Sweet Tea, Sunshine, Summertime

It's been quite a long time since I have been to South Carolina, but after my most recent visit I can guarantee I will be spending much more time in the beautiful Palmetto state. I boarded a 6am flight and met my mom and our family friend, Paula, down in Myrtle Beach. It was the first time the three of us have spend any significant amount of time together and we had so much fun!
We didn't spend any amount of time at the beach because Paula wanted to show us some other beautiful parts of South Carolina.  Her house is not on the beach, but sits on a beautiful lake. We woke up every morning raring to go on an adventure and then would return home and relax by the pool that looks out at the lake. Our adventures included:

A trip to Georgetown, SC - home of the best sweet tea I've ever tasted

A quick visit to Folly 

And a wonderful day in Charleston where we shopped and ate...

and ate...

and ate some more!

One night, we rolled ourselves to the theatre to see the Legends concert. Legends features celebrity impersonators. Our concert featured Alan Jackson, Madonna, Abba, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Elvis. The resemblance to the real life celebrity singers was uncanny in appearance and voice. I am still wondering why anyone would want to make himself look like MJ, but hey, he was good and could even moonwalk! Photography was not allowed so unfortunately, I don't have any photos to show you how closely the imposters resembled the real deal!

These three women packed so much shopping and fun into four days there wasn't really time to lounge at the beach. However, I was not leaving Myrtle Beach without evidence that we were there.

While this was my first time to South Carolina in many years, I know it will be a place that I will frequent in the years to come.

Richmond Reunion 2011

My college friends have a reunion every year. For the most part, we are all spread out up and down the east coast and we choose a different place to reunite each year. Technology helps bridge the distance gap between us, but with a few exceptions, reunion is the one time most of us can be together. This year our reunion was in Boston. I have been to Boston close to 10 times and thought I had pretty much exhausted all the fun things to do in the city. Boy was I wrong!
On Friday night, we gathered for dinner at Union. The food here was delicious and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is visiting Boston. The hot cornbread in a skillet delivered to your table is a real plus. We shared many laughs, LOTS of food, and looked forward to our big day on Saturday while we chowed down on the southern cooking.

 

Saturday morning, we woke up early and grabbed breakfast at this adorable restaurant in Dorchester before heading to the dock to catch the ferry. Georges Island was our destination. Boston Harbor has 35 islands and Georges Island is a wonderful day trip. On Georges Island is Ft. Warren, a prison back in the 1900s. 

 

 The tour guide was concerned I might have trouble on the tour (He obviously doesn't know me!), so he suggested my friends and I have a private tour in a golf cart. While I was reluctant to accept his offer, I sure am glad I did!  

Our tour guide was a native of Georges Island and grew up hanging around Ft. Warren his whole life. He enthusiastically recounted all the historical facts and loved to throw in a tale or two about ghosts and his childhood adventures at the Fort.  It was such a treat to hear the information from someone who had spent serious time there and loved the fort rather than from someone who had just memorized a script. Sadly, there wasn't room for Brad and Joseph on the golf cart, so they walked.

It was a gorgeous day at Georges, so after the tour we just took in the sights and sounds of the island and enjoyed being in each others company. There was also the Berklee Music Festival going on there, so relaxing in the midst of friends and live music was perfect.

The weekend continued with a real treat on Sunday -- the Red Sox game! We had attempted to get tickets prior to reunion weekend, but paying $130 for a ticket to a baseball game was difficult for all of us to swallow!  I am used to the Nationals where $25 will get you a phenomenal seat, but there is no comparison between the Nationals and the Red Sox. In fact, attending a game at Fenway Park is truly an experience!

Brad had been advised that our best bet was to go wait in line the day of the game to score the best seats. We waited for an hour and a half, but were never nervous that we were going to be turned away at the box office due to a sold out game. At the box office, we purchased the best seats within reason for $55. But what we purchased and where we sat were two different places! Our friend, Kristen, had been to a wedding the night before and was going to be late to meet us. Reluctantly, the guy at the box office let us purchase her ticket, but we had to meet her to give it to her. There is no will call. So, we walked through the gates and "squatted" in these amazing (and handicapped) seats to take some photos and wait for Kristen to arrive. Turns out we were able to pull the "disability card" (I save it for times like this!) and stay in these seats for the entire game!

Look at how close we were! Home runs! Hot dogs! A legendary team! Die hard fans! Going to a Nationals game will never compare, but I am thrilled I got this experience.

I look forward to reunion weekend every year. It's a refreshing opportunity to catch up with some of the most genuine, loyal, intelligent and adventurous people I know and am blessed to call my friends.

Where to next, Spiders?

I hate politics.

Growing up in the Washington, DC area, I have been surrounded by politics my entire life. I know it is important to understand what is going on in the country and I do my best to do that. I do not, however, like to discuss politics with anyone. Not even with people who share my same views. I find these discussions either boring or contentious, so I steer clear of such conversations. Although given the current situation we are in, that's all that is being discussed anywhere I go! I can't avoid it this time. And, quite frankly, I shouldn't avoid it. Thank goodness Remy "lightened up" the serious situation with a little rap...

