Sasee Magazine - January 2019

January 2019

You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

- A.A. Milne -

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Letter from the Editor F

or at least a decade, one of my New Year’s goals is an aspect of personal development or to put it simply, to bring more peace in my life. For the past few years, I have worked with a couple of different teachers/coaches who have lovingly guided me on this path. Usually these coaching sessions are held on the phone, and one afternoon while talking to Amina, I was on an absolute rant. Someone in my life had hurt me; they had been unfair, they didn’t understand, how could they be so mean? And on and on – you get the idea. Amina kindly listened, saying little until I finished my litany of woes. “Do you feel any better now?’ she asked me. I realized I didn’t feel one bit better, actually I felt worse. She went on, saying, “This is what I want you to do. Every morning, take five minutes and pray for, or at least think good thoughts about this person whom you believe has wronged you.” I was very resistant to her suggestion and immediately came up with at least ten reasons why it was a bad idea. Amina’s gentle insistence finally convinced me to try this exercise. I decided it couldn’t hurt, and the next morning. I sat down, closed my eyes and saw this person having a wonderful day, everything they wanted, lots of love, etc. Oh, did I mention I had to really mean it? Believe me, it wasn’t easy at first, but I persisted.

And guess what? It didn’t even take 30 days for things to change. Instead of feeling anger, I began to see a loving, kind human being who was simply doing the very best they could. This person’s behavior was really not about me at all and it certainly didn’t diminish me in any way. My entire attitude changed – and so did theirs – not all at once, but it happened. I replaced anger and resentment with peace and felt so much lighter. I learned that forgiveness is not always easy, but it is life changing. This month, I invite you to join me in letting go of one tiny resentment, one thing that always makes you angry.

I promise, you’ll never regret it.

Happy New Year!

Cover Artist “The Flower Child” by Kimberly Dawn Kimberly Dawn is a folk artist from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although the roots of her art run deeply through the soil of the southern Appalachian Mountains, it was the Lowcountry of South Carolina that ultimately defined her boho beach style.

Kimberly Dawn credits her early inspiration and surf style from the diverse southern community, the stunning beaches and the colorful boardwalk culture of coastal Carolina. Today, she is inspired by her travels, her family and the rich fabric of her life as a southern folk artist.

Kim’s first mentor was the iconic folk artist Howard Finster. She spent the next twenty years of her career traveling the folk art show circuit, mentoring many younger artists along the way. Although, Kim’s preferred medium is painting, she loves exploring other mediums including sculpture, collage and glasswork.

Kim now makes her home in Savannah, Georgia, and incorporates the nostalgia and rich history of the city into her most recent work. Currently, her work can be found in galleries throughout the southern lowcountry from North Carolina to Savannah.

Look for Kimberly Dawn’s paintings in the Myrtle Beach area at Perrone’s, Collector’s Cafe, Muddy Waters, Sunset River Gallery, and Carl Kerridge Photography. Contact Kim on Facebook at Kimberly Dawn Arts or on her website, www.kdcarts.com.

January 2019 Volume 18, Issue 1

8 12 14 16 18 20 22 26 29 30 32 34 36 40

Stronger than We Think

by Diane Stark The Injured Party

by Terri Elders Susan Lumpkin: A Life Well Created Cast Off

by Erika Hoffman Mermaid Dreams

by Diane DeVaughn Stokes Dr. Jeffrey W. Horowitz: Not Your Parents’ Dentistry The Secret to Lasting Resolutions (And How It Took Me Forever to Get It)

by Liz Pardue-Schultz Weathering the Storm

by Melissa Face Beverly Halvorsen: For the Love of the Animals Peaceful Practices for the New Year Teri Cronin: Moving Forward: How to make the Transitions to Assisted Living Easier What Can You Afford to Lose

by Bobby Barbara Smith Read It! Nicloe Says...Read The Marsh King’s Daughter

by Karen Dionne Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

by Gail Honeyman Sasee January Calendar

Publisher Delores Blount Sales & Marketing Director Susan Bryant Editor Leslie Moore Senior Account Executive Celia Wester Account Executives Stacy Danosky Erica Schneider Gay Stackhouse Art Director Patrick Sullivan Photographers & Graphic Artists Madeleine Desser Aubrey Glendinning Web Developer Scott Konradt Accounting Gail Knowles Executive Publishers Jim Creel Bill Hennecy Suzette Rogers PO Box 1389, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 fax 843-626-6452 • phone 843-626-8911 www.sasee.com • info@sasee.com Sasee is published monthly and distributed free along the Grand Strand. Letters to the editor are welcome, but could be edited for length. Submissions of articles and art are welcome. Visit our website for details on submission.

Sasee is a Strand Media Group, Inc. publication.

Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or in whole, prepared by Strand Media Group, Inc. and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited. Title “Sasee” is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Moving

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Stronger than We Think

I

by Diane Stark

n the last two months, our family has wrecked three cars. First, my husband backed into a cement pole in a parking garage. He was driving our seven-passenger SUV, and he just couldn’t see. He didn’t even call to tell me it happened. He just told me about it when he got home.

Then three weeks later, my 19-year-old son hit a deer on his way home from work. He texted to tell me. The text said, “I hit a deer and my car is really messed up.”

Both of these accidents were annoying, an expensive inconvenience. But they weren’t scary. Now I know that my son could’ve swerved to miss the deer and hit a tree. The deer could have broken through his windshield and hurt him. Heck, he could have been hurt by the air bag deploying.

Mentally, I understand that such possibilities had existed.

But in both of these instances, the order of events prevented me from thinking about such things. I saw my husband unharmed before I even knew about the accident. And my son texted me to report that his car was damaged, so I knew that his body was all right.

Like I said, these incidents were inconvenient. We paid a deductible, and I drove a rental car for two weeks. And then everything went back to normal.

But last week, when my cell phone rang 20 minutes after my 16-year-old daughter had left for work, I wondered if things would ever be normal again.

I answered the phone and all I heard was sobbing.

“Honey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked desperately.

“Mom, a guy hit my car. It’s really bad.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but my car…”

“Where are you?” I interrupted.

When she told me, I realized she was less than five minutes from my husband’s office. “I’m on my way, Honey,” I said, “but I’m going to call Dad because he’ll be able to get to you sooner than I can.”

8

The next 20 minutes felt like hours. I grabbed my shoes, yelling for my ten-year-old son to do the same. We were in the car in less than a minute.

“She’s okay. She said she’s okay,” I repeated over and over again as I drove.

When I finally saw her, I hugged her tight. Then I looked at the other driver. “What happened?” I asked him.

“I fell asleep behind the wheel. I think I was going about 70,” he said casually.

70 miles an hour when the speed limit was 45. I could have choked him.

A woman who’d witnessed the accident said, “He nearly pushed her into oncoming traffic.” She put her hand on my arm. “I don’t need to tell you that this could have been much worse.”

I looked at my sweet girl. I knew it could’ve been worse, but watching her standing in the street crying was still pretty awful.

By that night, it became obvious that Julia was not all right. She was dizzy and nauseous and had a terrible headache – classic signs of a concussion.

The next morning, she could barely get out of bed because her neck and back hurt so much.

“It could have been worse,” I reminded myself as she cried all the way to the doctor’s office because sitting up was so painful.

The next few days were excruciating. For her, of course, but for me too.

