Sunday, August 05, 2007

Turning back the hands of time

This is the sole burger joint on the island. This year it is called McConkey's, but in years past it was called the Ruby Seahorse (a much more musical name, I think). Methinks they're trying to upscale it a notch, but c'mon. Look at it. It screams hot dogs and burgers.



People come to Edisto, I believe, to disengage from the real world: one can enter the world of "island time" and honestly forget having a real life back home. Bills, traffic, schedules, committments, paperwork, phone calls, and errands give way in island time to tides, riding bikes, phases of the moon, when the loggerheads will hatch, playing Scrabble and Bingo, the most difficult problem to be solved is 38 Down. Our vacation winds up tomorrow, and come Tuesday I'll be up to my elbows in getting textbooks and uniforms and sports physicals, and nursing my plants back to life, and sorting through mail, and single momming while Bill's on a business trip, and reacquainting myself with civilized niceties such as blowdryers and makeup. There's an ebb and flow to life, and Edisto time reminds me of that.

7 comments:

Colleen said...

Yes, whether it be Edisto or the San Juans, "island time" is indeed a time all unto its own. I always carry a bit of island time with me ~ memories of time spent living on an island when I was a girl. And whenI ride a ferry back home from an island, I think of Robert McCloskey's "One Morning in Maine"...the family heading back to the mainland at the end of the summer season...A little bit glad about the place they are going; a little bit sad about the place they are leaving.

LauraLiz said...

So I'm headed to the beach in a couple of weeks. Is Edisto your pick? What's the closest drive? You've certainly whetted my appetite, even though I only have a day or two.

my15minutes said...

Depends on what you want. It's quiet and there's not a lot to do. Think the OPPOSITE of Myrtle Beach. Charleston area beaches (Isle of Palms, Kiawah, Folly, Edisto, etc.) are probably closer than the Grand Strand beaches (Myrtle, Pawleys, Litchfield, etc) or the southern beaches (Hilton Head, Fripp, etc)...at least they are for us. Edisto is 2.5 hrs from Columbia.

Some are more entertainment beaches; some more geared toward golf, or retirement, or surfer/hippie/ alternative lifestyle. Depends on what you want. :-) Edisto is more family/quiet.

Unknown said...

I loved Edisto island time. Miss it in fact. Love to think about it that way in your writing. Very soothing.

Colleen said...

Okay, not that it matters, but all day it's been on my mind that I wrote the wrong book title in my other post. I was quoting "Time of Wonder", not "One Morning in Maine". Whew. Now I feel better. ;-D

SUSAN said...

Loved reading this. I'm glad you have had your "Edisto" time.

Susan

MaryD said...

I love that beach rhythm, which you've captured in your words and your pictures-- the transition back to reality can be harsh.