Tennis

Chances are if you grew up with Bigby as your last name, you love tennis. My dad is one of 10 children, all who play tennis and have tried to woo their children into the sport as well. Frankly, it's quite unusual for a large black family raised in Edgefield, SC and Winston-Salem, NC to be into what many might call " a country club sport", but they are. My dad might be the tennis fanatic of the family. He went to college on a tennis scholarship and played all four years. After college, he taught tennis lessons and coached. Before my mom and dad started seriously dating, Mom and her friend took tennis lessons from my dad. Dad says Mom was so bad he refunded her money, but asked her out on a date. The rest is history, but needless to say, you will never catch my parents on the tennis court together! In fact, my mom doesn't even really like tennis! On our family vacations to the Carribbean, Dad plays in the hotel tennis tournament while his leading ladies bask on the beach. Despite the fact that I would rather sit on the beach than watch my dad kick somebody's butt on the clay/grass, he has transferred his love of tennis to me.
I had today off and was thrilled I could lay out at the pool, but also wake up early and catch some of Wimbledon. Of all the Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon is my favorite. The players look so classy in all white. This should be a requirement for the sport no matter what match you are playing. The Williams sisters light up the court with flashy outfits. Contrary to the message their outfits send, they are not at the nightclub! All white is the way to go! I watched the semi-finals today:  Jo-Wili Tsonga versus Novak Djokivich and Rafa Nadal vs Andy Murray. I had never heard of Tsonga before but that guy plays with heart! He knocked off the number one player in the world, Roger Federer, and played a heck of a match against Djokivich. The whole match is a candidate for the highlight reel. I was sorry to see that he did not advance to the finals. If you take down Federer, you deserve to be there. Jo-Wili choked on the last tie breaker and Novak claimed the victory! The Nadal-Murray match was slightly less thrilling, but still a good match. Sunday is sure to please with a Nadal-Djokivich final.
My dream of being able to play tennis and follow in my family's footsteps came true when the Wii was invented. Every time I beat Dad in Wii tennis, he defends himself by saying it's not the same as the game in real life. He may be correct, but it's as real as it will ever get for me. I just tell him my disability masks my natural born tennis talents. The Wii allows us to compete yet bond over a sport we both love. On Sunday, we'll be rootin' Rafa on to victory and may even engage in a friendly competition of our own! 

Meghan and Brett's Wedding

On Saturday, I attended the wedding of a high school friend, Meghan, and her now husband, Brett. I have been excited about this wedding for many reasons. I mean who doesn't enjoy celebrating the love between a wonderful couple, eating delicious food, and dancing the night away in their honor? And, a wedding in my hometown!!  I have been to close to 20 weddings and have only attended three in my hometown. Hometown nuptials show off fabulous local vendors and venues. Meghan and Brett also met on match.com proving that online dating really can work! Another source of my excitement over this wedding -- the attire -- black tie optional. I have not donned a formal dress since my DG formals back in college. So, I took advantage of the opportunity to shop for the finest and get all gussied up for the big affair!

Hot hairdo, don't ya think?

Almost ready

Final product.

If things didn't go perfectly on the big day, there's no way I noticed! The weather was perfect. June 25th in Washington, DC can be blazing hot with suffocating humidity. This was not the case in 2011. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Meghan looked stunning in her gown and Brett wore a bright, genuine smile that stretched from ear to ear the entire night! He was thrilled to now be able to call Meghan his wife and it was obvious the sentiment was reciprocated in him becoming her husband.

The happy couple: Mr. and Mrs. Groves!

After stuffing our faces with some delicious food and amazing cocktails and working off some of the calories with some rather unique dance moves, it was time for the bouquet toss. I normally dread this part of the evening. Most of my friends are married so I always feel "single"d out. Not to mention, the bouquet toss can be vicious. BRUTAL. On more than one occasion, I have been knocked to the ground by women who are diving for a fist full of flowers! Hair has been pulled. Flowers have lost their petals. You know what I'm talking about. Standing on the dance floor when the bride tosses her flowers can be dangerous. But, this time, I decided to position myself in the front and see what happens! Meghan flung her bouquet in the air, I reached up in excitement and in anticipation, attempting to maintain my upright position AND get at least a finger on the flowers. My eyes followed the flowers up in the air and back down again. The flowers had landed on the floor. Right in front of me. The bouquet lay parallel to my toes. I was stunned. I hadn't been knocked to the ground. All I had to do was lean down, pick up the bouquet and claim the victory. I did exactly that.  For the first time in the close to 20 weddings I have attended, I could actually say I caught the bouquet. I didn't steal it. I didn't get bruised in the process. The bouquet was mine...fair and square. It's been 2 days and I am still excited about my victory. You know what it means when you catch the bouquet....It's about time!

I left the wedding a very happy guest. Meghan and Brett left the wedding bouncing off to the airport headed to Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea. I have always dreamed of vacationing there so I look forward to seeing their photos and hearing about honeymoon. I wish Meghan and Brett a life full of the same happiness and joy they felt on their wedding day. And, if I am really honest, I am excited for the future and the life full of joy and happiness God has planned for me too!
Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Groves! You deserve the very best!