I longed to make things better for her, but there was very little I could do. I rubbed her back. I made sure she took her pain pills. And I prayed. A lot.

“She was scared to go, and I was scared to let her.

But she went anyway, and she was just fine.”

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I asked God to heal her, and I thanked Him that she wasn’t hurt more seriously. I was incredibly grateful that we’d be able to get back to normal and prayed for families whose outcomes weren’t as positive as ours.

Five days after the accident, I was driving our rental car and Julia was in the passenger seat.

A car got close to us – not dangerously so, but she grabbed my arm, squeezing so hard it hurt.

“You’re going to be fine,” I said quietly. But I had

Januar y 2019

to admit that her fear worried me. I didn’t want her to be afraid to drive because of what had happened.

That same day, I sat with Julia as she spoke on the phone with our insurance agent. Before the call, she’d been nervous, worried that they’d try to blame the accident on her.

But on the phone, she was poised and professional. She told the agent what had happened in a clear, concise way. With a start, I realized she sounded like an adult.

I hugged her when she got off the phone. “You’re stronger than you think,” I told her.

“But tomorrow is the day that the doctor said I could drive again.”

“Yes, and you’re going to drive my car until yours is fixed. And you’re going to be just fine.”

I saw fear in her eyes, but I refused to acknowledge it. I also ignored the way my heart sped up when I thought about my little girl behind the wheel again.

The next day, Julia drove my car to her friend’s house. As I watched her leave with my keys in her hand, I felt nervous and proud at the same time.

She texted me when she arrived, and I realized she’d felt the same way.

“She’s going to be fine,” I told my husband. “She’s stronger than she realizes.”

“She gets that from her mom,” he answered.

The tears I’d been holding back all week flooded my eyes. I’d held them in, wanting to be strong for Julia. But watching her leave the house without me for the first time since the accident was frightening. But necessary.

She was scared to go, and I was scared to let her. But she went anyway, and she was just fine.

Turns out, we’re both stronger than we thought.

Diane Stark

is a wife and mom of five. She loves to write about her family and her faith. Her essays have been published in over 20 Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

9

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11

The Injured Party

I

by Terri Elders

don’t quite know where I’d acquired the habit, but, as habits do, it had taken over my life. I’d become a permanent Bitter Betty. The internal home movie constantly running in my mind followed the theme of “them versus me.” If I had a flat tire in the grocery store parking lot, if a neighbor left laundry in the communal dryer long after the cycle finished, or if I’d not been invited to a cousin’s engagement party, I’d spin myself into a sulk.

I’d been rambling on for at least fifteen minutes. I turned and stared out the window. Dark clouds had rolled in, hovering on the horizon, casting a gray pallor over the horizon.

I’d nurse grudges, rail against my fate, and envy others who lived more trouble-free lives. I’d fret endlessly. I’d become comfortable with constant discomfort.

He so emphasized those final three words that I pictured them as looming above the table between us. Big black capital letters filling up the space. THE INJURED PARTY.

Then one evening I went to meet my boyfriend at a seafood diner located at the end of a local pier. As usual, I’d had a hectic day. I welcomed a chance to relax, to watch the sunset, to admire the Popsicle pink, yellow and orange hues melting into one another above the sapphire ribbon of placid water.

Immediately my Bitter Betty brain was off to the races: How dare he insult me? He doesn’t have a clue about what I put up with. But before I could open my mouth to protest, John held up his palm.

“I don’t mean this to hurt your feelings,” John continued. “But do you realize you seem to see yourself in nearly every situation in life as the… injured party?”

“That’s so gorgeous,” I said to John, sighing. “Why can’t life be like that all the time…just beauty, harmony, peace?”

“Wait,” he murmured. “Listen to yourself. You were so busy complaining about everything that happened to you today that you really missed appreciating an extraordinary sunset. It’s as if you need to find something to hate, rather than something to love.”

John looked up from his clam chowder. “What’s so ugly, inharmonious and turbulent about your life?”

I took a deep breath. Could he be right? I looked outside again, straining to catch a final glimpse of the dazzling sky, but by now it was dark.

“Well, look at what happened to me today.” I launched into my litany of woes. I’d overheard a coworker disparaging me. My son had failed to phone me after he’d promised to. At the restaurant somebody cut in and pulled into the last parking space. Why, the diner even had run out of my favorite red snapper. I’d had to settle for another entree that likely would be far less savory. It didn’t seem fair.

A waiter served our entrees, and we began to eat. My halibut, accompanied by a tangy caper and dill sauce, turned out to be delicious.

I’d not had to settle for second best that night, I realized. The dill smelled heavenly. Maybe it was a matter of perspective.

I trilled on, toting up all the “thems” and “its” I’d struggled against.

John listened, spooning up his soup.

Finally, when I paused to take a bite of my shrimp cocktail, he broke his silence.

“Look at the sea again,” he said.

12

“I don ’t mean this to hurt your feelings, but do you realize you seem to see yourself in nearly every situation in life as the… injured party?”

Sasee.com

Though John and I didn’t date for long, I’ve never forgotten his words. I didn’t want to go through life choked up with hate and self-pity. I summoned up a mental picture of that injured party, a kind of Cinderella, hovering in tatters in a corner, whimpering with woe. Did I want to be that unattractive waif?

I vowed I’d teach myself a new habit.

Whenever I’d catch myself grousing, I’d clench my fists and remind

Januar y 2019

myself…I am not THE INJURED PARTY. It took conscious effort at first, and then it became automatic. Sometimes I’d have to stop myself from breaking into inappropriate giggles at meetings, as I’d catch a mental glimpse of those capital letters cavorting across the conference table.

Eventually that woebegone creature in the corner simply ceased to exist.

I didn’t have to feel sorry for her, or for myself, any more. Now I had a mental bicker buster.

The other night, in a rush to make a quick omelet, I dropped an egg on the kitchen floor. In earlier days I would have muttered about the waste, grumbled as I cleaned up the mess.

I’ve got other eggs in the fridge, I reminded myself. The omelet can wait. I’ll take advantage of this opportunity to mop my dirty floor. I’ll feel better when it’s clean again. I happily dug out my sponge. I even took a moment to enjoy the slippery texture against my fingertips as I wrung out the soppy sponge beneath a stream of cold running water. I have plenty of water, I reminded myself. I have plenty of eggs. I have plenty of time.

I don’t pretend that unhappy things don’t continue to happen. I still get irritated when a house plant withers or when it rains on the very day I plan a beach outing. I’m not delighted as my arthritis worsens as I age.

But I’m grateful that the stretching I do in my yoga class eases the pain and that I still can look forward to upcoming birthdays.

Thanks to John’s quiet remark that evening so long ago, I’ve replaced one habit with another. I’ve retrained my neural pathways. I’ve learned to pause and refocus. It’s become easier to replace the negative thought with a positive one. Sure, dark clouds will come again. It happens. Nothing personal. Simply a matter of perspective.

By banishing Bitter Betty I’ve come to realize that every single sunset I pause to catch will turn out to be…simply stunning.

Terri Elders

is a lifelong writer and editor, is a frequent contributor to anthologies and periodicals.

At 80, she’s happy to be back again in sunny California, where she no longer has to worry about shoveling snow. She misses the snow on Christmas day, but delights in having New Year’s brunch at the beach.

