Lake Greenwood State Park

The past two days, we have been in 96, SC, the home of Mel's sister, Arlene, and the site of the Star Fort, a Revolutionary War fort. The town of 96 was so named because it is 96 miles from Charleston, SC. This area is also where patriot Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, operated with his guerilla forces to fight off the British.

The photo is the site where the RV is parked. This is just one of the many beautiful park sites that we have had the opportunity to stay at during out travels. We spent Wednesday, Chuck's and Mark's 31st birthday, in Abbeville, SC, a charming little town not far from 96. We had lunch at the Village Grill on Trinity Street and then, we walked around the town square that they are trying to get rezoned to a historic district, so they become eligible for federal funding.

Last night, I joined Arlene at her church for a presentation by a Messianic Jew. This was a very interesting talk. The gentleman explained that he had been brought up a Conservative Jew and converted to a Messianic Jew in his adulthood and now he is what is known as a Completed Jew, but no longer recognized by his family. Arlene's church has been exploring religious practices of other religions to study the rituals that are common to their religion. Because we are in the Lenten period, he explained the seder and Passover rituals and shared matzoh and grape juice with the congregation. He said several prayers in Hebrew, then translated them to English, only to point out that the words were the same prayers that Christians use.

We have decided that we are heading home to Chicago, where our new baby granddaughter is waiting for us. The magnetic pull is too great and we need to see the baby, our family and friends. However, the weather does not seem to be cooperating but we are hoping to be home by Sunday, if the weather holds up.