Fourteen years ago, Jeremy and I got married in Charleston. I kept meaning to get back here to visit, but it didn't work out. We got close last year, staying nearby, but weather and schedule were against us and we were on our way further south before we could do very much.
And now we're here for a little over five months, and I am delighted.
While I have a LOT of work to do (one, we are working the Holiday Festival of Lights at the campground's park, which is a fun story for another time, and two, I have pressing deadlines (ahem, surprise)), we're also making time to run around and check out the sights.
And eat the food.
Pictured above you have: some of my all you can eat sushi from my 'hitting 25k' celebration, an amaaazing benedict from downtown Charleston, and deeelicious beignets from the festival. Not pictured are probably too many other meals, but in my defense, Charleston food is fantastic, ok?
As for the adventures -- so far I've made Jeremy run off to the beach (only three times. In two and a half weeks. This is extreme self-discipline for me!), where of course I have found treasures and listened to the waves and enjoyed not getting sunburned and also been surrounded by butterflies, which is pretty sweet.
I would like to go back every day, but alas that is not in the cards. I also, fourteen years later -- a bunch of folks went over our wedding weekend, but I couldn't manage to make it work --fiiiinally got to go to the South Carolina Aquarium, and it was a complete delight.
Y'all, as you may be able to imagine, I am basically a five year old with a license and discretionary budget. The level of pure joy I get from a wonderful aquarium is like a whole class of excited first graders let loose on their dream field trip, and this was no exception. The aquarium has a sea turtle rescue/rehabilitation center, incredibly well cared for animals, and volunteers that are wonderful and so happy to be there.
As soon as I left I was planning a return visit. I mean, I got to hang out with an old friend, pet sharks, feed rays, squeal over delightful critters, get squealed at by a gorgeous bald eagle...it was a good day.
Then I went home and wrote 3,000 words, because joy helps me focus.
Did you see above how I casually dropped a 25,000 word celebration? New project, that I'll hopefully be able to tell you soon, that I've added 30k to since November 1st. I have quite a ways to go, but progress has been steady.
In no small part because I'm using positive reinforcement. We're somewhere beautiful, and every three/four days of successful goal-wrangling, I get to have an adventure. That's pretty sweet. Especially given the state of all the everything, joy remains key.
What are you doing to take care of yourself? What gives you unrestrained-five-year-old-on-a-field-trip excitement? Tell me all about it -- goodness knows, we could all use a little more joy.
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