Good Morning, Carolina

The early Sunday morning haze and humidity greeted me as I opened
the door of the tiny motel room. Looking out I was feeling a bit alone
and misplaced. I decided to shake the 'blues' and head into the nearby
town.

At 8:45am traffic was very light, hardly a car around. I parked my
Blazer in front of the local post office knowing that if I hurried a
bit I could sit in City Park, drink my coffee and listen to the 9 a.m.
church bells chime.

Tucking my keys and some cash into my jeans pocket I reached for my
coffee, letters, and my old faithful Cannon camera.

"All set, I think." I said to myself.

Impatiently waiting for the light to change and the WALK sign to glow I
took a deep breath and wondered what 'magic' I would discover
today.

This was my second visit to South Carolina within the last few months
and I knew I would take home more this trip than the last. I felt at
peace with myself here and when I am feeling that way I always find
'magic'. I believe that magic is always around if we take time to look
for it. I knew today would be no exception. I could feel it in the air!
I expected it would happen I just didn't know where or when.

After drinking most of my coffee and listening to the beautiful ringing
of the bells I headed for my first stop, the post office. I felt the
need to reassure my family that I was indeed in the South and I would
return to Ohio, not today, possibly not tomorrow but one-day
soon.

I dropped the post card in the slot and headed up the street. I was
taking my sweet time and the opportunity to snap some photos of the
closed stores and the nearly deserted streets. No autos were around and
I could almost step back in time a hundred years! I closed my eyes and
imagined the town as it had been then. I hoped that I could capture
just one photo that would reflect the solitude I was able to find for
myself here.

I found I had wandered a couple blocks from where I had parked and
decided I should cross the street and head back toward the center of
town. I snapped two more pictures, one of the graffiti painted under
the East Street Bridge and the other of the fountain across the
street.

After crossing the street I realized the sidewalk was "under repair." A
sign requested that we use the sidewalk on the opposite side of the
street. I had just crossed over! Feeling a bit radical I decided to
ignore the sign and walk along the curb anyway. After all, there was
just a small portion under construction and no traffic.

Stepping back up on the sidewalk I watched as a woman approached from
the opposite direction. We made eye contact and I believe that we both
smiled at one another at the same time as well as exchanging , "Good
Morning."

"May I ask you something?" she asked as we were shoulder to shoulder
about to pass one another.

"Yes, of course" I replied.

She was about 5'1" maybe a bit taller. The reason I am so sure of her
stature is that I stand an even 5 ft. tall and rarely do I get to look
at someone eye to eye! I couldn't help noticing what pretty steel blue
eyes she had. The unusual color reminded me of how my mother's had
looked.

"Do you have twenty dollars I can have until I get on my feet?"

"No, I don't" I quickly replied.

"How about ten?" she immediately asked, looking into my eyes the entire
time.

Feeling the need to explain I said, "No, I need the money to get back
to Ohio&;#8230;I'm not from around here."

"Okay, thank-you anyway" she smiled and walked away.

I turned and watched her as she continued down the street. She
certainly wasn't what I would expect a "beggar" to look like. Her
clothes were good, her hair was clean and combed, she had a purse
draped over her shoulder. But, I did notice she carried a white plastic
grocery bag. But, what should 'they' look like? She had looked almost
angelic.

All sorts of questions were running through my mind.

"What if she was 'scamming' me? What if she was in need and I turned
her away? What if she hungry? What if! What if! What if! What if she
were an angel?"

I reached into my pocket and counted my tucked in bills&;#8230;two
tens, three ones, no change. Numerous thoughts kept going through my
mind. I kept remembering her eyes! So very haunting! I have many
blessing and I knew the 'right' thing to do was share.

I turned to call her back but she had traveled a good distance down the
block. I decided to go and get my Blazer and catch up with her. After
walking a few feet I looked down and there stuck to the sidewalk was a
tattered silver star.

"Okay, now I'm freaked," I said out loud to myself. Anyone who knows
anything about ME will tell you two things&;#8230; "I believe" and
"stars" are like magic to me.

"Yep, I'm freaked all right!" I thought again.
Now I was more certain than before that finding her was what I should
do.

Stooping down I pulled the star from the cement and placed it on the
body of my camera.

As I drove down the street I caught a glimpse of her as she turned down
a side street and headed to a small bus stop. I turned into the
deserted parking lot and I watched as she was digging to the bottom of
her plastic grocery bag. I turned off the ignition and walked towards
her with the money in my hand.

"Hi," I smiled. "We meet again."

She cautiously returned my smile.

"How about if I share half of what I have here and you tell me your
story?"

Glancing down at the money she thought for a moment and sweetly
replied, "I can't tell you my story, not now."

I could see that the white plastic bag was full of clothes stuffed in
like a make shift suitcase. In her right hand she held a cheap white
plastic spoon. She continued to rummage through her bag, glancing a
time or two at the money I still had in my hand. I could tell she
desperately wanted the money but the cost of revealing even a bit of
herself was too high.

"Your story doesn't matter, but, can't you just tell me your
name?"

She looked at me bewildered or possibly afraid.

"Maybe just your first name" I said quickly.

She once again looked at the crumpled bills in my hand. She pulled out
a jar of peanut butter. "I don't want to, all I want is some peanut
butter."

With her short spoon she began the task of scraping the near empty
remains of the off brand peanut butter jar. I could hear the spoon
scratching the sides of the jar.

I quickly pressed the bills into her hand. I was surprised how cold her
hand was on this very hot summer day. I turned without a word feeling
very disappointed in myself. I was ashamed that in return for a good
deed I was still expecting to get something in return. I was a writer
and I wanted a story.

Taking one step towards me I heard her faint voice say, "Honey, bless
you."

I smiled and turned to go on with the rest of my day. After all, what
was left to say? I had shared my twenty-three dollars. I had ten and
she had thirteen. It seemed right&;#8230;it felt good.

A few minutes later I was sitting in the Waffle House ordering a
sandwich. I was now short on funds so I would eat half now and save the
other half for later.

While waiting on the order to be prepared I thought over the events of
the morning. How I wished I could've written her story. Then I
realized, I do have a story! I knew I would find magic and I did!

Sitting on the counters edge was a silver pan over-flowing with butter.
As the waitress served up my breakfast sandwich I noticed a huge
portion of grits on the side of my plate.

"Gee, look here, grits. Well, I am in the 'South' I thought.

"Grits and a pan of butter&;#8230;how they are like MY life."

A bowl of grits, like life, can be plain but if you add lots of butter
the taste changes!

I will never know the name of the stranger. I guess I will remember her
as "Angel" or maybe I will just call her Carolina.