An Island Hug for this New Year

Photo By Greg Ballance. Sunset December 30, 2019 Goose Creek Island

The Island can be nosy. Everyone knows everything about you.

The Island can be opinionated. There is no shortage of people, all generations, who feel they know "best" and their opinion should be followed.

The Island can be judgmental. Makes one wonder if you laughed to loud at an inappropriate joke or provided that opinion, will you be snubbed?

The Island holds grudges from last month, last year, and the last decade like it happened yesterday.

Quite frankly, the Island can be stifling, like a strong hug that is at first comforting but too tight and lasts too long. Hugs are tricky like that.

Grudges, snubs and arguments are part of Island life. They do get tossed aside when something happens to an Islander. Potluck dinner is put together overnight when someone on the Island is sick. Baby and bridal showers are attended by almost everyone. Grass mysteriously gets mowed for an older resident who has left the Island for the day. We are gifted at comforting and loving our people.

Don't get me wrong, the Island does have its cliques, but none no stronger than being an Islander. Being an Islander means there is always someone around to vent to, to talk to, to offer a kind word, a prayer, to share a cup of coffee, or a beer. Someone to laugh with, to cry with or to lean on.

Yes, that stifling hug that is too tight and too long is our Island's greatest strength. But to move forward, sometimes that all-encompassing, giant hug needs to relax so we don't get stuck in our tracks. That is what is so special about being here.

As we move into a new year and new decade, I hope the Island continues to be forever our strong and harmonious home. We have so much to appreciate from our past. And our present continues to provide the care of keeping our Island strong. But I look forward to our Island future and the continuance of our community strengths through innovations and progress. So in 2020, lets honor our past by living in the present to plan for our Island future.

Happy New Year
Tina