Richmond Reflections

Today I received a new University of Richmond t-shirt in the mail. The Alumni Recruitment Committee(ARC) chairs sent it as an expression of appreciation and thanks for the ARC's effort to recruit the Class of 2015. When the UR admissions office asked me to be an ARC member I jumped at the opportunity to promote my school and help shape the incoming classes of future Spiders. Each time I interviewed a prospective student I got a little nostalgic for my years spent at 28 Westhampton Way. Receiving the t-shirt not only brought back that nostalgia and joy, but also reminded me that God truly does know best. University of Richmond started out as the university farthest from my mind and became the school closest to my heart.

Do you remember or shall I rewind? Some of my favorite memories...

- Meeting my roommate for the first time only to discover she is exactly one foot taller than I am! She is just as cool as she is tall. And loves sports just like I do.
-The Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Yeah, call us "Club Jepson" but I befriended some remarkable people and learned some impactful lessons that I still carry with me today. We worked hard, influenced and served others, and had some fun too.  Anyone remember the hot air balloon ride during one of Dr. Couto's classes?
- All things a capella. Perhaps you would call me an Octaves groupie.
- Ring Dance - I will never forget everyone cheering for me as I walked down the stairs of the Jefferson Hotel without my canes.
-Surviving Hurricane Isabelle and enjoying the week long "hurrication" after the natural disaster.
-Marci presenting me with the Westhampton College Leadership Court award.
-Sledding (for the first time in my life) down the hill next to Gray Court.

-Celebration night - all of the seniors around the lake the night before graduation listening to speeches, reflecting on our four years, and enjoying fireworks.
-All things Delta Gamma -- especially my little sister. I knew the moment I met her that she would be a special person in my life :V
-The cats that lived in Annie's ceiling tiles.
-Ukrops!
-Parent's weekend - That meant the lake was clean, the leaves were blown out of the woods, the food was fancier than normal...and the opportunity to eat out at some of the nicest restaurants in Richmond thanks to my parents (and spend time with them, of course)
-Singing and dancing to every single N'Sync song that has ever been composed. Don't judge. My roommate and I had a morning ritual. 
-7-oh-dos
-late night conversations with my roommate and dear friends
  
I am thankful and so proud of the Spiders that I am blessed to call some of my closest friends. It's been 11 years since we all converged on one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States and 7 years since we graduated and spread across the country. Despite the geographical distance between us, we reunite each year to laugh, reflect, and continue to strengthen our bond. I will wear my new Richmond shirt with pride. The shirt is an expression of thanks for my effort for the school. In actuality, I should regularly express gratitude to God, the school, and to my friends for the way they have enriched my life.

Miss ya Spiders. Hope to see you soon.

Grainy photo but almost all of us are there.

Blast off to Summer!

Hey friends/readers!

It's been far too long since I've blogged. Although summer doesn't officially start for a couple more weeks, the weather has tricked me into thinking that we are in mid August instead of early June! My official start to summer is Memorial Day weekend no what the meteorologist says.

As much as I was bummed that I didn't have any "big plans" for the summer, the kick-off did not disappoint. Memorial Day weekend in DC is always a memorable experience. One of the traditions that honors the active, retired, and fallen military members is Rolling Thunder. This year Rolling Thunder consisted of 100 thousand motorcycles riding down 395 and through the Nation's capital on a specific parade route. I have never had any desire to ride or own a motorcycle, but I get so excited when those engines rev and thousands of leather clad individuals barrel down the street. It's a Memorial Day tradition I look forward to each year.

Another tradition I anticipate yearly is the concert by the US Marine Corps band, "The President's Own". Each year, my parents' neighbor invites the neighborhood for a picnic at Wolf Trap and the free concert. It's probably the only time the neighborhood gets together, but we enjoy the potluck and fellowship with those that live near us. Then we all pile into the outdoor theater to enjoy the patriotic music proudly performed by the Marines. To top it all off, at the end of the concert is a firework display that rivals those at Disney World! Those of you who know me can guess that this is the highlight of my evening. A blast off to summer indeed!

Last weekend, I was fortunate to have been given free tickets to Kenny Chesney's "Goin' Coastal" tour.  My friend, Amanda, and I settled into our fantastic seats expecting to listen to the fun summer-inspiring tunes of Kenny ( I have decided he could never tour in the winter. His songs just scream summer sun and island fun!) and whoever was opening for him.  Little did I know, our tickets bought us over 6 hours of music from 4 different bands -- Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington, Zac Brown Band and, of course, Kenny Chesney. This country fan was thrilled with such a surprise! Top this off with a pre-concert trip to Chick Fil-A and I must say I am pleasantly surprised at how my "summer with no big plans" has kicked off.

Tomorrow, I am leaving for a long overdue trip to the beach with three of my friends from high school. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast for the whole weekend so I am telling everyone I know to pray for sun. If you don't pray, do a dance. No matter what, we will have fun, though. Nobody/nothing's gonna rain on our parade! I must go pack. Stay tuned next week for a report on our adventures. Ocean City better be ready for us!