My family first visited Hilton Head Island in 1983, for a convention that my dad had to attend. We have gone every summer since.
This year was a particularly notable year though, as it was our first family vacation since we lost my dad at the end of last summer. This annual Hilton Head trip was something that my Dad loved, and put much energy into. He agonized over getting the perfect house, delighted in delivering our annual spanking in putt-putt at Pirate's Island, and loved eating at his favorite restaurants.
So this year, we did it all again. And cracked jokes constantly...just like he would have liked it. So what really set this year's trip apart was that sense of history, and the weight of the past that constantly surrounded us. One of the experiences that we remembered involved a hike to the Leamington Lighthouse. On one of those many trips, sometime around 1985, a family friend took us on a long hike to find this abandoned lighthouse, built in 1863. We still talk about it, as we were so exhausted by the time we finally found the abandoned steel structure.
But this year, we decided to find it again. So we loaded the kids in the car, and (much more easily this time, as it is now preserved and accessible) went to the Leamington Lighthouse - where it rekindled great memories from a trip long ago.
I think my Dad would laugh at us for this sentimental trek to a lighthouse. Truthfully, that is not his style at all. He would rather have been watching a golf tournament.
But it meant something to us, and reminded us of the debt of gratitude that we all owe him for this annual tradition.
Comments