Finally some very, very good news ... please see the tab at the top titled "Dan's Cancer Challenge"!!!
Our life-long friends Don and Marti Burdick (Dunkirk, NY) and their Westie "Willow" arrived for their second Edisto visit with us on May 19th. We kicked back and relaxed ... went to the Beach, Don and I had fun flying our kites (while Don's might indeed be longer than mine, mine had the better tail action!!!), Marti and Martha read lots of books, we enjoyed the phenomena of the horseshoe crabs arriving in mass on the beach this time of year ... did you know the blood of the "ugly" horseshoe crab is actually used in the preparation of medical contrast material for CT/MRI scans and the crabs are returned unharmed to the Atlantic? ... and of course we enjoyed some of Martha's fine southern cuisine and some great wine! We reminisced, we hugged, we cried, we attended church together, we celebrated life. We also checked off some items from our SC tourism list ... the incredible Angel Oak Tree which was simply inspirational no matter if it is 400 or 1,500 years old according to some accounts ... simply a "must see" ... we also visited the only commercial Tea Plantation in North America (The American Classic Tea Plantation). After being "tea tottaliers" we headed to "Firefly" Vodka Distillery for a tasting which 3 of the 4 of us enjoyed while the other stuffed his face with popcorn! Great local blended vodka! For all of you future visitors many items remain on our "Must See/Do List". In addition we stopped in Downtown Charleston and enjoyed a small lunch and beverages with Julie in celebration of her 25th birthday. And of course we all visited the new house project ... thanks again Don and Marti for your many compliments regarding our "dream home". Special thanks to Don for "sweating it out in the 90+ degree heat with me helping to take a ton of interior room wall photos of the house prior to the foam insulation going in hiding the majority of the wires. This digital "record" will provide us with peace of mind when it comes time to hang our wall pictures this fall. Thank you guys for a fantastic visit ... we love you dearly.
As an "outsider" looking in - there is nothing like 3 men and 40 years in between. Dan and not seen his college roommates, Larry Kay or Bruce Bracebridge, after they left RIT some 40 years ago When he suggested that they all get together here on Edisto - they came. John Babcock unfortuntanly was not able to come, however I did feel like I met him thru thier stories, and stories they told!!!! It was great fun and Barb (Bruce's new bride) and I enjoyed looking at our "boys" so many years later. They are much more handsome today.
We had a great surpise and were all invited to go boating with Meg and Johnny and then enjoyed a fantasic fishfry at thier home with Gail and Jeff out on the deep water on Edisto Island. It is great to find new friends that you can make old friends into. We had a wonderful time. Dan is feeling OK - he is going to be very happy to be done with his course of antibotics - we are sure they are helping the diverticlous however they are very strong and he is not feeling great because of them. We did have a great walk to the beach tonight and I wish you all could have seen the beautiful sunset over Otter Island We all say how busy we are with our crazy lives and I know that is so true - We are so glad that you are all taking the time to read our website - and we are so sorry that we have not updated you all on what is new on Edisto - so I will try to catch you all up real quick.
My mom (Grandy, Aunt Betty and friend to many) has arrived in South Carolina - my brother helped her drive down and is now in her new home - 810 Bilbury Court, Charleston SC 29414 - we were so happy to celebrate Mother's Day here with Steven and Julie - it was my mother's first mother's day with two of her children in a very long time! It was the first time I was able to hug Julie on mother's day in a very long time too! Pastor Rob offered a wonderful mother's day message and my mother and my brother were so warmly welcomed to the Edisto Beach Baptist Church. It was a very meaningful morning. Stefanie was able to celebrate Carrie's first Mother's Day with baby Jack and Derek and we know that it was a special day for them as well. No matter how far away you are from family on special days the love they send your way is heartfelt. Dan is doing well - we had a crazy scare Mother's Day week-end - he had a great deal of pain in his side and he managed well with the pain all week-end. We have told you all how fabulous the Cancer (Dan's Care Team)Center is - well we called on Monday and told them what was going on and they said come right in - they would fit us in when we arrived. Dr Ellison was right there and quick to see him and sent us for a CT scan right away. We had an answer within 2 hours of our arrival!!!! Dan has Diverticulitis and should be feeling better with antibiotics within the next 10 days. My best friend Susan said who knew that Diverticulitis would be great news. We are so luck to have a medical staff that is so wonderful and acts so very fast, we are in great hands. We just love visitors here on Edisto and the last few days have been great. My friend Linda was planing to attend her son's girlfriend's graduation from USC and then spend a few days with us here on Edisto (all of this was booked back in February). She arrived at Grandy's new home on Monday and then came to the island with us. We biked, walked the beach, sat at the pool and enjoyed cocktails while watching the waves roll onto the beach. It was just relaxing!! She and I shared a great dinner at the Old Post Office last night - girl's night out.. Dan had to stay home and eat soup - he got great Ice Cream for dessert. She has booked her room at the new house for the first week in October!!! Nothing like planning for the future, she even booked bathroom time!!! The house is moving along very fast - all of the siding is on and we think that Greg will have the roofers here perhaps next week. I will try to get end of week 14 pictures on the site soon. We send you all our love and hope you are all well. We think of you often and hope to hear from you. Derek is so right - BLOG us back - we want to hear what is going on in your worlds as well. We feel your love from across the island of Edisto as well as far away as our good friends in Amsterdam. Love to all and sleep f Well, we are back from St. Maartin and I can tell you all we had a great time. The weather was wonderful and the water is just that fabulous Caribbean blue. We saw some old friends and we able to catch on their families. Our timeshare at Sapphire Beach Club was just as we remember and the memories of past vacations just like they were yesterday.
Things here on Edisto are moving along quickly. We returned home to find all of the windows in (ok a few are wrong - but Greg will make it all right), the siding is going up very fast. 95% of the plumbing and electrical are in. We had a meeting with the security guy today, Thursday the vacuum man comes, Friday and Saturday the Auto/Visual men come. They are the two that will make Dan happy and Derek's idea of the perfect sound system should come to life. On top of all that - My Mom will be closing on her house in Chili on Thursday!!!!! The mover will start packing her house on Wednesday and Thursday he should head south. Mom will finally move south of the Mason Dixon line and she can't wait. I believe my brother will help her drive down and arrive on Friday or Saturday - and move into her new townhouse in West Ashley SC. She will be about 45 minutes from us and we are so happy. Can't wait to celebrate Mother's Day with her in her new home. Dan will have chemo tomorrow (Wednesday) and then we go back Thursday for his blood building shot. He is feeling pretty well, ,however he has lost his taste buds - talk about a cooking challenge. He still has all of his hair, but the sun in St. Maartin did lighten it (haha). We will have no new news tomorrow while we are at the doctor before his treatment - so there should be nothing to report. He just is fighting like crazy and his spirit is very good. I am so proud of how well he is doing. |