V. Lee Moore • Sarah A. Johnson • Elizabeth J. Saraniti Angela D. Harrison • Nancy M. Zovnic 127 Glenns Bay Road, Surfside Beach, SC 29575 (843) 650-9757 • GrandStrandLawyers.com

13

Susan Lumpkin: A Life Well Created

Susan Lumpkin has created a life she loves, moving forward through life as a Navy wife and mother, savvy entrepreneur, and most recently a successful business owner in Georgetown. “I’m so happy with my life,” this lively and attractive woman told me as we chatted in Rice Birds Two, the second of her two stylish boutiques.

Always artistic, it was when she was living in Spain with her former husband that Susan found her creative niche as a ceramic artist.

“Someone admired a frog I drew on a ceramic tile and asked if I sold them. I thought a moment and said, ‘Why yes I do!’ and that’s how my wholesale business began.”

“When we arrived back in the States, we moved to Mississippi. I took photos of my work and took them to different businesses. I went into one shop that carried fine ceramics by well known artists and decided they wouldn’t want my work, but I did ask the owner to suggest a few places. I was shocked when she said she was very interested in my ceramics – this conversation started a 10 year business relationship.”

In 2005, Susan moved to Georgetown and continued working. “I stayed busy painting and shipping.” Always moving forward, she decided to start selling her own work. Creating fine ceramics is a labor intensive process, each piece taking several days to complete, and Susan felt she could increase her income through retail. “I went to Goudlock, a boutique that was in the 700 block of Georgetown, and rented a little space. I had my ceramics and added other items.

It was great! I was there four years and on September 25th, 2013, the entire block burned to the ground.”

The Georgetown fire of 2013 was devastating. For three days, Susan mourned her loss, but her strength and determination pulled her out of her funk to create something even better. “I bought a building on Front Street, gutted it, rebuilt it and opened Rice Birds on Black Friday that year. It wasn’t as full as I would like, but we were open!”

Last year, Susan rented another building, and opened Rice Birds Two, a totally different, but just as unique shop that has already become successful. Within the next few months, Susan will start offering ceramic classes in the newly renovated studio in Rice Birds Two. “People can have ceramic parties, bring their food and drink, and enjoy themselves!”

I asked her what she would tell someone contemplating starting a new chapter in life. “You can do it. Believe in yourself. Getting here hasn’t always been easy, but I just kept going, kept moving on.”

Stop in and visit Susan at Rice Birds, located in Georgetown at 629 Front Street, and Rice Birds Two at 107 Screven Street, call 843-520-5852 or visit her on the web at www.ricebirdsshop.com.

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15

Cast Off

by Erika Hoffman

M

y husband and I embarked on a Scandinavian cruise. We felt young when we looked around the dining room and witnessed many fellow passengers clutching canes or snuggled in wheelchairs.

Some of the faces we saw only at mealtimes and never on the excursions.

Many of the trips ashore were physically taxing. In the Hermitage in St Petersburg, you walk miles and miles while elbowed right and left by hordes of tourists from other continents where it’s culturally acceptable to push one’s way through. It was a knock-down, drag-out fight to glimpse a picture by Leonardo! In Lithuania, we drove to a National Forest where the Soviets had hidden their missiles in silos, and we descended into those now-vacated bunkers and stood on a grated floor gazing down the deep well of a silo that used to host a missile aimed at a European country during the Cold War. This excursion wasn’t for the acrophobic, the claustrophobic, or anyone in a wheelchair! Most of the field trips were strenuous albeit highly educational. Of the many things, I discovered from this cruise with ports-of-call such as Gdansk, Helsinki, or Tallinn, the most important lesson I learned aboard the sailing yacht: My husband and I could make do in a tiny cabin.

This was a revelation! We live in a large, sprawling home filled with furniture. We have stuff handed down from his parents, my parents, an uncle and grandparents. We have messes collected by our four kids who – when they left the nest – forgot to take their junk with them. We have accumulated souvenirs and bric-a-brac from everywhere we’ve ever been and then some memorabilia from places we’ve not been but others have bequeathed to us!

On the ship, I liked eating in the dining room with meals prepared by cooks. I enjoyed the common areas where one could sit and chat or listen to a band or play a trivia game with other voyagers. I found it fun to mix with strangers and share their stories.

I didn’t miss my kitchen. I didn’t miss my cars. I didn’t miss my messy study. I didn’t miss my wardrobe or possessions. I was content in our little cubicle with a TV that didn’t work most days and a WiFi that was promised but never delivered. I was okay with less space, fewer things and less privacy. At home, I’m mostly a recluse and don’t seek out new people. I watch the same programs on television and shop at the same stores and socialize with the same people. Living on a ship was a change.

What I found remarkable is how easily we both adapted to this different lifestyle. True, if we downsize when we retire, we won’t have servants fetching us lunch or drinks, like at sea. Nonetheless, I found I can be happy in a small room and living among folks in large communal spaces. This is good to know. I’m not planning on going to assisted living anytime soon or giving away all our possessions, but I’ve discovered that I will be content with an eighth the stuff I now own because this stuff also owns me.

When we returned from our adventure, my husband and I decided to give away his mom’s dining room suite to one of our kids. Why have them wait until we downsize? Then we started going through our house looking at things we like but don’t need.

I picked up our phone and called my kids: What do you want and when can you come pick it up? No need to wait for my demise.

I now realize I can be happy with fewer belongings. Many fewer! All a soul needs is good food, a comfortable bed and cheerful fellowship each day. And a feeling of gratitude. (Always that!)

So, adios antiques! Farewell furniture! Auf Wiedersehen knickknacks!

Au revoir unneeded clothing!

Cast off what anchors you down and set sail for serenity!

Erika Hoffman

used to be outgoing, but now she likes to reflect and write about those outgoing times.

16

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Januar y 2019

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Mermaid Dreams I

by Diane DeVaughn Stokes

have never been much of an adventurer, and certainly not much of an athlete. Oh yeah, I played a little volleyball in high school and was pretty good at flag football, described as the fastest one on the team, even though who wants to be known as FAST in high school? Cheerleading was more my speed. However, watching “Sea Hunt” on TV with my dad gave me a real interest in underwater life and exploration. How cool was Lloyd Bridges as United States Frogman Mike Nelson, traveling in his boat The Argonaut, and then moments later he was eye-level with critters beneath the sea? Daddy loved the program and since there were few prime-time TV shows we ever agreed upon, it was our bonding opportunity.

Many moons later, after Chuck and I got married, he taught me to snorkel.

On our first trip to Hawaii, we donned our fins and mask, but before we put our heads in the water, fish were nibbling on my swimsuit. As I started to run out of the water, Chuck assured me that I was imagining things. He pulled me back in, and as he looked beneath the surface he saw that I was right. The sparkles on the breast area of my swimsuit drew the fish to me as if I was a feeding-frenzy magnet!

Some of you may have liked that, but it scared the crap out of me! So, the next day, and from here to eternity, I know not to have any glitter whatsoever on my bathing attire, unless I am in need of some REAL excitement.

Snorkeling was so fascinating that we started planning our vacations around Caribbean Islands with good reefs. Chuck became an expert in finding octopus hiding places. He looks for the crunched up shells outside a hollow in the rock and coral formations and literally floats over the hole until the octopus comes out. Sometimes he is there for hours. No kidding.

underwater experience. I was a little apprehensive I must admit. After all, if you see something you don’t like snorkeling it’s a lot easier to get out of the water than it is if you are sixty feet below the surface scuba diving. But I thought back on prior experiences and remembered that if I let fear take over, I am not living life to the fullest. I could not let fear get in the way of something I enjoyed so much and wanted to share with Chuck. Thank goodness I motivated myself past the anxiety.

