...or Thanksgiving at the Beach 2004

Wednesday we got out of town relatively early and drove through rural SC to Litchfield by the Sea. Susanne beach home is a beautiful tri-level condo there on one of the marshes which was lovely as I prefer the marsh view to the beach. Gpa was already in residence and Les and I were given the master suite (we were not allowed to object that Susanne was coming later and should have it).

So, began our annual food and sleepfest....shrimp scampi on Wednesday night and spiral smoked turkey on Thanksgiving. Leftovers made into turkey soup, baked chicken and rosemary bourbon pork roast. No getting home late too tired to really cook...it was wonderful and homey. We stayed up late, slept late, walked on the beach or read books or watched TV. It was all devine.

After Thanksgiving, we shopped a bit, got haircuts and ate Shrimp PoBoys with fried dill pickles (honest, they are MUCH better than it sounds).

By Saturday I was wonderfully relaxed....you would not even recognize me. Susanne came in while Les and I were out with Chris. She is delightful. They have an ease with each other that is so sweet to see...she gives as good as she gets holding her own against his banter and opinions that occasionally become rants. They laugh a lot and have the intimacy of having shared both great love and great pain. She had the right amount of confidence, deference to our traditions and maybe even a little anxiety that we like her as well as she cares for Dr. Dad.

I really like her. We had several wonderful conversations as women about being mothers and daughters. She communicates well with the girls with an ease and respect you could only hope for. She told me that Dr. Dad had shared with her how much I meant to him in those first hours and months. There is an ease to mentioning both her husband and Mrs. Shelton. That in itself is a boon...because much of it has never been mentioned.

I don't know where it is going but I am so happy for them both. They deserve laughter and companionship and yes, maybe even another love. Now she only has two children and his sister to meet...and Rob is bringing his fam home for Christmas.

Toward the end of the trip, Dr Dad gave us a beautiful digital camera for our nineteenth anniversary. And no, we really did not get any pictures. We were too busy living to figure it all out.

It was all just so delicious....I am more rested in spirit than I have been in months.