It was a short vacation, one that had been planned for months.
A time for relaxing, walks on the beach, watching sunsets and just
quiet solitude. We felt ourselves starting to unwind the minute we arrived. Hearing the ocean waves crash upon the shore was like a hypnotist swinging a pendulum.
We got settled in and changed into
beach bum clothing. Mike was eagerly anticipating his seafood dinner.
Somehow for him the seafood always taste better at the beach. He is probably right too because, most of it is caught locally. So we ventured off in search of one of the famous (all you can eat) seafood buffets and settle on one that has just about everything. Mike is in heaven and I am getting my protective gear ready for the flying crab legs he will soon be cracking with glee. We are seated and our waitress introduces herself. When Mike returns from the buffet area he has one plate piled high with crab legs, the other has nothing but oysters, shrimp, scallops etc. I happen to like the marinated grilled tuna they make, so that and vegetables adorned my plate. After our waitress had been back to our table a few times, I engaged her in conversation. I have always been told that I never met a stranger and I guess it is true because I am always interested in others. I also have a gift of being able to read peoples faces and can often time see beyond the regular smile that greets you. I guess maybe that was why I talked to our waitress, I saw the bone tiredness and some emotional pain behind the smile. She told me her husband was a police officer and had lost a partner recently in the line of duty. She worried about him all the time now. She also spoke of her job as a waitress and how she was working 2 jobs to make ends meet. I placed my hand over her and spoke a few words of encouragement and prayer. It is amazing what a kindness and a few words can accomplish. Needless to say we left a very large tip for her, but the gratuity really was given to me with a small tear in her eye and a genuine smile from the heart on her face. We left with our stomachs and spirits full. Upon returning to our motel, the rest of our first evening was spent on the balcony, listening to the waves, talking and just enjoying the time together. The next morning the sunrise was magnificeint. The coffee was good and the relaxed no hurry attitude was wonderful. We set off for breakfast and a day of finding little out of the way shops. We also went to a fishing boat charter and made reservations for an all day fishing trip out to the gulf stream. I was so excited, because the year before I had wanted to go and a gale had ruined plans.
Much of the next few days were spent beach combing swimming, shopping, and visiting historic sites. We also visited several gallerys and museums. I am a lover of Native American art and sculpture. Also my spirit carrys much wolf spirit within and the sculpture of wolves is breathtaking for me. I only wish I could afford one or two of them. Everyone says I can't believe Mike went to gallerys with you. Well he loves the art as much as I do and really enjoys it.
So much of the week was spent just doing what we wanted to do. Thursday night came and we started taking dramamine, on the advise of others that had gone out to sea before. Friday morning came bright and early. At 5:30am we were on our way to the docks. I was so excited to finally be going on the deep sea fishing trip i had wanted to go on for years. We got there and went to sign in. "We are sorry but there are 8' foot seas out there and recommend you don't go." Needless to say I was very disappointed. We went back to the motel where I slept for about 4 hours more. The effects of the dramamine had kicked in fully. After waking we decided to drive down the coast and see what we could find. It was a good day inspite of the dissappointment of earlier. We even had a soda in an oldfashioned soda and ice cream shop. That night we went out to dinner and then headed over to the house of blues. It was a nice evening. We had seen advertisements for a winston cup pro am race and decided that going to see it would be fun for our last day of vacation. It was the Hooters 250 and it was run on a half mile track. We got up Saturday morning and went over to the track to get tickets. Many of the drivers were signing in and it was fun just getting tickets to the race. We left and went to breakfast. From there we went to a large flee market. It was fun and Mike found some more knives to add to his collection. I had picked up souveneirs for everyone at home. Later that afternoon we headed back to the track to watch qualifying and presentation ceremonies. While sitting in the stands, once again the people around me were engaged in conversation. The lady and her daughter sitting to my right were there to watch her husband who was a member of one pit crew. After qualifying she went to be closer to that pit area. The closer it got to race time the stands began to fill and we were blessed to have many friendly and jovial people surround us. An older retired couple sat down next to us. We immediately struck up a conversation. They lived on Lake Marion and her husband liked to fish, which got a good talk going. They said they were old friends of the owners of the track and came down to a couple races a year. Their names were Eva and Jack. I had been telling Eva about our vacation and my dissappointment over not going deepsea fishing. She said I am sorry you didn't get to go. Then a little later in the conversation, I remarked at how lovely the earrings she was wearing were. They were silver medallions with inlay of tourquoise and coral..
Eva reached up and started undoing the earrings, saying I have had these for four years and wear them alot, now I am making a gift of them to you. I said no, no I couldn't take your earrings. Then she said to me. "Every since the tragity that took place on Setember 11th I vowed to do at least one act of kindness everyday. You didn't get to go on your fishing trip and these will cheer you." I had tears in my eyes. The Giving spirit of this woman touched me deeply. We hugged and I told her I would think of her everytime I wore them. Well I think of her and her words so much more often than that. Her words started a chain reaction. Now I find myself trying to do an act of kindness everyday. Even a small act of kindness affects others more than you know. Saturday of this week, we stopped at a yard sale. An older lady who was obviously feeble and not in the best health was holding two pieces of clothing, digging in her purse for the few cents to pay for them. I handed the person the money for the clothes. The older woman looked at me and said I will pay you. I said no ma'am it is my gift to you. She was obviously touched by an act of giving, but my spirit was given so much more than a few quarters could ever buy. Eva started a chain reaction with her act of kindness and I would hope that chain remains unbroken and many acts of kindness will follow. My thought and the reason for this story.
"I believe every act of violence is linked together, it affects each one of us, as does every act of healing" Acts of kindness and giving are acts of healing. Many blessings to all of you. Maybe this story will create an act of healing inside of you.