We have since had over 100 dives and just returned from Chuck’s sixtieth birthday trip to Little Cayman Island which turned out to be one of the most beautiful diving experiences we have ever had. However, there is nothing to do at this place but dive. It’s the sister island to Grand Cayman, where there’s tons of activity and hundreds of hotels and restaurants, but Little Cayman is really just for divers as it is small, barren and remote.

Yet, it was Disneyworld underwater. The coral heads, bucket sponges and gigantic sea fans welcomed us as we descended from the boat on the way to the Bloody Bay Wall, and the large tiger grouper, parrot fish and angel fish seemed to enjoy the attention, not shying away one single bit. And yes, there were sharks. But don’t tell our moms! Nurse sharks and reef sharks were with us on just about every dive, but that’s another fear I have learned to overcome, simply because the peace and quiet and colorful sea-life while scuba diving, is so amazing. There’s no quiet quite like it!

We even did an evening dive where all the lobsters are out wandering around in the sand and the iridescent octopus were done playing hide and seek. They, too, were out of their holes and magically stretching their tentacles to acquire their evening feast. Chuck was in his glory.

My favorite story about his octopus fascination is the day he got inked by one at St. John. We were both lazily hanging over the octopus’ home when he came out and shot a black milky substance directly at Chuck’s face as if to say, “Get the heck out of here, Buddy!” I like to say Chuck was “Octopied”!

Frankly the worst part about this sport of scuba diving is that I have to beef up on Dramamine before I go because I am very prone to seasickness. And even worse than that is I have to remember and hold on to how important INNER BEAUTY is because all vanity goes out the window. You enter the water feeling like a mermaid and you come out an hour later looking like a drenched Michelin Man revived from a near-death experience after being sucked into an underwater tornado and spit back out.

This love of snorkeling inspired us to get certified in scuba diving twentyfive years ago. We just had to keep moving forward to the next step of the

Yes, that describes it perfectly. But one time beneath the surface of the great blue sea, and there’s no turning back.

Diane DeVaughn Stokes

is the President of Stages Video Productions, Host and Producer for TV show “Inside Out” on HTC, and EASY Radio Host weekdays noon to 3pm. Her passions include food, travel and theater. You can reach her at diane@stagesvideo.com

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Januar y 2019

THE MOVEABLE FEAST

Literary Luncheons/Exciting Authors/Great Restaurants

Mostly Fridays, 11 AM-1 PM, Mostly $30

1/4 ~ Lou Ellen Watts (Sleeping in Dixie's Feather Bed), Root, Gtn 1/11 ~ Ruth Miller & Linda Lennon (Angel Oak Story), Hot Fish Club 1/18 ~ Webster L. Hubbell (The Eighteenth Green), Pawleys Plantation FULL! 1/25 ~ Marie Benedict (Only Woman in the Room), Ocean One 2/1 ~ Terry Gamble (The Eulogist), Kimbel's, Wachesaw 2/8 ~ Gareth Frank (The Moment Between), Pastaria 811 2/15 ~ Donna Everhart (The Forgiving Kind), Pine Lakes, Myrtle Beach 2/22 ~ Taylor Brown (Gods of Howl Mountain), Inlet Affairs 3/1 ~ Judy Goldman (Together), Hot Fish Club 3/8 ~ Alyson Richman (The Secret of Clouds), Kimbel's, Wachesaw 3/15 ~ Richard Rankin (While There Were Still Wild Birds), Ocean One 3/22 ~ Susan Meissner (The Last Year of the War), Pawleys Plantation 3/29 ~ Kristin Wright (Lying Beneath the Oaks), Southern Comforts CLASS PRODUCTIONS presents KIMBEL CONCERT SERIES Mac Arnold and a Plate Full 'O Blues Saturday, Feb. 2, 3-5 PM, $30 pp SPRING for BIKE THE NECK at the LITCHFIELD EXCHANGE Saturday, March 23, 2-5 PM Welcome spring with a FUNd-raiser to complete the North Litchfield Safety Connector linking Huntington Beach State Park to the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway.

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Dr. Jeffrey W. Horowitz, DMD, FAGD, DASBA Not Your Parents’ Dentistry

Modern dentistry is radically different from what you may have experienced in the past. In fact, we at Carolina Center for Advanced Dentistry see ourselves more as an Oral Health practice that looks way beyond the teeth and gums.

Our comprehensive examination, technology and dedication to advanced education in dentistry allows us to understand how the body and health conditions affect oral health, but more importantly, the tremendous impact oral disease has on overall health risk. We look at health risks using evidence-based research and real data, and our focus is less concerned with “what is wrong” versus “why” problems develop in the first place. In doing so we can address the problem in a way that reduces patients’ risk for future disease.

This is a concept called “risk management and targeted therapy”. In more common language, all patients do not get cavities from too much sugar or too little brushing. All gum disease patients do not suffer with bone loss due to poor hygiene. Some gum disease patients don’t suffer from bone loss at all, but do have significant inflammation which can manifest as blood vessel disease, ultimately increasing the risk for heart attack or stroke. In this modern approach, we realize that genetic, bacterial, pharmaceutical, systemic and environmental components all play a role in the disease process, and each patient must be managed individually.

In another example, bite problems are often to blame for restorative dentistry failures, yet bite disease and TMJ disorders are perhaps the most poorly understood in the profession. Dentistry performed with inattention to these concepts can, and often will lead to premature restorative failures. For this reason, a thorough bite and TMJ examination is a critical part of the routine examination. With the oral cavity being the “gateway” to the airway, our understanding of airway conditions and sleep allow us to find children and adults at risk for sleep disordered breathing. This condition can take 12-15 years of life away from the undiagnosed adult and impede the growth and development of children. With only ten percent of the affected population currently diagnosed, well trained dentists can help identify the risk factors for this condition and save lives, all while protecting the teeth from future damage.

Modern dentistry has the ability to treat many of the conditions mentioned above with the most cutting-edge technology and advanced concepts. For more than ten years, we have used 3-D imaging to aid in diagnosis and treatment. From bite or TMJ problems to implants, cosmetic smile makeovers, orthodontics and invisalign, appliance therapy for sleep apnea and even the ability to make crowns in one appointment, our dental team is here to focus on one thing...the patient.

Contact Dr. Horowitz at Carolina Center for Advanced Dentistry by calling 843-248-3843 in Conway or 843-397-5337 in Murrells Inlet.

Visit them on the web at www.ccadsmiles.com.

Lee Minton Signature Series Tickets On Sale Now! Concerts Begin at 7:00pm with a Wine Reception at 6:00pm The Abbey at Pawleys Island, Litchfield Plantation Tickets are $25 per person Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Countertenor ~ Terry Barber

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Jazz Pianist ~ Joe Alterman

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Jazz Quintet ~ Huu Bac Quintet w w w. P a wl e y s M u s i c . c o m o r 8 4 3 - 6 2 6 - 8 9 1 1

The Secret to Lasting Resolutions (And How it Took Me Forever to Get it)

by Liz Pardue-Schultz

I

’d lie to you and say I only resolve to change what I don’t like about myself on New Year’s Day each year, but the hard truth is that I’m a serial revolutionist year-round. I have been for decades now.

