From my journal entry on Dec. 30, 2018 – the day before I captured the “New Year’s Eve” sunset appearing in this episode of Rare Air:
“With the next sun, it will be incumbent on myself and Beth to resume the work lives that mostly define us at present. This version of myself will then return to the margins of life, and whatever must be done, will be. In that mode, we’ll think of these nice people and dream about the easy times spent building each other up and doing for one another. The little aches of those moments will probably remain woven in, loose threads in the fabric of memory making the case that it’s always something. The vulnerabilities are of a different class and order in 2018, as we all silently hope for a miracle.”
That hoped-for aspect had to do with Beth’s brother Pete, who persisted in battling pancreatic cancer on through June of 2020. Immediately after our 2018 holiday gathering, Pete, Amy, Julien, and Will borrowed Dan and Nancy’s RV and put it to great use touring the full length of Florida, sending us pictures all along the way.
Through each of those days, and on into the present, we all have continued to honor and celebrate life’s joys together as often as possible. Even now, we are making new memories, and looking toward the future with the highest of hopes.
Savoring this moment as full-time Boone residents, we feel so lucky to have inherited rich traditions of togetherness. By quick count, over the past 25 years, we have enjoyed 9 holiday homes in Isle of Palms, 9 holiday homes in Myrtle Beach, and 3 year-end gatherings in Boone, with several other locales also in the mix, from Fripp Island to Appalachicola. Whatever the future holds, we eagerly look forward to our next family get-together.
Please stop back soon for more Rare Air.
