home again

That was a really quick trip. And overall it was a very good trip, although a little weird. For one thing, it was very hot. Very very very hot. Which of course is not unusual at all — Charleston is on the South Carolina coast so of course it gets extremely hot in the summer. What was unusual is that I am rarely bothered by heat- I looooove heat –  and Baker B doesn’t mind heat either. Yet it seemed like it was at least fifty thousand degrees and we both felt as if we were going to collapse of heatstroke. Even in the evenings it was like being in a blazing furnace. I can’t imagine why this trip was any different from any other trip — we go to Charleston all the time, and July and August are very common months for us to be there, and it’s ALWAYS hot. Maybe the humidity was higher than normal? I can’t figure it out. We soldiered on, and walked and walked, but we didn’t walk nearly as far at Folly as usual and most of our historic district rambling was in the evening. In fact, we were walking around till 11 pm both nights. And I was still drenched in sweat and near collapse. 

So that was a little weird. And staying two nights just didn’t seem long enough, although we did manage to get down there earlier than usual Friday. Then we left WAY earlier today than we usually do. We often stay till 3 or 4, but we left at 11 this morning. Because it was blazing hot and we were already exhausted and we were worried about Stella. We both tried not to worry about Stella, and we told each other that Stella was FINE, it was Tough Love and exactly what she needed — to be left alone for a couple of nights so she’d HAVE to eat dry food again and stop languishing and waiting for us to heat Fancier Than Ever Fancy Feast SkipJack Tuna Appetizers in the microwave and fluff it with a fork and carry it to her!!!

But of course we still worried about her and then this morning there was a very pretty little calico cat at the Lutheran church who let us pet her, and immediately after that we were walking down King Street and another cat ran across the street and RIGHT out into the traffic and came within about half an inch of getting run over right in front of us… and we said, that’s IT. Stella is sending us messages! We better go home NOW.   

So we just headed on back. It’s about a four and a half hour drive. When we finally got home, I peered worriedly inside through the window as I was unlocking the door and I could see a cat peering back at me, with its ears perked up and looking all excited… is that Eddie?? I thought, very surprised because Eddie usually runs and hides until he is convinced it’s us and not cat-stealing strangers breaking in. Surely it isn’t Stella, who is bound to be lying curled up in a corner half-starved from no SkipJack for two days!! 

I am thrilled to report that it WAS Stella, looking perkier than she has in MONTHS. She is not as bony, she is happy, and she obviously chowed down on the dry food. It WAS exactly what she needed — I’m sure she’s not been getting anything even close to a well-rounded diet when she’s only eating bites of SkipJack Tuna and Whiskers treats that long. 

SO, it was a good trip in that we did have fun, but it was also a weird abbreviated trip full of bizarro-heat and kitty-worry. And Baker B had strange stomach issues although he did overcome them and did not let it ruin the trip. Which, incidentally, is very un-Baker-B-like. Baker B plus any bodily ailment whatsoever on a trip normally equals drama and disaster. I’m really glad we went. And look forward to going back and not having to worry about cats and parents. Oddly, the parents are doing fine too — my dad sounded like his old self tonight when I talked to him, and said he thinks he may get to go home on Tuesday. He’s walking the halls and doing everything for himself and the therapists say he’s improved amazingly. He may not even have to have home health care drop by. Considering how awful he felt a week ago, I am really pleased. The MIL isn’t quite ready to go home, but they are taking her to her house next week to check and see how she’s able to get around and access what she needs for when she does get out. 

Basically, things are looking good all around. 

And here are a few pictures of the lovely Charleston- I tried loading them up on Flickr at the Red Roof, forgetting that they actually have kind of crappy internet, and it never did work. Have not felt like labeling them all again tonight. So I just did a few. More will come later. 

Flowers!

I like the old steps up to the walkway along the Battery-

And can’t get enough of the old houses on the Battery. Notice it’s late in the day. 

I think this is John Calhoun’s house — I’ll have to double check that. I love this door. And I really love the little teeny head at the top of the door. Which I forgot to upload as a closeup. I’ll try to post the little teeny head up close next time. 

Evening on Broad Street. 

The Unitarian and the Lutheran churches, which have dueling cemeteries. The Unitarian one is like a jungle– the Lutheran one is very very neat. I adore the Unitarian one. Pictures of that to come as well. 

A random brick wall. 

The Morris Island lighthouse on Folly — or, rather, off Folly. It’s way out in the water. It is the coolest lighthouse ever. Folly Beach is way up there on coolest beaches ever too. If you like nice peaceful beaches. That are usually not at all crowded. There were a lot more people out there this weekend than usual. 

No, really, there WERE a lot of people out there!!! Well, there were a lot of people fishing. On this end of the island you can’t swim– the tides are dangerous. So people fish and lounge. Generally it’s very empty — you have to walk half a mile down an old road to even get to the beach. I LOVE it. 

And of course a Blue Moon at the Tides bar. Our happy Folly Beach Tradition! Well, we had three, not one. And baked in the sun and looked at the ocean.