I’ll be stuck in some habit I told myself I was going to quit, select yet another arbitrary “Day 1” to initiate my New Life of Only Good Habits (for real this time!!) and then indulge myself until the very nanosecond the clock strikes midnight. Sometimes I see a little progress as a result, but, more often than not, I find myself right back into my old groove within weeks. And what I realized years ago is that this is because, no matter how many times I earnestly hope for the best, I’ll never wake up one morning being anyone different than I was the night before.

This isn’t necessarily a terrible thing; I don’t hate being myself. However, my Self is the one who got me into whatever rut I now have to make the conscious decision to fix.

For example, to cite a common New Year’s Resolution theme: If I want to lose X-amount of weight, I have to first become the kind of person who eats well-proportioned, nutrition-loaded meals with some consistency instead of the version of myself who forgets to eat until she’s starving and then decides that ice cream works fine as a dinner entrée… again. Similarly, if I want to finally read all the books that have been backlogged in my shelves for the better part of a decade, I have to no longer be the kind of person who takes her smart phone to bed with her to scroll through Reddit until 2 am.

So I lie awake, fantasizing about how flawless my life will become when, at sunrise tomorrow (or on January 1, or the Monday after my hedonistic Birthday Week or some other “Last Hurrah”) I have magically transformed into The Best Version of Myself Who Is Free

22

of All Her God-awful Habits. Somehow - despite zero preparation or gradual transition on my part – I will rise at 5:30 am with a clear mind and a rested body, ready to get in a full gym session before I get my kid to the bus stop – herself armored with a Pinterest-worthy lunch and all of my warmth, encouragement and gentle love. I will then make myself a 250% kale smoothie paired with an herbal tea to fuel my day of chasing my dreams, going to work, keeping up with every current event so as not to appear socially inept, meal planning, exploring new hobbies, researching new vacation spots, catching up on my favorite podcasts, getting at least an hour’s worth of reading in, and making time for friends, family, volunteer work, networking all while looking my very best. By God, TODAY is the day I start working toward HAVING IT ALL!!

And then morning comes and something happens that throws a wrench in my plans and I remain the Same Person I’ve Always Been Who Has Done Things The Way She Has For a Reason.

You’d think I’d have learned by now, especially since I have so much evidence that change happens gradually and from much more organic means.

“When chasing a goal for personal improvement, my first and main objective is to seek joy first and welcome the transformations that come along with it.

Sasee.com

When I was in 4th grade, the objective was to stop biting my nails. I really wanted to stop; I knew it looked gross and sometimes it really hurt, but I just couldn’t seem to. My mom tried everything to curb it – from getting me that gross-tasting nail polish to offering me five whole dollars for every healthy nail I could present to her. Nothing worked. And every night before bed, I’d declare to myself, “Okay! This is the last one!

And then tomorrow, I’m a new person – the kind with delicate, Disney-princess hands!” But sure enough, by the end of the week,

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my nails would be all the way down to the quick again.

I struggled to stop biting my nails from the time I was in kindergarten until I was 24, when, one morning, I looked down and was shocked to see my nails were long for the first time ever. My best friend was the second to notice, and I was as surprised as she when I admitted, “Yeah, I just sort of stopped.”

Alright, I know that in the grand scheme of things, a kid growing out of obsessive nail-biting doesn’t seem like a big deal, but to me, it was a significant learning moment. At the age I stopped this nervous habit, I was in a radically different lifestyle than I had been up until that point: I was in a romantic relationship in which I felt completely safe, I was no longer subjected to the cacophony of public school, and I’d moved out and settled into a home life that was calm and accommodated my needs.

Simply put, there was no motivation for me to maintain this anxiety-based habit, so it just went away.

In retrospect, I see that that’s how each of my personal changes has come about; like anyone else, I adapt to what serves my lifestyle the best, whether it’s positively or otherwise.

Wallpaper, Fabrics & Furniture Designs © Thibaut Inc.

…Which is why my continuing to believe I’ll change my whole existence overnight is so ludicrous. The only way any of us ever changes is when we create circumstances that facilitate that change. When I’m surrounded by people I love and feel comfortable around, I no longer cling to my nervous habits, for example. When I get busy practicing volleyball with my daughter or exploring nature trails near my home, I’m not as inclined to sit inside and overeat out of boredom, and suddenly, the extra pounds don’t seem so hard to get rid of.

So this year, the only real change I’m making is, when chasing a goal for personal improvement, my first and main objective is to seek joy first and welcome the transformations that come along with it. That’s a plan I can stick with.

Liz Pardue-Schultz

is a “Jill of all trades” who lives in North Carolina and writes about her adventures.

Her words have been published in Huff Post, XOJane, Time.com, and a ridiculous number of Letters to the Editor columns.

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23

Weathering the Storm

by Melissa Face

I

keep having the same nightmare: I’m outside in the middle of a severe storm, and I can’t find Delaney. I call to her, eventually see her, but am unable to catch her. She reaches out to me, and each time I get closer, the wind takes her a little farther away and beyond my grasp.

reports, either, aside from one day of being on yellow for splashing water in the bathroom. She didn’t defend her demerit, but instead said, “I’m disappointed in myself. I knew that it was bad, but I really wanted to do it.” She has avoided being on yellow ever since.

I realize that these types of dreams are likely a manifestation of my anxiety, a problem that I’m dealing with that is more challenging than I ever imagined and not at all unrelated to being Delaney’s mother. But I also think that this dream is a reminder of the incredible force of nature that my Delaney is: strong, unpredictable and turbulent.

The night before she began school, I read her The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn. It’s a story about a little raccoon who is nervous about being away from his mama when he attends school for the first time. Mama Raccoon kisses her child’s palm, then places it to his face. She explains that when he goes to school, he can touch his palm to his cheek and feel his mother’s love.

Returning to full-time work was a huge concern for me this year because it meant that Delaney would need a full-time preschool situation.

I feared her unruliness and defiance at home would carry over into the classroom. I worried about her saying inappropriate words and showing off her vast knowledge of potty humor. I worried about her refusing to wear her uniform. I worried about her back talking her teacher. I worried about getting a call from the school during the first week saying, “Mrs. Face, it seems that our school is not a good fit for your daughter. We would rather our students not refer to each other as ‘fart butts.’ We wish you both the best in pursuing other educational opportunities. Please come get her.”

I kept telling myself that if we could just survive this year, then she would be entering kindergarten and the law would REQUIRE that she attend school. Public schools would HAVE to take her, and I would be able to keep my job.

Delaney has been in school for almost nine weeks. So far, there has been no call.

She really hasn’t had any negative

26

After we finished reading the book, I kissed Delaney’s palm and told her to hold it to her face if she missed me and needed to feel my love. “I will,” she promised.

On the way to school a few days ago, Delaney told me to turn the music down. We were listening to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!. She wants to hear it every morning, and if we catch a few stoplights on Washington Street, we can play it a full three times from our house to her school. Yay!

“She’s made of the tough stuff. She is my kid, and she’s equipped to weather the storms.

She is going to be okay.

We both are.”

Sasee.com

“Turn it down, please,” she repeated. “I need to tell you something.”

“Okay,” I said. “What’s up?”

“You know how you gave me the kissing hand when I started school?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“Well, I still have it. But I don’t really need it right now.”

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“Because school is not new anymore.”

