Charleston Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Charleston and Venice have this in common: tourists rarely imagine people living in an historic city.

A Knitted Suit from the 1980s

Columbia, South Carolina, November 13, 1988. I used to knit suits, too (okay, this is a two-piece dress). The sleeves are not Dolman sleeves—I never liked those batwings—but they are wide. I knitted this in Lana Borgosesia's Hilton yarn. I worked the yarn at 7 stitches to the inch: knitters know this is a fine (to some, tedious) gauge.

I loved this garment. It's knitted in my favorite color! I wore it when I taught, and I wore it for special occasions. And . . .  I still have it:

People used to get dressed up to travel.

Columbia, South Carolina, May 1990. Mr. Irene lands in Columbia for the last commuter trip. He arrived moments after Air Force One landed.

I moved from South Carolina the next day, and Mr. Irene accompanied me on the drive back to the Midwest.

Cobbled Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. We've wandered into a residential neighborhood.

Cooling Off

Colombia, September 1954. My Dad's friend Casey and his kayaking companion jump in. Casey wrote, "We're in the lake already."

Familiar

Colombia, August 1954. My Dad's friend Casey wrote, "We're kayaking, and we approach a lake. The view through the trees was so familiar, this could have been in Europe."

Boggy Reunion

 
Colombia, 1954. My Dad's friend Casey sent this snapshot to illustrate the flora near his farm.

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Colombia, 1954. Casey and a friend prepare to leave for the kayaking trip.

A Shared Joy

Columbia, 1954. Casey knew about my Dad's love of kayaking. Casey wrote, "Here's another Lithuanian friend with whom I've had great success kayaking."

A Different Life

Columbia, about 1954. My Dad's friend Casey heads out for his morning chores.

The View from the Steps

Columbia, South Carolina, September 5, 1988. I walk up the steps of the South Carolina Capitol.

Residential Reunion

Charleston, South Carolina, September 1988. Mr. Irene visits me in Columbia, and we make a day trip to Charleston.

Air Force One

Columbia, South Carolina, May 1990. President George H. W. Bush arrives in South Carolina's state capital, and ...

... Air Force One parks under the "Columbia, Home of the Fighting Gamecocks" sign.

Palmetto State

Columbia, South Carolina, September 5, 1988. During the last 26 years, I have lived in three cities. Each of them is a state capital.

Flamingo Reunion

Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina, October 11, 1988. Mr. Irene and I commuted for two years. When he flew from the Midwest to see me in South Carolina, we sometimes traveled to Charleson or Hilton Head. Most often, we stayed in town, and then, we sometimes visited the zoo.

Pirates Courtyard

During the two years that I lived in Columbia, South Carolina, Mr. Irene often flew down for a visit. One weekend we drove to Charleston. Because I had grown up in Chicago, I was not accustomed to seeing so many historical buildings in an American city. During that time, I also was an historian, and my area of focus was medieval, Mediterranean piracy.

Charleston is full of pirate-themed tourist attractions. I nonetheless was quite charmed when Mr. Irene and I stumbled on the Pirates Courtyard: 

Charleston, South Carolina, September 4, 1989. I stop at the Pirates Courtyard, on Church Street.

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Charleston, South Carolina, November 1989. I returned to the same spot, shortly after Hurricane Hugo struck the city.