viable egg, bringing our chances of conception to less than 10%. Our doctor left us alone to talk, and we talked, and we prayed, and we shed our tears. All of the time, all of the sacrifices, came down to this…we were, literally, putting all our eggs (and we only had one) in this basket, and the odds were not in our favor. We didn’t have another house to sell, and we were running out of time, so we took our shot, we went all in and laid our cards on the table. It was a very quiet drive home, and the days until the follow-up appointment were a sleepless blur. This July 9th, we will celebrate our miracle’s 12th birthday…this amazing, precocious, quirky little girl with her mama’s beautiful face, and her daddy’s weird sense of humor. Here’s what I want to say to you, my friends who are walking through the valley I know so well…
There are plenty of books out there on how to communicate with your spouse, and (I’m talking to the men here)…they work. I know because I’ve read a few, albeit skeptically at first, and it was amazing to learn what she heard when I thought I was saying something completely different, and vice versa. Keep the faith. Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. Unknown Whatever your personal faith may be, cling to it. Whether you pray to a god, the universe, or the power within yourself… do it… a lot. Read books, make plans, make a list of everything you’re grateful for and re-read it, add to it every day. Talk to others who have gone ahead of you on this journey, and do whatever you have to do to stay positive and hopeful. Not only is this medially proven to increase our mental and physical health, but it drowns out the voices of our fears. Miracles happen. I know, because we have one.
Stay close. Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends. Unknown Talk to each other! Men and women process strong emotions, like disappointment, frustration, and grief very differently, and the long months, or even years, can make us (especially us guys) want to isolate ourselves, to shut out the world. But this is a valley that we must walk together. We have to talk to each other and, more importantly, we have to listen to each other. We speak different languages, men and women. Frustration can sound like anger, grief like accusation, fear like indifference, and in a time when the most important thing is to hold tight to one another, infertility can become a wall between us.
Perry P. Perkins
Novelist, blogger, and award winning food writer, Perry is a stay-at-home dad who lives with his wife Victoria and their daughter Grace, in the Pacific Northwest. Perry has written for numerous parenting magazines and anthologies and writes a monthly parenting column for Vancouver Family Magazine. His inspirational stories have been included in twenty-two Chicken Soup anthologies. Examples of his published work can be found online at www.perryperkinsbooks.com
Lose 10 to 30 lbs. per Month! Local Couple Lost 147 lbs. Together
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Marilyn was at a point of total frustration; depressed with her weight and looks. After careful review she decided to go to Physicians Weight Loss Center to get help as every other diet she tried had failed - leaving her with the opinion that she just could not lose weight anymore. That all changed after she started on the Physicians Weight Loss plan. Not only were the actual diets provided but also weekly visits that provided updates on how she was doing, also suggestions where she might improve and made sure her vital signs were in line. The results were phenomenal, losing 67 pounds and transforming into the person she wanted to be for years. Approximately 18 months went by and Randy, Marilyn’s husband, was fed up with his looks and the fact that he could never lose more than 30 pounds but realizing he needed to lose much more. Well with a lot of persuasion from Marilyn he decided to go to Physicians Weight Loss Center. His thinking was he could lose 30 pounds by himself and at the age of 67 he felt he could not lose any more but wanted to prove to his wife that he was right. Well after 19 weeks he lost 80 pounds and is a changed man. Randy is more active and feeling very good about his accomplishment. Who said you can’t lose weight at 67 years old?
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Sasee.com :: May 2020 :: 41
Advertiser Index Barbara’s Fine Gifts..........................................13 The B. Graham Interiors Collection................15 Bethea Retirement Community.......................29 Bleu.................................................................19 Bloomingail’s Consignment.............................17 Brightwater ....................................................43 Brookgreen Gardens..........................................3 Carolina Car Care...........................................20 Carolina Center for Advanced Dentistry...........5 The Citizens Bank...........................................13 The Clean Up Club.........................................37 Comfort Keepers.............................................23 Custom Outdoor Furniture.............................44 Dr. Grabeman.................................................20 Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss & Esthetic Centers..........................................27 Eleanor Pitts....................................................25 The Florence Presbyterian Community...........31 Good Deed Goods..........................................39 The Lakes at Litchfield......................................9 Moore, Johnson & Saraniti Law Firm P.A...................................................11 Palmetto Ace...................................................20 The Palmettos Assisted Living & Memory Care..............................................23 Papa John’s Pizza.............................................37 Physicians Weight Loss....................................41 Portside at Grande Dunes..................................2 Prodigy Kitchens & Baths...............................39 PruittHealth Skilled Nursing, Home Health & Hospice Care................................................7 Rose Arbor Fabrics..........................................13 St. Gabriel Assisted Living & Memory Care..............................................17 Tidelands Dental.............................................25 WEZV............................................................33 Wilson Senior Care-Grand Strand Rehab & Nursing Center...........................................33 42 :: Sasee.com :: May 2020
1977 New York Marathon. As an avid runner for most of his life, completing 19 marathons and conquering many early morning runs, Samuel is right back there, preparing for the race he completed over 40 years ago.
Meeting your loved one where they are, whether it’s reliving the past, or being in the present. Memory Care I Dementia Care I Alzheimer’s Care
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