I'm not sure we ever went to North Carolina on purpose when we were kids but more than likely we passed through a time or three. But as adults we had some good friends who married and move to North Carolina and we visited them one of the first times we made it to the East Coast. Come to find out my aunt and uncle moved near there and we ended up getting everyone in one place for a grand meet. The first time I drove through Charlotte I thought it was one of the most beautiful cities, with so many flowering trees and flowering plants all through the town. Fun Fact: Both North and South Carolina have a Greenville.
Taking a boat trip on the Lake
Beautiful scenery and beautiful homes
Carolina Raptor Center
The same aunt and uncle who invited four nieces and nephews to their home in Houston, Texas, were the ones who invited us to visit them in Charlotte, North Carolina, forty-plus years later. They wanted to help work on my resume as we were looking to the next step in our lives in 2012. There was one particular job that I had spoken about to my cousin and she encouraged me to go for it, and my uncle gave my resume a good streamlining. I sent that resume off with great hopes but in the end it was not to be. Yet I knew I had done everything I could to place myself in the clearest light for them. Of the scores of jobs I applied for I never received even a rejection letter, but this one employer did sent me one letting me know I was not what they were looking for but appreciated my willingness to be considered.
We were only there two or three days but they took us to the Raptor Center, on a boat road out on the Lake on a perfect day, and an amazing holiday barbecue with other friends we'd know for years. It was an amazing weekend and it touched us so very much. And we would get together with those friends from both of our connections to Upper Michigan, within a few years.
She likes the friendly dog
It would be just four years later when we were firmly making plans to move to Georgia that we met our friends in Charlotte at their home. They invited us for dinner and we had a great time connecting again. It was fun to hear how they became close friends with my aunt and uncle after we had all been together four years previous. One Sunday a few weeks later each of these couples were heading to their favorite seats it the church balcony and found themselves sitting practically next to each other. My aunt and uncle have since moved to Missouri but these friends still keep in touch. You just never know.
Until next time,
Arktander
(aka David Andreasen)
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