South Carolina Heart-Clutching Moments

Buying a watermelon at a roadside stand and letting big ol' Arnold carry it to the car.

The fact that Dave was the first and last person we saw in South Carolina.

Publix. Seriously, why do other groceries even try? (Except the Pig, of course).

The way country music sounds so much better in South Carolina than anywhere else in the world.

The live oaks arching over Maybank Highway on the way to Kiawah.

Throwing the frisbee with Dad, Sullivan's Island, first beach day (so many days left to be together).

Watching Josh Summers and Laura Mills become "The Summers" (overlooking the 18th hole on the lawn of Kiawah Island's River Course clubhouse).

Going to the Mt. Pleasant farmer's market, listening to Triple Lindy ("foot stompin' booty shakin' newgrass") and the smell of kettle corn.

Sitting in our Bay Club den into the wee hours with Dave after he picked us up from the airport, eating single serve Motts apple sauce and laughing in the way that only he could make us laugh about measuring tumors in mice at MUSC.

Getting to be with Mom for the first Mother's Day in years, and finally finding just the right sweetgrass basket (made by Matilda) at a Mt. Pleasant stand for her mother's day present (and seeing her love it).

The fact that the Pat Patten family drove up for an impromptu reunion.

Seeing Dad play with Keelie the same way he played with me when I was her age.

Getting a sunburn (so much that aloe and an oscillating fan were required).

Watching Matthew Hubis dance solo to the East Coast Party Band at the Summer's wedding, with his poor wife Emily resigned to shaking her head and saying, "I know, I know..." (see video above).

The new South Carolina license plate.

Going with Uncle Pat to get Dunkin Donuts for Mother's Day breakfast on Sunday.

Eating watermelon with the Patten family by the pool in a thunderstorm.

People saying hello to us when passing, for no apparent reason other than the obvious civilized tradition by which one acknowledges a human being within a few feet of oneself.

Being at Poe's on Sullivan's with Alice and Dave, Blue Moons with an orange all-around.

The smell of a saltwater marsh just before rain.

Finding a "Stick with Strom" campaign t-shirt at Goodwill.

Getting caught on Sullivan's, far from our towels, in a downpour, running with Mom and Dad to the car, watching beachgoers flee for cover.

The truth that "partly cloudy" in Charleston means "mostly sunny."