Hilton Head and Jamin

John and I just had our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this past fall and to celebrate this occasion we decided to go to our favorite place on earth.  Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Where the Spanish moss hangs in those gigantic water oaks and gently flows in the oceans breeze. My shoulders come down three inches just seeing the sights.  When we go over the bridge of the Island, I know I'm there and I see the osprey and their nests and the blue heron stepping awkwardly through the edges of the water, looking for their dinner.  This is what I truly love, and what makes me happy in life, to be in the low country.  I am at peace to hear to ocean and to walk in the sands of the most beautiful and peaceful place I know.
We had rented a house in walking distance to the beach for the dogs and us to get our exercise while we were there.  It was just wonderful.  It was like no one was on the beach, we had it all to ourselves.  The dogs played and ran as far as they wanted.  Only the locals were out and about.  It was quite lovely.  Ole' bits of drift wood had washed up from a storm the night before and we were looking at it and wondering how we could get it back to the house without anyone noticing!  It was to heavy, so we sat and just enjoyed it and our nautical view of sea oats, ships and their nets hoping for a good day at sea and the sandy beaches.
That night we decided to go to dinner to one of our favorite places "The Salty Dog."  The have live music and great pizza, and great beer.  It had been a wonderful day and it had been a great time in HHI for our anniversary.  Our daughter Jamin who has down syndrome is very tricky, she is.  She has a big heart for her mom and dad and she never forgets a thing.  Memory like a elephant! She had asked John for a few dollars earlier and of course he gave them to her, not knowing what she wanted them for.  While John went up to the bar to get our drinks, Jamin went up to the guy playing the guitar and taking requests and told him that it was "John and Joy Eilers 25Th Wedding anniversary and to please play, Gone to Carolina, by James Taylor, and tipped him!  One of our favorite songs in the whole wide world!  She didn't say anything, just came and sat back down and smile.  Then all of a sudden....the guy goes well I just want to make an announcement to John and Joy!  We about flipped!  Jamin got the giggles and and he said Happy Anniversary from Jamin! I must say we were all astonished and quite proud of our Jamin, WELL DONE!
 Well to say the least, I started to cry, we all did.  It was a very special night in HHI.  One I will never forget.  Gone to Carolina!  Whether it's North or South, it works!