We returned home from Charleston late Sunday night, and although I thought I would get back to blogging ASAP, I had to spend yesterday doing pesky things like cleaning out the fridge, going grocery shopping, and doing laundry. By the end of the day, I was so weary I fell into bed at 10:00.
As Lucas said when we went to Charleston two years ago, "It may be a long trip, but it's worth it." It was very long, but it was also very worth it. Our stay was bittersweet for me, because from the moment we arrived, I was already sad about when we would have to leave that beautiful place and part ways from each other. Vacationing in this enormous, beautiful beach house has spoiled us a little -- it's hard to imagine staying anywhere else as comfortable and accomodating. Jessie and I decided that although we are normally ready to return home after a trip, we could have easily stayed another week this time. This is the view of the house from what Max dubbed "Oleander Lane", the little walkway that leads directly to the beach (lined with oleanders).
Another thing that made this trip bittersweet was Grandpa's declaration that he never wants to fly again. He also dreads when Grandma goes away without him, so it's likely that this was the last time they will travel with us (unless, of course, we can get Jessie to badger him into it...). I know it is stressful for them to travel, but I am so happy that they were able to be there with us. I just love spending time with my grandparents, and it was especially fun to be able to see them interact with Eva (and to document it with photos!).
This year we had more people at the house than we have in the past. Denise and her daughter Emily were able to come this time, and we were also joined by my mom's brother Lee, his wife Linda, and three of their children. This was especially fun because I had never met these three cousins before! (The youngest is a teenager, by the way. Crazy that I had never met them.) This photo shows Emily and Bella in their matching outfits, and it shows yet again how painfully photogenic Jessie is.
Maren playing with Eva at the beach.
The babies loved the beach, especially the shoreline. When we took them out into the water, they weren't thrilled, but as long as we stayed in the surf, they just couldn't get enough. One evening we went for a walk on the beach and they started heading into the water (Bella crawling, Eva chasing after). Since they didn't have their swimsuits on, we stripped them down and had an impromptu nudie photo shoot. Passersby stopped to watch and comment on how much they are going to hate us when they grow up and see these pictures. Sorry, babies -- we just couldn't resist!
Timm, posing by one of the giant agave plants to show the scale.
Mom holding Eva at the beach.
Max moving a starfish to safety.
Lucas, looking for treasures in what he calls "shell madness".
On our last night on Isle of Palms, Mom and I sat out on our balcony for awhile and talked. We could see so many stars and it was wonderful to just sit and listen to the sound of the surf. As I looked around at the other homes nearby, I wondered what the people staying there were doing, what they would think of how we spent our vacation. I suppose it might seem really boring to some people, but to me it was ideal: walking to the beach multiple times a day, playing cards and Scrabble, cooking together, doing a little shopping, reading magazines, and just spending time with so many people that I love. How I wish that we could all live nearby and see each other whenever we wanted to!
We had a discussion at the end of the week about the virtues of documenting a memory with photos vs. just being in the moment and experiencing it (you John Mayer fans may be thinking of the song 3x5). Jessie and I are all about the documentation, and we were trying to convince Timm that it was a viable alternative point of view. He says you aren't enjoying the memory while you're making it. We say we are enjoying it, and then enjoying it even more in the re-living. Where do you stand? In any case, it was definitely hard to leave this place behind...
**If any of you want to see more photos of our trip, check out my smugmug gallery Charleston 2006. I'm still uploading photos, so it's a work in progress.**
19 comments:
Michelle.
i almost felt like i went with you. thanks for sharing the fun details of the trip. the photos of Eva with her reflection in the sand. Oh my! pricless!
i have heard such wonderful things about charelston as well.
you are so lucky to be able to spend time with your grandparents.
thanks again for posting abouat your trip
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous--painfully so! How wonderful. You know where I stand on the photos vs. being in the moment debate. I love photography so much that I take pictures in my head before I even get there sometimes! I have a hard time stomaching the thought of not taking pictures, especially of places I'm not likely to visit again.
I'm glad you had a great trip, and I totally understand the bittersweet nature of it.
I love seeing all the pictures. I definitely feel that I truly enjoyed last week while it all happened, but I also love looking back at the pictures and re-living the vacation. As I looked through the gallery, I found myself smiling as I remembered the beach and all the great experiences from the week.
My only consolation in returning home is that I can look forward to reading the blogs! (Not as good as being together in person, but since we couldn't stay another week, it will have to do.)
I love looking at your photos! I feel like I'm there again. I'm struggling right now with thinking, "Last week at this time...." It's a game I torture myself with. Keep blogging!
