Beautiful Memories

Ruth J.

How many times have you heard someone (especially a high school student) say how much he or she hates their hometown? They usually complain about there never being anything to do, or they complain that everyone knows them. I can remember when I felt the same way.

I remember a lot about that day. My mom, my sister, and I piled into my mother's 1981 Toyota Corolla hatchback and drove what felt like forever (it was actually an hour and a half) to what was supposed to be a new life. I don't even remember life before this "new" one. I do remember my mom's look of frustration at her dying plant that sat beside me in the backseat. I remember the sun shining as we pulled into the driveway where my father was waiting. We moved to Beaufort because of my dad's job, but we stayed because of the peacefulness.

Beaufort's real history (at least to me) begins with the slave trade. Of course, there were settlers here, but they didn't really do any work. Africans from Sierra Leone, mainly, were brought here to work, but these slaves in turn developed and cultivated an entire culture. The Geechie people are known all along the Carolina coast, but the Gullah people of Beaufort began to make changes. These slaves developed their own school where they taught each other how to survive. Penn Center still stands today as a reminder of how strong our ancestors really were. The Gullah people of today have transformed this once sheltered culture into something known all over the world. From translating books into Gullah, to Gullah folk tales, to Gullah pageants, and festivals, these people have managed to hold onto their heritage and share it with others. I can remember when I was in middle school, there was a show that came on Nickelodeon that was based on Beaufort called Gullah Gullah Island.

I can remember when I went home after being overseas, the night sounds almost brought tears to my eyes. No sirens, no car horns, no screams, just the peaceful melody of the crickets. Although in the summer the temperature can easily feel like 120 degrees, that doesn't stop the townspeople from fishing, crabbing, walking on the waterfront, or simply sitting on porches watching and waving at the cars as they pass by.

Beaufort is composed of nearly 63 islands. The most popular (at least for rich people) is Hilton Head. With summer homes belonging to Micheal Jordan ( I saw it one summer that I worked for the Census Bureau), Jack Nicholson, and many more, it's also one of the major attractions to tourists. Make no mistake. This particular island isn't for everyone. But with 63 different islands to choose from, I'm sure anyone could find one to love. Hilton Head is beautiful, but the prices there are ridiculous. For example, the McDonald's in Hilton Head has prices like an airport, instead of those of a normal side of the road McDonald's. Many Hollywood personalities have visited the peaceful town of Beaufort. With films such as Prince of Tides, G.I. Jane, Saving Private Ryan, and Forrest Gump (we actually have a festival named for Bubba.) being filmed there, we get stars all the time. I remember one Sunday, I was in Publix ( a local grocery store) and I saw Sharon Stone inside. I followed her around the store for about 20 minutes. I never said anything to her.

As I've gotten older, I've learned to appreciate my roots. I realize more and more daily how better I am for having lived there. I'm able to appreciate things like the Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Super Wal-Mart, Target, and oh how I thank God for the mall. What people don't realize is that when you grow up hating a town, you eventually move and settle down somewhere just like it.

And so whenever I get homesick, I simply go outside on my porch and wait patiently and quietly for that sweet melody of crickets to begin.