Tic Tac Toe (you win!)

I arrived to stay on June 19th, so I have been on the island for 10 days. Moving is stressful for anyone I suppose in any form and this is a really new adventure. My shelter is the inherited RV that was on the property when I bought it. I have named her Rosy - to keep my spirits high I think. I made a collage of flowers and glitter and it hangs on the wall. It's title is TicTacToe (you win)...it is a feng shui good luck token, and yes, it feels happy and winning looking at it hanging on the brown plastic wall of my bedroom. I am realizing how everything is about attitude. Someone once said that in life, we will have pain, but the suffering is optional. In so many ways this is just the perfect dream. I left behind the water bill, the gas bill, and that big mortgage payment. I have no tv bill for now - internet high speed streams any tv I wish to watch through my little MacBook as of Saturday, and being online that helps me feel connected to the world.

My new neighborhood is on the island, not the beach (the 'town' of Edisto Beach is five miles down the road), which is a whole different world. The island is a mix of Black Americans who are the descendants of the slaves who worked the Sea Island Cotton Plantations before the Civil War, and a few weekender whites, who have waterfront deep water property and docks across the street. Fred, who works for the local shrimper some days and lives in a tiny un-airconditioned house two doors down, walked up the drive the minute my trailer and I arrived and helped me unload the entire thing, washer and all. On the other side is a retired man who has two deep water docks and simply an enormous green 'barn' workshop with every imaginable tool and machine and mower you can dream of. Last night before dark he just drove the big tractor and bush hog over and began to help whittle down the tall grass on the back of my two acre parcel. He has mowed this grass for me while I was away for months as a gift of kindness. I now have my own new Craftsman 42" riding mower, which arrived last week. It has been a wonder and it is really fun to drive - and sure beats the push mower I left at Belle Rive. But last night I could not get it to start. Please sweet God, let her start this morning. I try to mow only inches of the tall grass at a time, but I know it is a challenge for this steel grey shiny machine, who needs a name.

Today the electrician is coming to wire the new little shed for the washing machine which I have been using in the yard (it works!) - the drain is gravity driven - just hold the hose UP while the tank fills! And he will hook up, I hope the tankless water heater I just purchased online. It seems amazing if it will work. Right now little Rosy has no hot water ( a winter breakdown last year of the old hot water heater which flooded little Rose while I was gone - the effects of which are still somewhat of a challenge). Today I am focused on TicTacToe, my blooming rose bush, my four green tomatoes and multiple blooms. I will make a tomato sandwich from the tomatoes Mr. Morrison brought me from his garden Friday night. Sweet God, thank you. I am blessed.