"Growing up, my mom, sister and I arm wrestled for each Thanksgiving dinner turkey wing. Mom was so concerned, she started buying an extra wing to cook with the turkey in the oven so all three of us would be happy. She often left the turkey out all night to defrost. Early one Thanksgiving morning we discovered the third turkey wing had been ravished, with most of it gone. Seems our family cat, Bootsie, hankered for turkey wings, as well. So we were back to fighting over two wings and locked up the cat. The following year or so, my mother-in-law insisted on cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I hate cooking and gladly gave up the kitchen to her. When we got ready to eat, both wings were gone! She had used the meat in her gravy, throwing away the rest. I thought about dumpster diving and divorce!"

“I was at a big convention, where everyone was bouncing from hospitality room to hospitality room and had more than their fair share to drink. I went to the restroom and realized the bottom of my skirt was tucked into my underwear. I had been  showing my backside since my last bathroom visit, probably two hours earlier. No one told me. I was mortified.”

Bumblebee… How Can it Be? Your flight, a sweet surprise.
Such tiny wings, You work and sing. A tiger in disguise.

Recognizing what traits make us unique is the first step toward self-fulfillment. The second step, and more challenging reality, is the strength it takes to act in pursuit of those talents. Sadly, some never get beyond the ‘recognizing’ part, and that is a tragedy of spirit. However, Christopher Garniewicz’s spirit is quite intact, serving up life with passion and purpose. He has unpacked some pretty cool gifts of his own, right here in the Lowcountry. Originally from Worcester, MA, Chris and his wife of 20 years, Larissa (Lara) and daughter Hayden, have been permanent islanders since 1997. He serves proudly as a paid firefighter for the Bluffton Township Fire District, saying he feels fortunate to be part of this awesome team. Chris was introduced to firefighting by a friend’s father in the early ‘90s and was instantly “hooked.” He embraces this field with arms wide open and clearly has a heart for service. “I love doing things for others, and need nothing in return,” he said.

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.” The late Hilton Head artist William Leon Stacks spoke those words to a young Clyde Williams, and he’s never forgotten them. Clyde always loved art in school and had answered a newspaper ad to learn picture framing. He eventually worked at Mr. Stack’s studio as a master framer, picture placement designer, and eventually took over all full restoration projects from him.

Meeting me at the Common Grounds coffee shop in downtown Beaufort, he brought two thick scrapbooks to illustrate his work. He was soft-spoken and modest, with a white beard, and wore a neat blue Greg Norman shirt, confessing that golf is another great love of his. “I keep my clubs in the car,” he confessed, always ready to play.

Hamp Burnett is a go-getter. At 92 years old, he is one of the most engaging, bright and kind men I’ve ever met. And what a life he has led! I could have listened to his stories for hours. From pre-WWII to being a gunner in a dive-bomber to becoming a dentist to wanting to retire and become a maître d’, Hamp is a natural born storyteller, a joy to be around, and he has lived a life filled with family and happiness.

Though Hamp joined the military and received an appointment to Annapolis, he was sent back to his hometown of Lynchburg, VA, because he hadn’t finished high school. After earning his high school diploma, he was one of 1,500 chosen to take a test to go to college instead of into active duty. When he got his assignment, the instructor yelled out, “Burnett. Geneva.” Hamp called his mother and told her of the great news of going to Geneva, Switzerland, only to find out he was headed to Geneva College in Geneva, NY.

It is truly by divine design that Darryl Van-Horne has become one amazing musician.  There were no accidents, only perfectly timed and orchestrated events that led him to his destiny as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and recording engineer.

How does it feel to have a job to go to every day?
It’s the best! I love having a purpose each day.

You bond with your trainer for life.
What’s your favorite thing about Krysta?
She gives really good hugs and belly rubs,
plus she’s really good at fetch. I love it when
she tells me I’m handsome. I even strike a
pose to show off my good looks.

Bernard Snyder and I met one morning at one of his local writing spots, a boardwalk leading to a pavilion overlooking the marsh, a world away from tourists and traffic, a scene so serene the stories and poems flow freely without distraction. He speaks, and the inflection of his voice carries me through the highs of love and the lows of loss. His intonation suspends me just over the edge of adventure and then places me surefooted in the face of hope and determination. He is a storyteller and a poet.

As I listened intently to Grady Montgomery describe his career path, watching the sincerity in the gentle lines on his face, it dawned on me that Grady Montgomery has done everything backwards. At one point, I interrupted and spouted just that, puzzling him. I explained, with the utmost of respect and awe, “Grady, you figure out what you love to do and then go make a living out of it. Most people go make a living and sometimes never figure out what it is they actually love to do.”

Visiting Quinn's Diamond Jewelers shop in Village at Wexford is guaranteed to get your blood pumping, and your senses firing. As soon as the bell rings when you open the door, you are greeted by one of the Quinn’s toy poodles, Kasey or Kody. The first bark is a, “Hey, who are you?” The second bark clearly states, “You’re good. C’mon in and make yourself comfortable.”

As we age, our bodies experience several changes due to decreases in production of our “sex hormones.” Five of the most common symptoms can be easily alleviated with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Bio-Identical, “natural” hormones are derived from natural sources and are identical in chemical structure to those produced by our body. Synthetic estrogens are not the same as natural estrogens, nor are synthetic progestins the same as natural progesterone. Synthetic hormones and Bio-Identical hormones act very differently in the body and have different side effect profiles. The five symptoms below are taking into consideration hormone replacement with Bio-Identical hormones.

Twenty-three years ago, when Paul Murphy received the news he’d been dreaming of, he was working aboard a cruise ship in port in Ketchikan, Alaska. The next three days would determine whether his dream would come true or if he would face a life-changing disappointment. He had been notified that his name had been drawn in a lottery by the embassy in his native Dublin to apply for U.S. permanent residency status—the coveted green card. The challenge was to get to Dublin from Alaska in three days to sit for the interview that would begin the vetting process. No rescheduling, no negotiation—be there at the appointed day and time or forfeit the opportunity of a lifetime.

Film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto and Telluride and the films they exhibit offer an escape into a world where movies can take chances, contradict themselves and ignore cinema ratings.

Developing friendship skills takes time and experience. The only way young children will learn social skills is by practice, so even though there are plenty of bumps along the way, it’s worth scheduling playdates with other children.

All right, I guess we all know that love is not really all you need. I mean food, clothing, a house, a car, friends, a glass of wine all are pretty important and I could go on and on. Honestly though, love is not a bad place to start, especially in February with Valentine’s Day and all. They say love conquers all, and I think there is a lot to that. However, I would like to dedicate some thoughts to not just love, but also to a few related things that make life better.

STEP ONE, LETTING GO: I met Deborah Monroe at the Heavenly Spa by Westin for a makeover and a day of pampering. After touring the luxurious spa, Deborah was given a soft white robe to change into. We met in the lounge where she apprehensively told me that she’d left her phone in the locker.

The first genuine musical, fully integrating singing and dancing was The Broadway Melody, MGM Studio’s first full-length musical in 1929. Not only was it the first musical film, it was also the first film with sound and first of both to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

According to Health.com, the thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck,
which can have a dramatic impact on a huge variety of bodily functions. Read on to see what two
local physicians have to say about the thyroid and your health:

I know we are all sick of being better people, feeling more confident, losing weight and writing thank you notes, so I will not bore you with any of that stuff. We will also not promise to call mom more often, adopt a rescue pet, or eat kale. Been there, done that and got the T-Shirt. Yes, I promise not to say that any more either. I know it’s old.