Hurray for Having 4.5 Senses

Just got back from dinner at Wild Wings. Gums are still a little sore from the wisdom teeth operation, but they're definitely getting better! Couldn't wait any longer to sink my teeth into some real meat, so I had to go to Wild Wings tonight.

I'm surprised my head is still attached to my body. After all of the procedures it has had to endure (I know only two, but gosh it feels like a lot more!) in the last month, you would think it would have moved on to greener pastures a long time ago...but I am happy to report that my head is still firmly attached to my body and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Now, whether or not the heat and boredom has finally gotten to my head, that's another question that I'll leave that for you to decide!

After Wild Wings I got a chance to walk on the beach with one of my absolute favorite people...really a nice night to go out on the beach. The tide was on its way out, leaving a lot of fresh, smooth sand with absolutely no footprints or anything. We were on Sullivan's Island walking towards Charleston, with a full moon behind us. Not only could you see the new Ravenel Bridge lit up (still quite a sight to see!), but there was a bit of a storm over the penninsula and you could see lightning flashes from cloud to cloud. It was definitely cool to see.

I am not telling you this because I want you to think I have it made should I ever decide to take a girl out on a date...I mean, really, how many girls (at least from the South) could pass up a chance to take long walks on the beach at night under a full moon? With all the free time I've had to go boating, walking on the beach, or just enjoying the Carolina Lowcountry around me, I have given lot of thought to how truly wonderful place thisplace is in which I live.

Fortunately for us, when God created the world, he created Man to enjoy it. In order to have the ability to enjoy this world, He also gave us the ability to interact with our environment through the use of five senses. The majority of us have full use of each of these senses, but there are MANY among us who have limited or no use of any one of these faculties.

Maybe it is more pleasing to enjoy the world around us by utilizing each of our five senses. But for me, living here in Charleston - with the beaches, the marshes, the way the sun and the moon reflect off the water, happy people, warm weather, the smell of pluff mud and salt air together, and much more - could not be a more enjoyable experience. Thankfully, I am realizing that even without the use of one of my faculties (hearing, obviously), my total, overall experience of the world around me is affected very little. I have realized over the last few months that I don't need the ability to hear to be able to enjoy life and to take pleasure in my surroundings. Sure I may have a little difficulty hearing the waves crashing on the beach or the seagulls crying for more food from a shrimp boat headed to Shem Creek among other things, but there is much more to life than being able to hear these things. God has done so much with this world, that it is impossible not to enjoy certain sights or certain tastes that don't require the use of two or more of our senses to enjoy.

I really do love living in Charleston. I've had a few friends from out of town visit, and it is such a joy for me to be able to share with them this place that I live. But, I've especially realized what a great place it is now that I live in Clemson more time out of the year than I do in Charleston. As much as I love living in the shadow of the Blue Ridge mountains, with freshwater lakes aplenty, there's a part of me that's always tugging me towards the coast again. When I'm in Clemson, I miss the smell of the salt air, I miss the taste of a Lowcountry Boil and REAL seafood (and not the wimpy, pitiful excuse for jumbo shrimp that they serve at Charlie T's in Anderson!) and just the general sight of the Charleston skyline and Cooper River Bridges at sunset.

But then again, when I'm in Charleston, I miss having barbecue once a week like I do when I'm in Clemson. I certainly miss the concrete outline of Death Valley, my Mecca of college football. There's also something to be said for the experience of feeling and enjoying a crisp fall evening, whether watching a football game in the Valley or hiking through the mountains.

Who am I kidding? Sometimes I feel like I'm supposed to be pretty mad at the world for all this crap that's happened to me lately...for having such a boring summer and having to go through this operation and everything. I guess what I'm saying tonight with all of this is that I am just too thankful for so many things that I find it hard to be mad or upset or frustrated about the events of late in my life. I have way too much going for me, not the least of which includes a wonderful family, the best friends, and two wonderful places to call home...all under the watchful care of God.

Thanks for enjoying my ramblings...hope it made some sense!