It took me a few minutes to absorb her comment. She was telling me, in her way, that she had adjusted to her situation, and I didn’t need to worry about her.

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The neat thing about parenting, though, is that there is always something to worry about. We don’t run out of opportunities to worry. We worry about our kids when they need us, and we worry about the day when they think they don’t.

I’m happy and relieved with Delaney’s adjustment to full-time school.

My little force has new friends, a regular routine and wonderful teachers.

I think this is where my dream comes in, though. Delaney is establishing herself outside of her home and slowly slipping away from me. It is something to celebrate and at the same time, something to lament. She will never be fully mine again. From now on, she will be influenced by her teachers and peers in addition to her father and me, and eventually, more so.

I can’t help but worry about how hard this world is for females and that I am raising a daughter in what is still, in many ways, a man’s world. Then, Delaney talks, and I hear a little of myself come out. And I know. She will be able to stand up for herself and speak her mind. She’s made of the tough stuff. She is my kid, and she’s equipped to weather the storms. She is going to be okay. We both are.

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Melissa Face

is a teacher, writer, and mom of two, Melissa Face lives in VA with her family.

Melissa’s work has been published in local and national magazines, as well as in Chicken Soup for the Soul. You can read more from her at melissaface.com.

Sonya Harden CNM

Dode Washington Janelle Harford MD, FACOG MD, FACOG 843-349-0100 620 Singleton Ridge Road, Conway, SC 29526 Request an appointment online today at coastalcarolinaobgyn.com

27

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Beverly Halvorsen and Rescued Treasures Boutique:

For the Love of the Animals Walking into Rescued Treasures, an upscale, resale boutique is not your typical “thrift store” experience. Soothing music plays in the background and items are beautifully displayed – it has the light, fresh feel of an upscale boutique and was named in the local “Readers Choice” awards in several categories. The items, all in wonderful condition, are a bonanza for bargain shoppers too, as everything is priced to sell quickly. But, for the volunteers who devote their time and energy to making this a fun shopping experience, the best thing about this beautiful store is that all the profits go to support All4Paws, a local animal rescue.

A board member of All4Paws, Murrells Inlet resident, Beverly Halvorsen had the idea that a resale boutique was a way to allow the organization to help more animals. “There is always more we can do for the animals,” Beverly told me as we began our conversation. Last February, after searching the area for suitable locations, the organization rented a space in the Sweetgrass Shops in Pawleys Island, directly across from Fresh Market. The former home of Simply Divine, the space already had many needed display items, and All4Paws was able to acquire more from another area store closing. In April, Rescued Treasures had its grand opening.

“Our talented volunteers have made the store a success,” Beverly emphasized and told me she shares managerial and decision making duties with volunteers Julie Noie and Jane Kokel. All three women give 20+ hours each week to the store. “We have a very devoted group; not everyone has retail experience, but all are passionate about the mission of All4Paws.”

“We welcome new volunteers,” said Beverly. “This is a way to help for those who would rather not work directly with the animals, like me, because I would bring all of them home!” Beverly went on, saying, “The great thing about Rescued Treasures is that everyone can help by shopping here and donating their gently used items.”

The store accepts items in good condition including: women’s apparel, women’s accessories, indoor furniture, home décor and accessories, books and CDs/DVDs including video games in cases and board games in boxes. “We will also pick up items locally,” Beverly told me as two volunteers came in carrying donated tables. The store volunteers also recycle everything possible and, if donated items aren’t appropriate for Rescued Treasures, they are donated to other organizations so nothing is wasted.

Stop by Rescued Treasures in the Sweetgrass Shops Tuesday through Friday, 11am-5pm and Saturday 11am-4pm, Call 843-314-3316 to learn more or arrange for pickup of your items. To learn more about volunteering with All4Paws, visit www.all4pawssc.org.

Beverly's beautiful dress was purchased at Rescued Treasures!

Shop. Donate. Volunteer. Repeat!

New Year Resolutions for Care Givers

1

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2

Ask for and accept help. Make a list of things family and friends can help with. The next time someone asks how they can help, refer to the list.

Schedule guilt free time for yourself. Take a long nap, read a new book, schedule a massage. Do something that makes you happy!

3

Discuss your loved ones wishes, and complete the necessary paperwork to make sure those wishes are met.

4

Check up on your health. Don’t forget to schedule routine visits and well checks for yourself.

5

Learn more about community resources. There may be therapy dogs, volunteers, meal delivery, and caregiver support groups nearby.

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Peaceful Practices for the New Year

Finding peace sounds like it may entail sitting on a mountain top for hours on end or traveling to a mediation retreat tucked away in a remote wooded area. But there are small practices that you can easily do that will promote a more peaceful life.

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1.

Watch a Hallmark Channel movie. The predictability and always happy ending will leave you serene.

Not a fan? Try a comedy. There’s nothing like a belly laugh to relieve stress – and boost the immune system to boot!

2.

Volunteer to help those less fortunate. Feeling like your life is in the pits? Visit an assisted living facility and listen to residents tell you stories about their lives. Or, serve food in a homeless shelter. Or, walk dogs at one of our local shelters. Helping others is the fast track to peace and doesn’t have to take a lot of time.

3.

Meditate: Yes, meditation will bring you peace. Remember, you can’t do it wrong. Sit quietly for 10 minutes and focus on your breathing. That’s it. Whatever happens is the perfect experience for you. Repeat daily and take note of your peace level in a month.

4.

Perform a random act of kindness: This can be anything from leaving quarters in a gumball machine that’s eye level with the children who pass by, to letting someone in front of you in line, to putting a surprise treat on your neighbor’s porch. Let your imagination be your guide.

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5.

Walk a Labyrinth. We have one locally in Brookgreen Gardens, a place where peace is easy to find. With each step, say a prayer for peace, think a peaceful thought or just list the many blessings in your life.

6.

Forgive: This is big, we know. But please try it. You don’t even have to tell the person you are forgiving that you’ve let them off the hook. Letting go of anger and resentment is one of the most important things you’ll ever do to promote a peaceful life. If you feel you can’t forgive, just ask, silently, for help. Saying, “I want to forgive,” is a great start. Do the best you can. And remember, the most important person to forgive is you.

7.

Spend time in nature. This is easy in our community because we have such beautiful places to go outside. A walk on the beach, a stroll down a wooded path, even a walk around your neighborhood will begin to promote peace. Carefully notice your surroundings. Have you ever really looked at a tree?

8.

A more practical suggestion: Sit down with a ledger book or one of the many apps available for your phone, get a cup of tea or coffee and make a working budget. Do you have a credit card bill you’d like to pay off this year? Decide how you’ll do it now. And don’t make your budget so strict it’s impossible to follow. Remember to allow a little money for fun along the way. We’re aiming for peace, not poverty.

9.

Last one: Right now, while you’re thinking about it, call and schedule that overdue health screening. Do you need an eye exam? Is it time to get your teeth cleaned? Whatever needs doing, schedule it now. We all know we should schedule regular health checks, but sometimes they just go by the wayside. A clean bill of health is the ultimate peace of mind!

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Teri Cronin:

Moving Forward: How to make the Transitions to Assisted Living Easier Making the move into assisted living can seem like a challenging step, but choosing a facility with a staff that understands how hard this can be is the first step in helping you and your loved one make this transition as easy as possible.

