Refuge from the Heat

It was only 120 miles or so from the Willow Tree Campground to Charleston, so after an almost-full day of playing in the pools and driving the golf carts around in the scorching heat (and a final, extended diagnosis at the RV repair facility) we hit the road. Approaching Charleston, we drove through a lightening storm the likes of which I had never seen in my life. We arrived at Lia Johns' house in Mount Pleasant at about 11 PM. Lia is a classmate of Rachelle's from the graduate school of social work at Boston College. Her husband, John, is a priest in a beautiful Greek Orthodox church in Charleston, Their eldest son, Michael, turned 6 that very day and their infant son, George, is 9 months old and teething terribly (might I suggest a bit of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup?). I think the last time that we saw Lia and John together was at their wedding 11 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I don't know if it's true or if she was just pulling my leg, but Lia told me that the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, was based upon childhood friends in her hometown. Keiko and Amaya, obviously, had never met any of the Johns family before, but I've never seen them more comfortable with strangers. They were chatting it up with our old friends until midnight. 

John, George, Paul, Ringo, Grumpy, Evangelia, and Superman

John and George Johns

Michael and Lia Johns

We spent three nights at Lia's (mercifully air conditioned) home. We got to sleep in a comfortable bed. I got to shave and shower. It was a little slice of heaven after our taste of Hell over the last few days in the heat. We didn't really do much while we were there, but that was just fine by everyone as we were all ready for a little down time. On the first day, we organized a Narnia marathon and just watched movies all day in our jammies. Oh yeah, and Lia fed us constantly. If these three days were any indication, that whole Greek stereotype from the movie must have some hint of truth to it. I awakened every morning to the sounds and smells of sizzling meat. Damn I love that woman. Keiko and Amaya are bacon monsters too. 

By coincidence, I had just written an email to my old college classmate, Keith McIver, noting that I was in Charleston. He wrote back and said that he was in Charleston on business that day. After work, he drove up to Lia's house and had dinner with all of us. I had never seen Keith in his Southern world before; I had only ever known him as a southerner temporarily transplanted in the North. He helped me with some of my confusion about southern culture and we had a great time catching up. Lia fed him non-stop for about 3 hours. I'm not sure how he stayed awake for the 2-hour drive back to Columbia, SC. 

Keith McIver in his home state of South Carolina

On our second full day, Lia gave me an insider's tour of Charleston while Rachelle and the girls slept in. What a cool city. I think it would be fun to take one of those horse-drawn carriages around the downtown area for a guided tour. Rachelle and I had visited Savannah, GA many years ago and these two cities seem to share many characteristics. Since the girls refused to do any more "educational" activities, I was pleased that Lia took the time to indulge my curiosity about the city. Their proclaimed indifference toward academic pursuits notwithstanding, Keiko and Amaya enjoyed learning something about Blackbeard during our dinner outing at Queen Anne's Revenge. We all made out like pirates.

Blackbeard was way scarier than Johnny Depp

Arrrrggh

Happiness Check: July 16
Rachelle 10
Keiko 8
Amaya 9-10
Lia 8
Michael 7
Tom 7
John 8
George 8