Thursday, May 30, 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2003. During Mattie's first trip to the Outer Banks we took him to visit Bodie Lighthouse. We were unable to climb this lighthouse, but we did tour all around the outside of it. My goal was to share my love of lighthouses with Mattie, and I figured it was never too early to start! In our case, I am happy we did not wait to do things with Mattie, because we wouldn't have gotten a second chance at it!







Quote of the day: The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy. ~ Kalu Ndukwe Kalu

We have a wonderful morning routine here in which we wake up and proceed directly to the deck and watch for fish, birds, and people! In the city I wouldn't be walking around in my pajamas, but here I migrate right outside pajamas and all. It is a much nicer way of greeting the day. We had a fishing boat near us this morning and as always the dolphins do not disappoint. They were jumping all around the boat! We have daily dolphin sightings from our deck. It is always tricky to pick a condo when you aren't familiar with the location and region. But this condo has been an absolute gem. Ocean views that are spectacular and every room is filled with natural light. 

We have visited Morehead City, Beaufort, and the next city I wanted to visit was Swansboro. Swansboro was featured in Nicholas Sparks' book, The Guardian. I love Sparks' books for two reasons. The first is he is very in tune with the concept of loss and grief and he has a way of capturing the complexities of human love and emotions. The second reason I love Sparks' books is how he portrays North Carolina. He makes the towns seem quaint, charming, and highlights the connectivity among its residents. When I read his books, I feel like I am becoming part of the town, towns where there is community spirit and people are united over commonalities and culture. Something that we definitely do NOT see much of in our American big cities today. In North Carolina people seem to take pride in building things with their own hands, they prize hard work, and are very conscious about keeping development at bay. On our visit to Swansboro, I learned that it is a beautiful and historic waterfront community located at the mouth of the White Oak River, where the river joins the Atlantic Ocean and flows past the pristine beaches of Bear Island. It was founded in 1783, and its unofficial name is the “Friendly City by the Sea!” I can attest to the fact that it lives up to this name!!!


This is Front Street, the main thoroughfare in Swansboro. Settlers first came to Swansboro around 1730, founding a community on the site of an Algonkian Indian village at the mouth of the White Oak River. The colonial port town of Swannsborough was incorporated in 1783 – named in honor of Samuel Swann, who had been speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons. The community’s early prosperity was based on shipbuilding, and its most famous shipbuilder was Captain Otway Burns. Burns, whose exploits as commander of the privateer vessel Snapdragon brought early attention to Swansboro, was also the builder of the Prometheus, the first steamboat constructed in North Carolina.


I am pictured in front of the Swansboro pier. Although its shipbuilding industry declined, Swansboro found new prosperity in lumber and naval stores, and, in the mid-Twentieth Century, in the commercial fishing industry. Beginning with World War II, Swansboro, like most of Onslow County, began experiencing an economic boost from the nearby establishment of Camp Lejeune, one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ largest bases, and from the growth of coastal tourism – trends that continue today.

The architecture of Swansboro is charming, features houses that are over 200 years old. Peter snapped some photos of the stores along Front Street. 

The Olde Brick Store has served many functions through the years. Church services and school were held in the building in the 1890's. It also served as the post office during the early 1900's. In the beginning of 1912, it operated as a drugstore.

I entitle this photo, "Big Red in Swansboro!" All I know is I wouldn't want to take this cat on! She's quite a gal and we even met her owner.

This grey tabby lives with Big Red above. They keep watch over a store in Swansboro called the Grey Dolphin. The irony is the grey tabby appears to want to get into the store, but when you open the door for her, she backs away. Several patrons tried opening the door for her and coaxing her in! A true cat, not knowing exactly what she wants but is great at getting you to try to meet her needs

One of the highlights for me of our trip to Swansboro was going into this special store
entitled, Russell's Olde Tyme Shoppe. As you enter the store, you are hit with all sorts of beautiful but not overbearing fragrances. But it is like walking into something from the past. As you walk around, you quickly begin to see that EVERYTHING in the store is hand painted. I mean everything, from painted vases, purses, candle sticks, and lots of other items. But who paints it? The painter and artist owns the store and her name is Maxine Russell. She not only assists her guests, but she paints right in the shop and you can see the things she is working on right there by the cash register. Maxine is an older adult in a motorized wheelchair, but honestly it would be very easy to overlook her disability and her age, once you begin talking to her. She has led a remarkable life, lost her husband who was a marine 25 years old, and raised four children. If Maxine lived closer to me, I would be visiting her often! Most likely to get her to paint Mattie's sun on all sorts of objects!

