Feels Like Home to Me

     Americans love their Fourth of July and Goose Creek Islanders are no different.  I love the Fourth of July.  It has always been a day when good friends, family and neighbors get together and celebrate the summer and the spirit of our American forefathers.  Instead of going to Cape Lookout in the boat this year or heading to Morehead City to watch the fireworks, I am going to the county this evening.  I am going to spend the night at Granny's house in Alliance.  It's going to be a little different this year. Her presence is going to be missed. I am going to miss sitting up late talking with her or sitting around the kitchen table early in the morning having coffee. 
     My Fourth of July is going to be a bit different this year.  You see, I am going to get up early on July 4th and go home.  Home is at Goose Creek Island.  No matter where you are in this world, when a Goose Creek Islander says they are going home....home is the island.  As someone told me, "You can take the girl out of Goose Creek Island, but you can't take the island out of the girl."
    I'll cross the bridge and take in the view of Jones Bay.  I'll ride down to the end of Hobucken Rd. and see how our island folks are completing their storm repairs.  I'll make the turn and go around the school house road. No trip to Hobucken can be complete without riding by the old school house, even though its no longer there.  I will visualize the baseball games that was played there or the many times I have walked in the school to get a BBQ or chicken plate from the Ruritan Club men.
    I want to go down and see what the boys have done to Hubert's house.  I'll probably stop in to see Uncle James for a few moments, see how he has been doing.  I'll drive to the end of Fulford's Point Rd. and look out over Goose Creek and see the fishermen pulling their crab pots.  I'll drive around the Horne Rd., check out the old home place and make my way up to Oyster Creek.  I'll pull up to Granddaddy's old dock space and think about those days when his boat was tied up there.  I'll look over at Zool's and remember those times Mr. Alex Mason would crack open a hot, steaming crab claw for me. Then I'll head "Up the Prong" and stop at the cemetery to record some vital information for a project I am working on.
      To complete my visit, I will stop out to Lowland Cemetery and place a flag on Granddaddy and Granny's grave.  They were two of the most patriotic people I've ever known.  I don't remember many times that Granddaddy wasn't flying the American flag.  It wasn't just flown on July 4th...he flew it everyday.
     It is our island ancestors like them and the many others, who worked through strife and fears to establish what our country is today.  We as Americans are inheritors of our ancestors efforts to create this great country.  During your holiday celebration, express thanks to not only our forefathers who prevailed to establish this great country, but also express thanks to our Goose Creek Island ancestors who valued and maintained the integrity of our island roots.....a place we can still call home.
      God bless each of you this Fourth of July and lets believe that America can be great again. Let freedom ring!