Southern Hospitality

It all started last fall.  Many of us were talking about where we going for the winter and this slightly dim lightbulb went off in my head.  Without thinking too much I blurted out that we'd be at Hilton Head Island towards the end of winter and it would be great for all of us to get together for a sort of 'winter reunion'.  Not believing for a minute that anyone paid attention, our winter travels continued on to the point that we began planning on our trip to the island in mid-March.  Apparently others at our summer camp were thinking about the same thing and before long we had a real plan to meet on the island.

So here was the plan ... Hal and Mary would make the island a stop on their whirlwind gambling junket (they are owners of the Michigan park we all stay at in the summer), Bill and June would also make it a stop on their pre-retirement practice trip, Jerry and Della are winter residents on the island, Henry and Geannie's home is on nearby Callawassie Island, and Sharon and I would make a stop on the island prior to our trip north.  Sounds like we were going to need UPS to work out the logistics on this gathering.

Anyway it all came together in grand fashion and to top off the three day event, three dinner parties were planned for the group.  I'd love to take credit for all this but our hosts are the ones who made it happen.

Friday evening it was drinks and dinner at Henry and Geannie's beautiful home on nearby Callawassie Island.

Saturday evening took us all to Jerry and Della's spacious condo for drinks and snacks followed by a sit down private dinner at their very special clubhouse.

Sunday evening took us all to Beaufort (about 30 miles from Hilton Head) to my sister and brother-in-laws very comfortable home located on the inter-coastal waterway.  Drinks and a tapas style array of homemade goodies was the finishing touch to this three day reunion.

So there you have it.  Fine food and friendship presented in the finest tradition of 'Southern Hospitality'.  A big thanks to all our hosts.

If this ain't livin' the dream I don't know what is.

Phil

ps ... A special note to two of my faithful Michigan readers, Jan and Red ... Thanks for hanging in with me.  I'll try to pick up the pace but all these parties take time and it leaves me little time to write.  Besides that I'm getting old.