As a healthcare worker, I am certain a positive outcome starts the first time you walk in the door and has a huge impact on how a resident feels about living in their new community. From the moment the resident and/or family walks in the front door, we want them to get a sense of the community and feel a part of their new home.

On your first visit to an assisted living facility, were you and your loved one greeted when they entered? Did the staff smile? Do the residents look happy? Does the environment feel warm? If the answer is yes to all these questions, then know you are on the right path to a positive transition that will allow your family member to make this move with grace and dignity.

Home is where the heart is and moving away from a place you love will undoubtedly cause some anxieties. All of which are normal and to be expected. However, the transition to assisted living is easier when all of those concerns are not taken for granted as just “normal.” Of course it’s normal for anyone to feel nervous about change, but a good assisted living home will have trained staff to work with the resident and family.

Your loved one’s feelings should be honored, not dismissed as just part of the process.

The transitions of aging do not begin with a move to an assisted living facility. There have probably been many other changes, some very difficult, in the resident’s life. The staff and residents of an assisted living facility become family and it’s the staff ’s job to recognize and validate any feelings that come along with important life changes.

Our residents teach us something new every day, and this the best gift a healthcare worker in an assisted living can receive – and it’s one we never take for granted.

Teri Cronin, is the Executive Director of Palmettos Garden City Assisted Living & Memory Care, located at 9415 Highway 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet. With 15 years of experience in health care, originally from Long Island, New York, Teri moved to South Carolina in 2015.

She lives with her husband and two little girls, 11 and 7.

For more information about how to help your aging family member, call Teri at 843-668-2500.

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Happy New Year!

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The Palmettos Assisted Living & Memory Care is an Affiliate of the NHC Family

33

What can you Afford to Lose?

by Bobby Barbara Smith

M

y husband and I began contemplating early retirement when we were in our fifties. We watched as older friends planned for the carefree days of retirement, but when it finally came, they were too ill to enjoy it, or death had taken one of them. We both agreed that we wanted to retire early, while we were young enough to enjoy it. Each time we approached the subject the big question of “how” always stopped us cold. It took a major life-altering event, to force our hand.

My husband lost both his mother and his stepfather to cancer, all within four years. They had worked hard all their lives so they could travel when they retired. It was so sad to watch their dreams fall by the wayside, as they spent their last days fighting cancer.

Shortly after the last funeral, I took action. “If I can come up with a workable plan for early retirement, will you retire?” I posed this query to my husband and waited for his reply.

“I’d like nothing better, but I just don’t see how we can. We need to have enough money to be comfortable,” he cautioned me.

We had always engaged in friendly banter and bets. When he felt certain that he was right, he would give me a look, and with a twinkle in his eye ask, “What can you afford to lose?”

Today I turned the tables on him, “What can you afford to lose?”

I asked with a smile. He saw the determined look in my eyes, but I could see he wasn’t taking my question seriously.

“I’m serious, what can we afford to lose? Corporations downsize, to cut expenditures, why can’t we? We work long hours so that we can have a nice home, and nice things, but we have no time to enjoy either. I for one would gladly give up the fluff, for some quality time together.” I threw out

34

the challenge and he accepted, but not without reservations.

I spent the next few days formulating a three-year plan to early retirement. We made a list of all the extras in our life that we would be willing to give up. We stopped impulse buying, using that money to pay off our credit cards and car loans. The money we would have used for credit card bills and car payments went into our savings account. I made adjustments in our insurance which saved us a chunk of change.

We were having so much fun planning our retirement we didn’t miss cable TV or dining out.

As our nest egg grew, I researched economical places to retire, checking taxes, housing and the cost of living. We used our vacation time to visit places, checking off the pros and cons of each place.

Perhaps it was our love of nature, or perhaps the fact that our chosen state was within driving distance to our children – add those two things to the low cost of living and we had our winner. The natural state of Arkansas would become our new home state.

It was now time to do a trial run of our financial plan. We had determined what our basic income would be when we retired, so for the next few months our challenge was to live on that amount only. All extra income would go into our savings. After factoring in the cost of living differences, we were amazed by the cash left over.

“By becoming “Big Losers” we have gained a life worth living.”

Sasee.com

As the last year before retirement flew by, we started our search for the perfect house. Our small R.V. was pressed into service as we visited different locations in Arkansas. Every month was a new adventure. Downsizing was fun!

Our new home turned out to be a tiny log cabin, nestled in the wooded hills of Arkansas. It was all electric, with a well, which meant one utility bill.

Januar y 2019

When I told my friends about it, they would look at me like I was crazy and ask, “What in the world are you going to do in Arkansas?” I would smile mysteriously and say, “Whatever my heart desires.”

Every weekend we would load up the R.V. or the Buick with chosen items for our cabin and head south. The weekends that we stayed in the city were used to hold garage sales. This was the last act of weeding out the “fluff ” in our lives. I must admit, designer labels have never been important to me. I found it very easy to give up the world we had spent years building.

We finally took the plunge. We left our jobs, sold our house and headed south to our little cabin.

Our hearts were free for the first time since childhood. We awoke to the sound of birds singing and the smell of wild roses and honeysuckle drifting through our window.

Some days were full of the laborious task of planting herb and flower gardens, while other days were spent lounging in the hammock, sipping our favorite beverage. We loved it all.

We are now many years into early retirement, and I can honestly say we haven’t regretted one minute of it. I’ve discovered that hummingbirds and butterflies don’t care what brand of sneakers you wear, but they do appreciate the sweet nectar from our flower gardens. The squirrel and deer don’t seem to mind our twelve-year-old car, unless it’s sitting atop their favorite acorn stash. Our lives are still busy. The difference is we’re doing the things we enjoy.

I wish I could explain the kind of magic and peace we find on our front porch swing, sipping our morning coffee, and listening to the world awaken.

By becoming “Big Losers” we have gained a life worth living.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University

welcomes you to a vibrant community of seasoned learners who love gaining new skills, exploring a wide range of topics, and touring a variety of local, regional and international destinations. OLLI at CCU offers noncredit classes (in arts, crafts, philosophy, science, politics, history, dance, music, technology, etc.), lectures and clubs in Conway, Georgetown and Litchfield.

Come to our open house, Taste of OLLI, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, in Conway or Thursday, Jan. 10, in Litchfield and Georgetown.

Explore our website at coastal.edu/olli or call 843-349-6584 or 843-349-5002 for information about spring programming.

Flamingo Porch Where our unique treasures will tickle you pink!

Come shop and consign at Flamingo Porch! Store is packed full of FURNITURE, HOME DÉCOR, AND MORE! 843-651-9570

Bobby Barbara Smith

is a writer/singer/songwriter. Her short stories and essays have been published in many anthologies and periodicals.

She is happily retired in the state of Arkansas where music and nature abounds, nourishing both careers and her soul.

5080 Highway 17 Bypass S Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 Monday - Saturday. 10 - 5, Sun. 12-5

ENJOY YOUR VOUCHER You are a valued customer!

To thank you enjoy 15% off of any purchase. This coupon must be presented at time of purchase in our store, and will expire on 1/31/2019.

Have a Happy New Year!

35

–Read It!–

Nicole Says…Read These Books

Reading is a Gift – I am a firm believer that there is a reader in all of us, we just need to find the right book to spark the interest/love of books. These two books represent my love of books, and I hope you all enjoy them, too!

The Marsh King’s Daughter, by Karen Dionne Helena Pelletier is not like women her age.

