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Day two of our anniversary trip started with a glorious sunrise.
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And the required selfie with palm tree background.
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We headed out early and pointed the beast south.
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Through low country marsh…
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And those wonderful live oaks. (You’re going to see a lot of them in the days to come because they were everywhere and I love them.)
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More marsh.
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More moss draped trees. (I did warn you)
An hour and a half later, we reached our destination.
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Parris Island, South Carolina. The base that serves as east coast boot camp for the Marine Corps. The last time my Marine had been here was in 1966.
Almost 58 years had passed and he was interested to see how much he remembered.
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Those palm trees lining the entrance road?
Nope.
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The rifle range?
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Yes. Though the brick jersey barriers were new.
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I could tell this was an emotional trip down memory lane for him. The last time he walked these grounds he was fresh out of high school and training to go to war.
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We drove slowly, touring and taking in the sights. Base housing has definitely improved over the years.
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And as we rounded a large bend?
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A beautiful golf course…
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Complete with live oaks…
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Ponds…
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And shore birds.
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Egrets and herons were everywhere.
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As were the moss covered trees.
I asked if the golf course had been there in his day and he honestly didn’t know. During the Vietnam era, boot camp was condensed from 3 months into 2 and every single minute was spent training, drilling or sleeping. No days off. One hour a week to write a letter home and mandatory church service Sunday morning. There was no time for golf.
My husband really wanted to see his old barracks, but they were made of wood and torn down long ago. Modern brick was in their place.
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Just when the husband was feeling disheartened that everything had changed… we saw this.
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New recruits.
Looking lost and scared to death.
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Scurrying to and fro beneath the famous sign.
Turn up your volume for the full effect.
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Now that was familiar.
To be continued…
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River's world..... 