Some Family Photos

After a wonderful week in Kiawah, some family photos were the least I could do to repay the Dorman's hospitality.

The Thunder Rolls

One of the coolest things about Kiawah is the range of the weather. We have been very fortunate about having sunny days, but the nights are often stormy. It makes for a great scene to watch the lightning from the porch or the car (as Rachel and I did).

We set out the other night to try and photograph some lightning, but even though we were unsuccessful, we still managed to have an interesting time. On out way back to the island we hit some standstill traffic. It turns out a huge oak tree had fallen and was blocking both lanes of the street. So of course, I got out of the car, camera in tow, and in the rain I marched up to the scene and got some shots (granted they didn’t really turn out since I was tri-pod-less).

Yesterday we hit up Charleston again and took a bike ride on the beach. And today was another day of fun in the sun! To say the least Cuz and I are getting a decent tan.

Sweet Southern Comfort

Well, we’ve been in Kiawah for two days now and my tan well on its way to success.  But lounging in the sun is not the only thing I’ve done.  We have had many adventures biking around the island, playing endless games of Monopoly, and taming wild, wind-blown hair.  With four days left, we still have a lot to cover, including hitting the Lily stores.

I thought this was appropriate for any Florida fan.

Opportunity Knocks

So every once in awhile our good friend Mr. Opportunity comes a knockin’. Some of us run to the door and answer it, eager to see what the adventurous man has in store, while others turn off all the lights, lock the doors, and hide in the bathroom, just hoping he’ll think we’re not home.

Most of us know which category we fit into, whether or not we care to admit it. Some of us are just afraid of the unknown, or what we might miss out on if we take a different path. And some of us live every moment waiting for something new and different to come around, hoping for an opportunity to land on our doorstep and sweep us away.

Well, up until recently you could pretty much throw me in the “hiding in the bathroom” category. Opportunities would come around and I would think of every excuse in the book not to take them. And after the fact I always regretted my decision to let them slip through my fingers, but I never seemed to learn from my mistakes.

Recently an opportunity fell in my lap, and yet again I hesitated (my mom calls it the “oldest-child syndrome”). I was given the chance to spend a week in Kiawah Island, South Carolina with my Cuz, and, despite everything normal for a 19-year-old college student, something in the back of my mind made me think twice.

I had nothing holding me back really. I could easily cover my babysitting jobs for the week. But for some reason I still hesitated.

So I had a nice long chat with my mom, and this is the conclusion we came to:

Life is like a puzzle. You get a lot of pieces, and it’s up to you to put them in the right places. We spend a lot of time looking for certain pieces, but life is too short to waste time waiting. The best way to find the pieces you are looking for is just to get to work and do what you can.

In other words, when Mr. Opportunity knocks, go open the door and invite him in for some cookies. He may not be everything you were expecting, but he may lead you to something greater.

So here I am, lying in a bed next to Cuz in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

He knocked, I answered, and I plan on having a good ‘ole time getting to know the fellow.

Rachel and me at Hyman's Seafood in Charleston, South Carolina.

Gainesville: It's what we do.

After a weekend in Gainesville, I need a quiet week in Navarre to recover.  It was no doubt an eventful weekend full of lemon drops, Disney Scene It, and a serious lack of sleep.

It all started out when I arrived Friday night and was reunited with some of my loves.  After a typical “getting-ready” sesh, we picked up some of our favorite gentlemen and headed to Gator City.  There I had the pleasure of seeing even more of my bests, and the unfortunate experience of learning that you never say no to a Blue Hat.

Saturday morning, the Nudist proved that tequila really does make your clothes fall off. 

We had what can only be deemed as the laziest Saturday ever, as Katie, Bailey and I sat on the couch for at least 10 hours watching MTV, doing crossword puzzles, and eating muffins.

Then it was off to El Norteno for some Margs and Mexican.  Once the lightening started to settle in, we decided to stay in for the night and bring the party to us.  A Scene It tourney, several pitchers of Margs, and shattered glass made for a seriously eventful evening.  

Sunday was a day to “get back to our roots” as CD would say.  After church and some Sonny’s, I headed to Cuz’s for an evening of Club Amph, The Office, VooDoo, and McD’s.  We definitely took covered all the bases, and she even helped me rip off a few band-aids.  

All in all it was a pretty fabulous weekend.  Sometimes you just need a weekend with your girls to get back on the right page. 

Kallie

Kallie

3/31/94-6/5/08

How do you say goodbye to someone who has been a part of your life for as long as you can remember?

I can’t remember a day before Kallie.

But I do remember the day I met her. I remember, at 5-years-old, walking into my bedroom after a vacation at my grandparent’s house. I remember seeing her jump off my bed, the same bed I have today, and run up to me, tail wagging. It never stopped wagging.

From that day on she became my sister. The sister I never had

I remember so much about her. I remember the way, in her younger years, she would bark when we got ice from the refrigerator door. How she would chase the vacuum and bark at it like it was an intruder threatening the ones she loved.

I remember the way she always got her claws stuck in her hair when she would scratch, and my parents and I would always debate over whose turn it was to untangle her.

I remember the way my dad made up songs about her while he and I sat in the kitchen eating breakfast.

I remember how when we cleaned up dinner, she would always stick her head in the trashcan looking for scraps.

How she never barked or growled at me all those times I tortured her. How she never barked or growled at anyone. Ever. No matter what.

I remember her sideways walk. The way she sauntered up the driveway when you called her to come inside. And the way she ignored me when she didn’t want to come in, moving further down the street.

I remember how on every single road trip we ever went on she would beg me for McDonald’s French fries, and how it was always my mom who would give them to her.

I remember how, in the end, she could barely get up once she lay down. How she never really got used to the wood floors and would scratch her way to an upright position.

How she followed my mom everywhere she went. How she walked in circles while we watched our favorite TV shows and we all begged her to be still. I’m going to miss the clicking of her walk now. I wish I could get it back.

I remember how she used to stand in the window watching us as we pulled out of the driveway, and how she was always happy to see us when we got home.

I remember so much more about my sister. I will always remember the girl who grew up beside me. Who always remembered me, even when I went off to school. I could go on forever about her playfulness, kindness, and care.

Kallie will always be remembered in my family as a member of our family. When you’re around for 14 years that’s what you are. A pet, a friend, a sister. Loyal until the very end, just like a best friend should be.

So, Kallie, I love you. I’ll miss you. I hope you are enjoying your first day in heaven, alongside Maggie. It’s about time she got to meet you. Make sure she gives you as many treats as McKenzie and as much cheese as Ma. Enjoy the clouds under your feet and the rainless skies. Run and play and keep an eye out for me, because when I get there I want a kiss from the sister I always wanted, never had, and found in you.