Welcome home, Michelle. I am so envious. It looks beautiful there.
The documentation, I believe, is part of the memory. How can you not believe that after looking at your photos?
Hope to see you soon!
a teenager whats that supposed to meen huh? but hi just the same that picture of me with Eva well Eva was adorable as usual but me not very photogenic. I really was happy that week at charleston I wish I could go back sometime but alas rich peopl,e shall pawn it off on richer people soon but good times none the less
it was one heck of a trip that's for shure. it was good to meet you, mark and everyone else i haven't met yet. i think photo's are good to an extent. because if you take too many then you are focused more on the pictures than the moment.
hey michele this is ross. i've got a blog here too. it's roastbeefstew.blogspot.com
Your vacation sounds fabulous and you took some wonderful pictures. I come from a family that takes pictures for every event. So I am used to pictures. My husband on the other hand thinks like Timm. He comments often on how we say, do you remember the picture of ...
You don't even remember it, you just remember it because of the picture. Isn't that the POINT!? Silly men. I love pictures too, but am not great at taking them. And even worse at scrapbooking them. I think I am like 7 years behind on my scrapbooks. I keep thinking someday I will have time to do them, so until then I keep taking pictures and saving them away.
What beautiful pictures. I am glad you took the time to post them and upload them for us to see. The beach looked fabulous and makes me excited for our beach trip in a few weeks!
How fun to be able to spend time with your grandparents. I treasure the times I get to do that as well.
As far as capturing the moment with photography I would have to agree with you. However, sometimes while I am taking pictures I may/could be missing something but always am pleased having a tangible memory to hold. I seem to take more pictures now that I have started to blog--but I love it.
Michelle - your pictures are AWESOME! I am glad you had a great trip.
As with everything I am torn between enjoying the event and capturing it. I try to take a lot of pictures and then make myself put the camera down. I think while you may be enjoying yourself documenting, others are missing out on your company and attention and vice versa. I know I sometimes feel like "put the camera away and come talk to US!" Catch 22 - I love the pictures and do think they are part of the memory - as with everything I am sure balance is the answer.
Such Beautiful pictures!
I'm sorry it's hard to return to the daily grind--that's always difficult after such a fun vacation, but I'm so glad you will be back to blogging--I'm experiencing withdrawels! I hope getting back into the rhythm of normal life is not as hard as expected and I'll see you at the end of August!
I am a big supporter of documenting the moment because how many times have you pulled out old photos and had a surge of sentimental feelings rush from the brain logs and fill you with "the moment" all over again? It only takes a few moments to document our experiences and what we don't take the time to write down can be stored with an image. It also let's the rest of us share your moments when we aren't there. It sounds like an amazing trip!
Your photos are amazing. It sounds like you guys had a wonderful time visiting grandparents.
I am torn a lot when it comes to enjoying the moment or taking pictures. Can't we do both? I try to at least. You know capture a little and then get involved. I suppose there is never a good answer but I sure enjoy the event so much more when I have photos to come home to.
Michelle,
You took some amazing pictures! I had wondered if it was possible for all of the women in your family to be as stunningly beautiful as you, and they are! That is a favorable gene pool!
My favorite pictures were: I love the top one with Eva running into the surf. The one with your grandma standing behind your grandpa with her arms around him, holy cow! I would blow that up and frame it in a heart beat! That is priceless family history. I am thinking Christmas presents for everyone in the family! You could frame it and on the back write a special memory about them, how loving they are, or something they taught you aboout family, etc. The naked baby pictures are, of course, darling, and the one (I think its one of your boys?) holding the orange sand pail and you took it from about waist level down, with the blue in his shirt, and the orange of the bucket and the color of the sand, that is another blow up one for me! I love it! So glad you are home!
Welcome home! What a great trip, I want to go and stay at that beautiful house and listen to the shore and just visit. What fun. I love the picture, they say so much.
As for photos, I'm usually playing and never think to take picutres and then I see how you all have documented your vacations and I miss having picutres to look at, I need my own personal photographer to document my fun!
OH MY! so wonderful. love the pictures. love them love them love them! how exciting to have a vacation every year with most of the same people and enjoy it! how fortunate.
What a treat to enjoy your thoughts and wonderful photos! You are so artistic, Michelle! Lots of love to you, Max, Lucas and Eva. Tell Marc we send our love to him when you talk to him again. I hope he can catch up on his sleep. Tell Jill a belated Happy Birthday and we love her too.
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