The Deepest
June 12th, 2005I’ve been to Austin, I’ve been to Memphis, I’ve been to Talahassee, I’ve been to Apalachicola and I’ve even been to Charleston. However, I’d have to say that our recent trip to Beaufort, South Carolina was the south I’d always heard about. It is the most southern city I’ve ever visited.
Wedding protocol isn’t difficult, but there are added layers if religion is involved. And if the south is involved. We attended some amazing activities and were privy to being entertained in some of the finest architecture in Beaufort. Quite an honor, and something that I’ll never forget. We were hosted by a lovely couple who leaned slightly left as well as enjoyed the TV show, Arrested Development. If one can travel across the country and talk about the finer points of Buster and Gob, one is indeed lucky.
The morning after we arrived, I left Heather to sleep in and joined the groomsmen for a Morning After fishing trip. I was invited to the bachelor party, but declined due to fatigue. While I wanted to party, I didn’t want to start the trip recovering from a Denver level hangover that lasted until 9 pm the next day. Fishing trip it was to be.
We boarded at Port Royal and were captained by a Ray Liotta/Albert Finney stunt double who went by “Cap’n Gumbo”. Gumbo was able and quick; he showed us his bait catching technique and within 15 seconds had a couple of bait fish hooked. When a massive storm loomed, Gumbo got us the hell out, pulling anchor and escaping, water coming over the bow repeatedly, fueling visions of my skeletal remains washing ashore three months later, Heather, in remorse, wearing black and Leta growing up fatherless.
The groom pulled in an 18-inch wide by four foot long stingray although we were fishing for Cobia. We caught a ton of herring as bait fish, but the only big one was the stingray. It was awesome to see and the struggle lasted a good while, involving Gumbo telling one of the groomsmen to “get the fighting belt”. The stingray was released and we made it to shore without incident. Which is a lie, but what happens on the boat, stays on the boat, y’all.
Which bring us nicely to southern manners. One of the nicer things that southerners do is teach their children to say to adults, “no ma’am” and “no sir” and “yes ma’am” and “yes sir”. At least the southerners I know. Heather has shared stories of her failure to do so when she was younger and the dire consequences that followed. We’d like to raise Leta with the same manners, but Utah, despite the fundamentalism, is not the south. I attended the wedding rehearsal, as Heather was doing a reading (and a fine job she did). I wanted to wait outside, but Heather insisted that I hang with her. I’m so glad she did. I’ve never seen a more tightly run, hardcore wedding rehearsal. Even the Utah contingency were saying “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am”.
We had a great time at the rehearsal dinner and wedding (Heather and I dancing [and sweating] the Maker’s Mark right out of our hair), finishing our trip by getting very sunburned and buzzed, enjoying some wonderful food at fancy schmancy place in downtown Beaufort.
I’ll be posting photos for the next little while, after I mow my lawn and recover from the 3hive recovery. o
June 13th, 2005 at 5:41 am
I lived in Beaufort for a while. I actually loved it - the architecture, the heat, the nearby natural beauty. But I’m a Northeasterner, and they don’t really like my kind too much down there
Too direct, and a little too loud. But it’s so pretty! I’m glad you guys had a good time.
June 13th, 2005 at 7:59 am
Love the photos, it looks like a really nice place. The fishing trips photos are atmospheric and scary (well maybe to me, cos I can’t swim!)
Hope y’all enjoyed the trip…so when are you venturing over to sunny ol’ England?? We need to be photoblogged!
June 13th, 2005 at 8:41 am
I am from alabama, one of those places where they make you have good manners. I even had a manners class in kindergarten, complete with how to set a table, put a napkin in your lap, and how to properly thank people. My boyfriend on the other hand is from Oregon, and he has never said “yes ma’am” as long as I’ve known him. I remember that bothering me when we first started dating, but I finally realized after three years of it bugging the hell out of me that they aren’t taught that when they’re little. I’m glad you noticed
June 13th, 2005 at 9:03 am
My mother was born and raised in Mississippi and my father in Illinois. I was raised in the north. So I have the manners and etiquette of a good Southern girl with the accent of a Yankee.
You and Heather should definitely visit Savannah, Georgia. AMAZING.
June 13th, 2005 at 11:45 am
Totally unrelated, have you seen Warren Jeffs has had charges brought against him? Yeah, wonder how that one will turn out, you kow…after they FIND HIM.
http://tinyurl.com/9j9gf
June 13th, 2005 at 1:01 pm
I completeley agree with Surburban misfit. As I was reading this post I was thinking to myself, Savannah is probably the most beautiful southern city I’ve ever visited. I’m from Kentucky and having traveled all over the United States I’ve found southerners to be the most friendly albeit maybe a little more dense. Kindness can last forever, intelligence fades with age. I have some pictures from Tybee Island, just of Savannah in my sidebar of my page, and some from a plantation in Charleston if anyone is interested. The south may be behind the rest of the world, but thats what makes it beautiful.
June 13th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
My father lives in Beaufort, NORTH Carolina. They have three traffic lights.
I love going there to relax, but after a few days I can’t wait to get back to vegetarian friendly NY and modern conveniences.
June 13th, 2005 at 6:25 pm
My nephew and niece were 4 and 2 years old, respectively, when their father (my beloved brother) and their mother (no comment;I won’t suck, Jon) moved from Southern California to East Texas for work. The kids are now 11 and 9 and it’s ALWAYS yes, ma’am, no, ma’am, excuse me, ma’am… and, you know, it’s a really lovely way to speak; it’s just strange to hear it. All in all, I think it’s a great way to instill a certain subconscious respect towards other people in children. If you can keep the training up consistently, I think it would be great for Leta to learn that. At the very least, it’s incredibly charming, and who can’t benefit by a little more of that?!
June 13th, 2005 at 6:40 pm
I am a Yankee transplanted to Florida, which as you so aptly noted, is not the south despite it’s geographic location (too many transplanted Yankees I suppose) … I’ve been to South Carolina a couple of times and you are right, it is the south … I love the southern manners and more relaxed pace. And the cheese grits. I love the cheese grits. You cannot get grits in Florida, more proof that it is actually a mis-placed northern state!
June 14th, 2005 at 6:46 am
You guys forgot to send me some Krystal burgers! Oh,I forget to ask… Silly me.
Glad you had a nice trip.
Especially glad the bride showed up. One never knows these days.
June 14th, 2005 at 8:19 pm
The Dooce is gone! Why is the Dooce gone?
June 15th, 2005 at 9:53 am
beaufort…. *sigh*
June 15th, 2005 at 11:02 am
I love Arrested Development!!!! Glad to hear other people are watching that show. Great sense of humor you have.
June 15th, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Why do you think I keep telling you THERES ALWAYS MONEY IN THE FROZEN BANANA STAND!!!