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Published: June 20th 2017
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Sam and I
Sam and I Geo: 34.848, -82.4003
Ummmm....okay....this is one of our two remaining relaxing "down" days (the other one is tomorrow). So, wouldn't it be nice to drive to South Carolina? It is only nine hours or so. Well, sure, why not??
About now you are probably convinced that Jeff and I are insane, but please reserve judgement until I've explained.
Earlier in this trip I mentioned that my family is from the South. Greenville/Simpsonville, South Carolina to be exact. I belong to an
ENORMOUS extended family and out of those hundreds of family members, my mom, dad, two brothers and I are the only leaves on this family tree that have ever lived north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Yes, we observe the Mason-Dixon Line.We moved away, before I was born, and never moved back. Everyone else in the clan still lives in S. Carolina (save one family offshoot in N. Carolina). Now you know where my love of grits originated.
My mother moved back to South Carolina in the '80s after my dad died; she currently lives in a very nice assisted living environment in Simpsonville. My very favorite male cousin, Sam, and his family live in Greenville. Sam has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and placed under hospice care.
I told Jeff when we were out of town in April how upset I was that I hadn't called Sam before leaving the country. I felt so sad.
So, my dear husband, on Sunday, asked if I would like to go to SC while we are in the East and we have these two unplanned days...
Poor Jeff, his cold or allergies or whatever it is, is making him miserable, but he got right up at 6:30 am so we would be on the road by 8am. I felt very bad for him as I knew he hadn't slept well. I decided to drive the whole way so he could sleep some.
We called Sam's wife Linda to ask if it was okay to visit. He is doing a new radiation treatment and tires very easily. We promised to stay for 15-20 minutes. Sam and I have always been super close; I consider him more a (much) older brother than a cousin and she said he'd be thrilled to see us.
We started driving. It was a beautiful day. About the time we got to Georgia we realized that we needed to get a hotel room for the night in Greenville. Let's hear it for online reservations!!
Drive, drive, drive... They have lovely rest stops in Georgia and South Carolina. Drive, drive, drive.
When we pulled into Sam and Linda's driveway, Sam was sitting on the porch with his iced tea waiting for us. Within moments, my wonderful cousins (Sam's son and daughter) Lawson and Charlie, had arrived as well. The five of us spend about an hour and half talking and laughing. Such joy! Sam played Happy Birthday to me on their grandfather clock.
From the time I was little, he has called me on my birthday and played the Happy Birthday song to me on the piano; since I was there in person I got a special rendition on the clock chimes (and, no, I have no idea how he did it).
Sam has not seen me since I was 3 years old or so because he went blind in his twenties. I hope that in his mind's eye he still can see the wonder and love I feel for him.
It was difficult to leave knowing that I won't be with him when he starts his next journey, but I'm incredibly happy we had these hours together.We said our good-byes.
We found hotel in Simpsonville quickly as I'm familiar with that area. We hadn't eaten anything since our 1pm lunch rest stop and it is almost 10pm. Desperation leads us to IHOP.
We get back to our room, have a glass of wine and fall asleep.
Tomorrow is surprise day!
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jkutzik
non-member comment
You covered a lot of ground! And, thanks for sharing a very touching story.