A Saturday Get-Together on SSI By James E. Boyd B. J. and I had long anticipated a visit by some special friends on Saturday--Janice Thompson, a former church member of mine, and Elaine (Love) Wiggins, a friend who I went through high school with. Janice and Elaine are cousins. We have spent a lot of time together across the years. I have concerns when Janice and Elaine get together. I was Janice’s pastor for five years. Elaine, having been a classmate of mine for five years, may recall some stuff unbecoming a preacher. Elaine is a very discreet person though and I feel sure that she practices prudence when they are together. Elaine, whose husband was a very successful businessman, is a member of the intelligentsia. She was Beta Club in high school. Her intellectual attributes rubbed off on her wonderful family. She has a son that is an MD; another son is a PA, and a daughter that is an RN. Sometimes I feel quite humbled when with Elaine. I studied hard too but a lot of what I studied wasn’t in textbooks. Janice is a broadcast journalist and a radio personality. Living and growing up not far apart in Toombs County, Ga., I have known her and her family for years. B. J. and I were elated that Janice and Elaine were coming to visit. They had never been in our home. However, Janice has a talent for getting lost so we allowed for at least one wrong turn. Our telephone rang; it was Janice. She was excited. “I made a wrong turn but I got straightened out. I’m just getting on the Causeway. Tell me how to get to your house.” “Okay, after you come onto the island, get on Sea Island Road, come to Epworth Acres and then to Asbury Street and your almost here.” “Okay, gotcha.” Silence, Silence. We were suspicious. My phone rang again. “I think I’m lost.” “Where are you?’ “I don’t know. I’m lost. Wait a minute…it says Frederica Road.” “You went too far. You’ve got to get on Sea Island Road and come to Epworth Acres. B. J. and I will be in our driveway waiting for you.” “Okay, I’m doing that now.” Shortly, we saw them coming up the street. Janice pulled her Mercury into the driveway and they disembarked. We happily greeted each other with mushy hugs and kisses. We escorted our friends into our den, flopped down on chairs and couches and shared some delightful camaraderie. We have a lot to talk about when we get together. We talked and talked and laughed a lot. Neither Janice nor Elaine had been to St. Simons in a long time. They wanted to see the island. I thought it would be thrilling for them to see the island on Big Red. I removed his toupee and we saddled up. To my surprise, Elaine had never ridden in a convertible. I was tickled about being the first to give her an open-air ride. Petite Elaine, always a stickler for neatness, even in school, had her hair done flawlessly; it wouldn’t stay that way long on Big Red. However, she wanted to ride in a convertible with the top back, so away we went. Big Red was feeling his oats. I reined him toward Hampton Point. Hampton Point is a very exclusive area on north St. Simons with grandiose mansions nestled among stately moss-draped oaks. Visitors are awestruck by the majesty and charm. After a leisurely ride-through on Big Red, we turned around at the Hampton Point Marina and headed back via historic Christ Church. Neither of them had been to Christ Church, the birthplace of the Methodist Church in America, so we stopped and took the tour, visited the Wesley Oak and the Wesley Memorial. Next, we found Big Red a hitching place, “got down”, and took a delightful walking tour of Pier Village, Neptune Park and the pier. They liked it! When we told them that we often cooked out at the park, they perked up. They want to return to SSI and do that. After the long, enjoyable stroll around the Park and Pier Village, we were hungry. We opted for Mullet Bay and ordered up. We laughed and talked about old times as we savored our tasty meal. Before leaving that area, B. J. and I had to show them the spot where we spent our honeymoon. Janice had already been there but it was a first for Elaine. We really enjoyed being with Janice and Elaine. When I told them that there was a lot more to do and see on St. Simons and they would have to come back, their eyes brightened up and they smiled big. We believe that they will return soon.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 22:24:20 +0000
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