Put a LITTLE GRAVEL in Your TRAVEL...Lady Travels on Highway 378 to Myrtle Beach

Home of Josh Turner, one of my favorite country singers
Highway 378

Makes me wanna take a back road

Makes me wanna take the long way home...

(a Tim McGraw song)

Last week, my cousin, Vernon Roy, and I took a road trip to Myrtle Beach.  Highway 378 is a road that has been around years before the interstates were built.  I drive 378 from Lexington to Sumter because I prefer roads and highways to the faster interstates.  Why?  Because you get the feel of the countryside and the little towns along the way.  And at my young age of 67, I'm in no hurry to get to the next town.  I enjoy the moment.  Try it.  You'll like it.

FYI:  Highway 378 will take you all the way to Myrtle Beach.

My last trip to MB was three months ago with my cousin, Ronnie; we were meeting our cousins, Judy and Bettie, for lunch.  This time the trip with Vernon was more somber.  We were meeting Bettie at the hospital to visit Judy who recently had a major stroke and was paralyzed.  We were greeted by Judy's smile and her funny stories about her stay in the hospital.  Then we laughed about the time ...

...  I was in sixth grade and my family drove from California to South Carolina for a three-week Christmas vacation.  I stayed a few days in Sumter with Judy, and when her mother announced we were having fried chicken for dinner, I followed her outside, thinking we were going to walk down the road to the local Piggly Wiggly to buy a chicken.   Suddenly she grabbed an ax and I watched in horror as she proceeded to chop off a chicken's head (needless to say, that evening I had a difficult time eating one of their pets)... 

... The laughter we shared gave us strength to get through the heartache of seeing our cousin lying helpless in a hospital bed.  Before we said our good-byes, I asked Judy, "May we pray for you?"  As I prayed, peace filled the room, and our tears felt like tears of hope.  We are believing for Judy's miracle from God.

Travel TiP:  Laughter AND Prayer is good for the soul.  Remember that the next time you visit someone in the hospital.

The two hour drive back to Sumter gave Vernon and I some 'cousin time' to walk down memory lane.    As we drove along, something felt familiar.   Then suddenly out of nowhere,  a big sign on the right side of the highway caught my attention. "Josh Turner!"** I exclaimed.  Vernon quickly asked, "Do you want me to pull over so you can take a picture?"  Vernon has gotten to know me quite well since I moved to South Carolina seven years ago.  Although we only get together a few times a year, he has learned to read my body language, especially when I pull out my iPhone to take a picture...a dead give-away.

Travel TiP:  Take time to smell the roses and read the signs--and take pictures!  It's the little things that mean a lot, and I thank Vernon for having the patience to pull over for me to click about ten shots of this sign.  Yes, rich and famous people are born in small southern towns.  And I feel that this sign was a smile from God, letting us know that the whole world is in His hands, especially our sweet cousin, Judy.

By faith

we understand that the entire universe

was formed by God's command,

that what we now see

 did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT

You may apply all above Travel TiPs to any state or country you visit.

I wish you oceans of blessings and smooth sailing for your Autumn days

www.sharonleaf.com

** BTW: Quick story:  The first time Jacquie came to visit me seven years ago (before she moved to Lexington),  I accidentally took Highway 378 to Myrtle Beach, which takes twice as long as driving on I-20east...but hey, it was my first time driving to MB!  Jacquie and I did see the Josh Turner sign, but that was before I had a smart phone, and I never thought I'd be traveling down that road again.  But here's the proof!  *smile*

Put a little gravel in YOUR travel

Lady Travels to Myrtle Beach on Southern Back Roads

Lady Leaf at Myrtle Beach

I always look forward to spending time with my Carolina cousins, whether we hook up in Sumter, Florence, or Myrtle Beach.  But this time was special because I drove to my cousin Ronnie's, who lives in Bishopville, and he drove us to Myrtle Beach, not via Interstate 20 or Highway 378, but down long, winding southern roads.  What a treat!  My southern accent kicked in immediately.

As Ronnie headed his big red GMC truck to the countryside, he pointed to a little corner cafe.  "See that?"  I blinked and almost missed it.  "Every morning I meet my buddies of 25 years there and we sit in a circle and talk about...well, just about everything."  Something out of Mayberry, I thought.  As we continued down the road, I noticed that he kept shooing flies with his left hand.  I was getting ready to ask him what was the deal with the flies when he said,  "I'm waving to my friends."  It seems that after all the years living in a small town, everyone knows everybody.  Well, I guess that's a good thing.  I'll ask him next time.

"This used to be tobacco country; now there's corn, soy beans, and other vegetables growing."  Tobacco to textiles to farmland.  Beautifully green and welcoming.  Horses and goats grazing.  Big, old houses built in the 1800's at the end of long dirt roads.  Newer, modern brick homes at the end of long paved driveways.  And trees everywhere, as far as the eye can see.  A little bit of everything.  There's room for everyone.  Black or white.  Rich or poor.

Too soon, we were in Conway, a few miles from Myrtle Beach, and traffic to compare with the Southern California freeways.  Bumper to bumper, thousands were heading for the ocean to escape the heat.  For us, we were heading to Magnolia's to meet up with the rest of the cousins.  Heat and traffic behind, we shared stories and laughter over some mighty fine southern cookin'.

Thank you, cousin Ronnie, for a drive back in time as we talked about our mothers--who were sisters--and the sweet southern legacy they left us.  These moments don't happen often, but when they do, I inhale every moment.

I encourage you to cherish the moments that God has given you this summer, whether with family or friends, you are making memories.  Make them good ones.

Until next time, I wish y'all smooth sailing down memory lane.

Beach your cousins well!

www.sharonleaf.com