She is married with two lovely children and runs a successful homemade jam business, but she has a few quirks that her husband fully supports and never questions. What her family doesn’t know is her true identity… But, when a local murderer, known as the Marsh King, escapes, Helena’s past catches up to her. She is the daughter of the Marsh King and a young woman who was kidnapped at the age of 14. Now it is up to Helena to find and recapture her father, while struggling with his true identity and the love of her childhood lifestyle. Will she be able to capture him before he harms her family?

Karen Dionne weaves a fantastic tale in this epic thriller. The fast-paced story weaves between the search in present day, and the memories of Helena’s childhood. Every now and then there is a snippet of the old fairy tale to give readers a clue of what is to come. The writing varies from intense details to subtle tugs of emotions, as readers feel for Helena and her mother.

Have you ever watched shows like “Criminal Minds?” Have you ever wondered what happened to the children? Well, this book gives us some insight into their world once one of them has grown up and had their own family. My reading group chose this book, and I had it among a stack that I took with me while a friend had surgery. I read 170 pages in a few short hours. I could not put this book down! I felt as though I was in the story instead of just reading it. I highly look forward to what Karen Dionne writes next.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman Eleanor Oliphant doesn’t have friends. People avoid her abrupt nature, and she has weak social skills, so she also avoids any interactions. She has each day planned out, but when she comes across Raymond, who doesn’t think cleanliness is a high priority, things begin to change. Enter the elderly Sammy and these three lonely hearts begin to find comfort in their similar souls. Will this new-found friendship rescue them each from more than a life of solitude?

Gail Honeyman stuns in this debut novel. Her writing hits straight to the readers’ hearts. Readers will be saving page numbers and quotes to refer back to at a later date. There is something for everyone to relate to, as we all need some quiet companionship during life’s troubles, and the author shares humor as a way to break up the more painful aspects of life. Readers will find they experience a wide range of emotions as they read each new chapter. The friendship between this trio is beautiful and restores hope in mankind.

When your cousin texts you at 7am in the morning to tell you they just read the most incredible book, you immediately begin the hunt to find a copy for yourself… and it was amazing. This book breathes life. It is sweet, heartbreaking and compelling. I absolutely loved it! I don’t think I have ever read a better explanation of the word “fine” as how it is described in here… an obligation. I do hope that Gail Honeyman writes another book soon, especially a sequel, because this book has been added to my list of favorite re-reads.

Reviews by Nicole McManus

Nicole loves to read, to the point that she is sure she was born with a book in her hands.

She writes book reviews in the hopes of helping others find the magic found through reading. Contact her at ARIESGRLREVIEW.COM.

KELLY’S

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37

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January 2019 2 - 4/28 The Scape of Water

22 Terry Barber, Countertenor

Exhibit at The Myrtle Beach Art Museum.

For more info, call 843-238-2510 or visit www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org.

7pm, The Abbey at Pawleys Island, 96 Gathering Lane, presented

by Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art. For more info, call 843-626-8911 or visit www.pawleysmusic.com.

16-20 Mid-Winter SOS (Society of Shaggers)

25 FPC Concert Series

North Myrtle Beach, various events throughout the area.

For more info, call 843-281-2662 or visit www.shagdance.com.

8 Low Country Herb Society

Joshua Bell, Violin, Seth Haywood, Piano, First Presbyterian Church, Myrtle Beach, 7:30pm. For more info, call 843-448-4496 or visit www.myrtlebeachpresbyterianchurch.org.

26 36th Annual 5K & 15K runs

Speaker Tom Francis, owner Bees-by-the-Sea, 9:30am, Waccamaw Library, Pawleys Island. For more info, email sclchsnews@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

9am, North Myrtle Beach. For more info, visit www.grandstrandrunner.com.

11 Moveable Feast

28 Books and Boogie

Ruth Miller & Linda Lennon discuss The Angel Oak Story, 11am, Hot Fish Club, Murrells Inlet, $30. For more info, call 843-235-9600 or visit www.classatpawleys.com.

Fundraiser for Freedom Readers, 4-9pm, Dead Dog Saloon, Murrells Inlet. Buffet dinner from 6-8pm, $50. For more info, call 404-455-1864 or visit www.freedomreaders.org.

17-19 Myrtle Beach Quilt Party and Vendor Extravaganza

29 Joe Alterman, Jazz Pianist

Double Tree Resort, Myrtle Beach. For more info, visit www.mbqp.net, call 800-624-6601 or e-mail myrtlebeachquiltparty@gmail.com.

20 That Fabulous French Flair

Featuring Soprano Adrienne Danrich, with Long Bay Symphony, 4pm, Myrtle Beach High School, 3302 Robert M Grissom Pkwy, Myrtle Beach. For more info, call 843-448-8379 or visit www.longbaysymphony.com.

7pm, The Abbey at Pawleys Island, 96 Gathering Lane, presented

by Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art. For more info, call 843-626-8911 or visit www.pawleysmusic.com.

2/5 Huu Bac Quintet

7pm, The Abbey at Pawleys Island, 96 Gathering Lane, presented

by Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art. For more info, call 843-626-8911 or visit www.pawleysmusic.com.

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Advertiser Index

AARP......................................................................................... 38 Above All Pawz........................................................................... 17 Angelo’s Steak & Pasta................................................................ 24 The B. Graham Interiors Collection........................................... 15 Barbara’s Fine Gifts..................................................................... 17 Bethea Baptist Retirement Community...................................... 15 Bloomingails.............................................................................. 15 Brightwater................................................................................ 41 Brookgreen Gardens................................................................... 10 Cariloha..................................................................................... 17 Carolina Car Care...................................................................... 19 Carolina Center for Advanced Dentistry.................................... 43 The Citizens Bank...................................................................... 24 Class LLC.................................................................................. 19 Coastal Carolina OBGYN.......................................................... 27 Coastal Carolina University........................................................ 35 Coastal Carolina Winery............................................................ 33 Coastal Luxe............................................................................... 44 Comfort Keepers........................................................................ 11 Dr. Grabeman............................................................................ 24 Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss & Esthetic Centers.................... 39 Flamingo Porch.......................................................................... 35 Freedom Readers........................................................................ 11 Good Deed Goods..................................................................... 33 42 Grady’s Jewelers.......................................................................... 10

Horry County Solid Waste Authority........................................... 9 Hospice Care of SC.................................................................... 30 Hot Fish Club............................................................................ 27 Kelly’s Consignment................................................................... 37 La Fayes at 79th......................................................................... 11 The Lakes at Litchfield................................................................. 7 Long Bay Symphony.................................................................. 15 Massage Envy............................................................................. 25 Moore, Johnson and Saranti Law Firm PA................................. 13 Myrtle Beach Stop Smoking Center........................................... 31 Palmetto Ace.............................................................................. 19 The Palmettos Assisted Living & Memory Care.......................... 33 Papa John’s Pizza........................................................................ 31 PIFMA Lee Minton Signature Series.......................................... 21 Portside at Grande Dunes............................................................. 2 Rescued Treasures....................................................................... 30 Shades and Draperies................................................................. 23 Swift Appliances......................................................................... 37 Thrive at Prince Creek................................................................ 10 Two Sisters with Southern Charm.............................................. 37 Value Pest................................................................................... 37 WEZV....................................................................................... 42 WISH Candle.............................................................................. 3 Women in Philanthropy............................................................. 28

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2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU!

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