A Return to the Past

I had a really nice trip to Edisto this year.

To most, this seems like a "duh" statement- it's the beach, right. But for me, no. You have to understand the history behind this. The history with my family. I don't like to get into a lot of details with family stuff, since anyone can read this. Let's just say that there have been some rough times in the past putting my whole family (that's including step family) in one house together for a week. Maybe the personalities don't match, maybe people don't have enough to occupy their time, or maybe it's the alcohol talking. Probably all of those combined. Anyway, for some years now I've come to see Edisto as less of a vacation and more of a game of waiting to see what crazy thing will happen next. This is sad, because Edisto is one of my favorite places on earth.

If you're one of those people who have to have constant noise and action and a party atmosphere, you really wouldn't like it. What's more, you wouldn't get it. You have to come to an understanding with the island. When you look at it on the surface, you may see something that looks boring. No, you can't do much shopping. You can't go putt putting, and you certainly can't go to a night club. But if you're the kind of person who likes these things (which at times, I am) it doesn't mean you can't also appreciate Edisto for what it is.

There's a natural beauty to the island. You can't really describe it to someone- but I'll try. In a 5 minute walk you can look a the ocean with dolphins playing and the most seashells of each beach in SC, and you can see breathtaking view of marsh land, with Ospreys flying over. You can drive down (in your car or on a bike) streets with trees bending from both sides of the road to touch each other.

There's an oldness to Edisto. Plantation homes still stand on the island with long, winding roads and hugs gates. While there are paved roads, there are also dirt roads that make your car rattle as if you were on a washboard. There is a dirt-floored vegetable stand called "George and Pink's" that has the best veggies, and also some roosters walking around if you come at the right time. There's ONE grocery store where everyone goes. It's the kind of place that they leave the key to the house you rented outside so you can get it when you arrive (along with a map of where to go) and don't think for a second anyone else would take it. The biggest event of the week is Bingo in a relatively small building (last time I went, close to 400 people came). For goodness sake, there's a mattress tied to a tree called the "Edisto Hammock." They forgot to join the 21st century... I love it.


There's a mystery and culture to Edisto. I have been going to Edisto since I was a little girl, and I'm still learning more about it each year. The low country of SC is full of mysterious ghost tales- it's part of living there. Edisto has some of these too. I love to hear the "gullah" accent of the natives. Going to the church and hearing the choir sing would make you cry. You can also hike to go see the Indian mound. The people hear know the rivers (the ACE basin -- where the Ashepoo, Cumbahee, and the Edisto Rivers come together) like the back of their hands.

All of these things, and even more that are unspoken, instill a love of the island in anyone who takes the time to appreciate it. This year I seemed to have a bit more time to appreciate these things. I'm glad. Many of my greatest childhood memories were made on Edisto, and I can't wait to make more for myself and eventually my new family!