After talking with Maxine, I asked her if it would be okay if we took a photo of her. I told her my intention was not to sell it but to share it with my readers. Here is a bio on Maxine Russell, or as her friends call her, "Max." Max is a remarkable artist nationally respected for her original decorative painting. For over 25 years, she has created unique and affordable art for her charming gift shops, Russell's, in historic Swansboro, NC, highlighted in Southern Living as a must see shop in the South! Born in Bancroft, Iowa with Spina Bifida, her earlier childhood loss of mobility gave her the opportunity to discover a naturally tendency toward creativity and artistic talent. Maxine graduated with a degree in art from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, MO. After graduation, Maxine met and married Bill, a US Marine in 1956. Together they raised four children, Mary, Bill, David, and Greg. As the family moved about the Country, Max expended her professional painting career, selling her work to over 200 shops. Upon Bill's Marine Corp retirement, the family chose to call Swansboro home. While Maxine painted, Bill and the family restored several historic buildings in this picturesque seaside village before Bill's early passing. Russell's is pleased to showcase Maxine's beautiful hand painted artwork. Her artistic commitment and cheerful attitude delights visitors to this lovely destination. 

Maxine confirmed so much of my thinking about the townsfolk that are so often portrayed in Sparks' books. She was a delight to talk with and I personally admired her creativity and her attitude about life. As she says, painting is therapy. I understand that wholeheartedly, though I don't have her artistic talents. Even Maxine's shopping bags are a work of art. Anything you purchase gets wrapped up like this!!! She actually paints a rose on each bag and signs (and dates!!!) the work of art! I can assure you this could never happen in DC! If this were DC, the artist would charge you for the bag, the rose, the signing, his/her time, and most likely the whole design would have a trademarked! 

I would like to end tonight's posting with several more Foundation Walk photos. Another new feature at our Walk this year, were adult relay races. Two brave teams signed up to participate in these zany races and also to raise funds for the Foundation. Thanks to Foxy Voxi (captained by Grant Elliott and whose participants were all employees or family members of employees at Voxiva) and RCC Moms Rock (captained by Ann Henshaw and whose participants were all Resurrection Children's Center moms) these teams raised $4000 for Mattie Miracle. In this photo you can see Team Foxy Voxi participating in our "All Tied Up" relay race. They were given a ball of twine and asked to wrap it around themselves alternating sides. It sounds easy, but I assure you it isn't and the twine got knotted up VERY easily.

A close up of team Foxy Voxi. Pictured are Pam and Grant, and as you can see the twine was getting ALL TIED UP! This group is used to dealing with issues and strategic problems in their daily work, and from my perspective I could tell they had these skills because of how they were working with each other through this tied up problem!

This was a close up of the "RCC Moms Rock" team during the All Tied Up relay. Pictured are Kathy (Mattie's preschool teacher), myself, and Ann. Mind you this group didn't ask me for my help. It truly was an unconscious reaction to go over and help them. After all, I used to be a part of this group..... a RCC mom! Their twine was a true mess and I could tell they were at an absolute standstill. I am sure when Peter and I created these relays, my assistance of a group wasn't part of the rules. But as Kathy said to me later, I wasn't cheating, the twine was such a mess that I was trying to help make the race more even and put them on a level playing field. Needless to say, this photo to me is an absolute riot! 

Each team performed three relays. This was our last relay, which we entitled, "Strike a pose." Literally half of the team was one side and the other half on the other. As you can see Pam had to run across the field to meet five of her teammates by this box taped box. Once in the box, she had to take out all the items in the orange bag and wear them. Then after she was dressed, the five teammates had to act like crazed fans and wait for the photographer to snap a picture of this in action. After the picture was taken, Pam had to put all the props back in the bag and run back across the field for her next teammate to get dressed up and pose!

Here is a photo of Kathy, Mattie's preschool teacher, striking a pose and the team getting their photo taken! 

I personally love this photo! Coach Dave was helping Peter and I manage these relays. Our photographer caught Dave laughing over the sights he was watching!!!

At the end of the adult relays, the teams were all great sports and shook hands with each other. Every team member received a prize. Pictured here is the RCC Moms Rock team with their trophies for being outstanding fundraisers for the Foundation. Pictured in the bottom row from left to right are Jennifer Greiner, Tanja Mayer-Harding, Mary Doane, and Catherine Canterbury (lying down!). In the second row from left to right are Jane Pisano, Ann Henshaw, Dawnee Giamittorio, Danelle Fortune, Kathy Harris, and Carolyn Coker.