Charleston | Elizabeth Jamison's PhD Journey

botany bay (Photo credit: fo.ol)

This year, as we did for the past two, Todd, Jake, and I went to see our best friends Lani and Mike. Sometimes we go to their lake house on Lake Murray, SC. This time, we went to a picturesque mansion in Charleston – we’re talking 5 bath, many beds, dock, little boat house, etc. Lani and her family used it the week before Christmas but we were invited for the New Year. Thanks Lani!

For this post, I’d like to display some of my favorite pictures and perhaps tell a story or two about them. I hope you will connect with something here. These past few days have meant so much, and I did just what I asked readers to do in my Christmas letter: Anything I wanted. That feels so good!As I was taking pictures I couldn’t help but feel frustrated at my lack of photography skills. I wished I had Patrick Latter or Seth Snap with me (I hope you guys will check this out because you’ll see the potential in Charleston…maybe you’ll even travel there to take some photos!).

The pictures I show here are ones at the “big house” and on the dock, out in the front yard, and at Botany Bay. Botany Bay was incredible. Although I’ve been there once before, my son wasn’t with me so he didn’t have the opportunity to see these new sites. So I got to experience it all through his eyes.

People decorate dead trees and branches with the beautiful shells (you aren’t allowed to take any).

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There were a myriad of oddly shaped trees, branches, tree-trunks – – all strewn on the beach like the aftermath of some horrific apocalyptic event. Any yet, the stark beauty was breathtaking, and all the shells gave each tree a new life. As I’d find a “special” shell I would try to discover just the right spot to place it. How many people before me have done the same? With the same shell?

My son gets tired of being the subject of photos, but reluctantly agreed to a few…

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He loved choosing his own special shells to place “just so”. As I was walking along the ocean, staring out into the endless depths of the Atlantic, I couldn’t help but wonder the stories that have unfolded on this beach. Who got engaged here? Who had a first date here? Who brought kids here, had picnics here, broke up here?

You walk down this LONG path in what appears to be the middle of nowhere. Then – OCEAN.

The best thing about this beach is the array of shells. Since it is against the law to take shells off the beach, you find so many fantastic ones that would normally have been picked away!

Lani (my BFF from college – we went to The University of South Carolina in the early 1990’s) or better known as “Aunt Lani” to Jake, comes here all the time. Her husband’s family is from the Charleston area, and I feel lucky that she’s introduced me to such beauty just a few hours from Atlanta.

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Aunt Lani and Jakey

But enough of Botany bay. Let me share some of the fantastic pictures from the house. It was just lovely.

The house, on Lottie Pope road in Edisto Island, was hard to find. I swear, we drove through so many twisty-curvy roads that seemed to lead to nowhere. Then, around one more turn, was this beautiful home. The front yard was massive – a U-shape lined with majestic trees. Perfect for an impromptu game of baseball (which we did the next day).

Of course we didn’t need as much space as the house provided, but boy is it nice to go upstairs to your suite with a balcony! 🙂

One of my favorite features of the house is the pool room/library. My son is now a pool fanatic (although based on the look in this picture you’d think he hates it).

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My favorite spot: Deck. Water. Book.

Jake in the front yard. I loved tree climbing and so does he. 🙂

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I took many sunset pictures. I had to because we were right there each night on the dock, and each sunset was different. That first night (Saturday) provided me with what I consider my best pictures.

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Well, I am quite exhausted from several days of just having fun. So I’ll end this blog here by saying that we all have to get out, see friends, appreciate and love our family, and just do what we want to do!

I wish you all a Happy New Year!