Eileen's Visit

Eileen arrived on June 2nd and we had a great visit. I was hoping the cooler weather would hold through her visit, but it was not to be. By the time she left, we were firmly in the 90s and this coming week we are moving up to the mid-90s. Summer is here.

For those who have visited, you will remember many of the places we visited:

• A day on the island and a day in Bluffton, covering thrift shops in both. It was market day in Bluffton, so we browsed around there before checking out the neighborhood . We also had a surprise tour of one of the houses on Calhoun Street that is being renovated. As it turns out, the house is owned by the church beside it and will be a parsonage. The only workman around asked if we'd like to see inside, and it was wonderful. It is near completion and fully furnished. It was so tastefully done in an understated fashion. The interior was in keeping with the exterior, but it was more spacious than expected. Baths, kitchen and laundry room were huge. It was just a real treat to get to walk through it and we were appreciative to be invited to do so. We thanked him as we left and he said he enjoyed working on the project and "I thought you ladies might enjoy seeing it".   
• We were also pleased with out thrift shop finds. Eileen found some shorts and pants that fit perfectly. I found a great summer jacket/wrap and a purse/backpack. I hadn't checked out the shops in a long time and I definitely know which ones I would visit again. It was fun.
• We also had a day of local shopping, winding up at Palmetto Bluff in late afternoon
• We went to the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, which I'd not visited before so it was something new for me, too. Obviously the best time to visit would be the spring, but it was still pretty and we enjoy strolling around and seeing it. I took my new camera and played around with it a bit, with moderate success.
• Eileen joined me for our monthly Liberal Ladies meeting. She was probably inundated with American politics, but I feel that I have a witness to the insanity that is going on here. She said they weren't hearing half of what is going on. So, while I've always been a bit of a news/politics junkie, she can testify that I haven't completely lost it! For most people here, it is like everything is upside down.
• That afternoon we went to Bluffton Sunset Party at a local park. The rain held up long enough for us to have a glass of wine and enjoy a little music.
• We had a day in Beaufort with Melodee, who gave us the grand tour. It was rainy so we didn't get to sit out at Hunting Island or visit the animal farm as we'd hoped, but we saw as much as we could.
• Another treat was Street Music in Port Royal, which we really didn't get to see, Melodee's friend Julia invited us to join their regular group (liberals) for drinks and snacks before the concert. She had a wonderful screened in porch and it was soothing to listen to the rain on the roof and leaves.....I could have slept there! The people were friendly and jovial; we thoroughly enjoyed it. The music had to be moved inside, so the time for it to start came and went and no one made a move! Now that's the sign of a successful gathering!! We were actually the first to leave as I wanted to drive home in daylight (after lots of rain) and get home in time to take Rosie out.
• The day after Eileen's arrival and the day before she left were beach days. The first day we just sat out, but the second time we went in, which felt great, though there were no big waves, just swells. It was lots of fun and I don't know why I don't do it more often.

It was a great visit and I hope Eileen enjoyed it. She certainly got to meet lots of my neighbors and friends I mention here frequently. The only mishap was that she lost her camera. Neither of us are sure how it happened and I keep hoping I will just discover it somewhere here in the house. So far, no luck.

Eileen also got to meet my new friend in the neighborhood. Reyna is of Mexican descent and in her early 40s. She has 4 children and cares for two elder people in her home, both of whom she has a longstanding relationship. She also works 2-4 nights per week at Bloom, where my mother was. She is as sweet as can be and I hear from her almost every day, either by text or dropping by for a few minutes during her run. While I am much older than she, I think she is just happy to have someone to talk to, and I'm happy to be that friend. She, Eileen went out for a delicious Mexican dinner one night, which we really enjoyed and I found great Mexican food! We were chatting here one afternoon and I, knowing that she has two sisters here in the area, I asked if they all came together. She said she remembered holding her son in her arms and the bus arriving. She had to give her son to her mother and get on the bus, crying the whole way. At that point, she burst into tears. It took her six years to be able to bring her son here. She came alone and came to this area because she had a name and number of someone who would help. She called the number and there was no answer. She spoke no English and took and job she could get....dish-washing, cleaning houses, etc. It just broke our hearts. She has gone through a version of what is happening at our border today except she was able to leave her son with her mother. 

One afternoon she brought her daughters over and it was like Disneyland for Rosie. She didn't know whom to play with first!! The girls are smart and fun to be around....and they get a 'reminder' in Spanish if they get out of hand. I was going to take Reyna and Alex, her son, to vote but Reyna was in bed with strep throat so it was only Alex. So, I feel like I did my part in the primaries and we're lined up for the general election.

Since Eileen's visit, I've resumed my hospice visits and feral cat routines. Janeen and I had lunch last week and plan to see The Book Club this afternoon. Last night I went on island to see a special showing of Notorious RBG by the Democratic Club. It was outstanding. The only problem was that I left home at 6PM for a 7PM start, thinking I would get there in time for easy parking and might even have time for a quick browse through Chico's. Not to be! Traffic was backed up way before the bridge, then again at the toll booths on the cross island parkway and then again at the traffic circle. I actually parked (after trolling the parking lot 3 times) at 7PM. Note to self: NEVER go on island on Saturday evening during the summer!!

I've also volunteered to work for Joe Cunningham, Democrat running for Congress. Sanford is already out...yippee! Now we just have to be sure he is replaced by a Democrat!! I've volunteered to help  with set up and clean up at a fundraiser here in Bluffton.

Let me share a political experience I had this week: I was so tickled off and appalled at the atrocities happening at the border that I decided to call Ryan and McConnell's DC officer. Ryan was called first and I was given 5 options to listen to Speaker Ryan's views on various issues. Option 6 was to leave a message......in about 15 seconds. I had hardly given my name and location when my time was up. Then I was given the option to review, delete or re-record my message. You can imagine the message he got at that point!  McConnell office just had a message that due to the excessive number of calls they were unable to take my call......not even an option to leave a voice message!!  That is our government. On Monday they can expect a fax, where I will have lots of space to express my views!  Resist. Persist.

My only other realization is that I'm going to have to be mean to myself. I'm either going to have to lose some weight or buy new clothes, which I refuse to do. I officially have a fully inflated spare tire, which I can't ignore because my arms keep nudging it!! Not a happy thought!!