No doubt, God blessed my career beyond my wildest imagination. When I started as a clerk with immigration it never entered my mind that I might one day mentor new immigration officers and even teach at the immigration officer’s academy on occasion. Even so, there I was, in Charleston, at the academy, for the summer of 2018, and then again in 2019.
Already retired, my husband was able to join me. In preparation for our dream of sailing in the Caribbean, and we decided that 2018 was a good time to move our boat, Liberty, from Lake Michigan to the East Coast.
Bill and Dick on Liberty 
Liberty on Lake Michigan
Adjudicating immigration applications was always a complicated undertaking. Even after 30 years on the job, I would often find myself thinking, or actually even saying out loud, some version of ‘I can’t believe I know so much of this stuff, but I didn’t know that!’ There was always something more to learn.
I believed I was going to Charleston to teach new immigration officers how to, well, be immigration officers. And hopefully I did that! However, Charleston also taught me much in return. Specifically, Charleston taught me that, although the value of old friendships is golden, the forming of new friendships is like discovering a treasure chest on a deserted island. Without a map!
Bill and I are adventurous and fun. We spent our evenings and weekends exploring Charleston, sailing, kayaking, and, especially, enjoying watching and learning about the dolphins.
Bubba the talking parrot, Isle of Palms 
Kayaking in Shem Creek
Angel Oak, John’s Island, SC
Evidently, people noticed…maybe I talk too much between classes. One afternoon another instructor approached me and informed me that ‘people are saying’ that I’m fun. She went on to explain that she thinks that she, too, is fun, but that she never has the occasion to have any fun. Inviting Cheryl to kayak that weekend with us on Shem Creek was the first step towards a friendship full of fun and excitement to this day.
Cheryl and Angie at Huguenot beach, Jacksonville, Florida
Class content wasn’t difficult for me; however, navigating the technology in the classroom was a different story. I admit that I would have been lost without Julie, Cheryl, Larry, Dave, and the other instructors who helped smooth that over for me. And we all had great fun together on the weekends.
Julie and her husband, Scott, opened their home to Bill and I for dinner on more than one occasion. We also enjoyed dining together at our favorite Charleston restaurants-Lewis BBQ, Swig and Swine, Fleet Landing, and Coconut Joe’s. Although we currently live hours apart, we get together when we can, and we count them among our blessings. The next time you are in Charleston, remember to check out these restaurants. And see if you can get Julie to cook you up something-she’s quite a chef!
Scott and Julie at the City Market 
Scott and Julie with Bill and Angie
Speaking of Julie…I love her, but she is dolphin repellent! Studies show that Charleston Harbor is home to more than 500 dolphins. Dolphins are mammals who have to breath every 15 minutes, so it follows that a person should see dolphins pretty regularly there, right? Well, that’s true, unless Julie is near! She claims to like dolphins, so I don’t know why she is dolphin repellent, but I kid you not. We sailed Charleston Harbor several times every week, month after month, and would see dolphins every time-unless Julie joined us! Trust me: going to dinner, yes; going to the beach, yes; going shopping, yes; dolphin watching, that’s a big nope!
Looking for dolphins in Charleston Harbor with my Student Captains
Dolphins playing in Charleston Harbor
We’ve had all kinds of fun at Shem Creek. Every Sunday after church we enjoyed lunch (The Shelter was our favorite) and kayaked at Shem Creek. We normally saw a few dolphins and occasionally we would see manatee and shark. One afternoon when Cheryl joined us there were dozens of dolphins! They were surfacing all around us and bumping our kayak from underneath! Cheryl and I were laughing so hard-I told her that I thought we were about to go swimming with the dolphins even though we didn’t pay for that experience!
Although I can’t figure out why, one day Julie and I thought it would be a good idea to go stand up paddle boarding on Shem Creek. Even though I have since mastered the SUP (on still water), what made me think that doing it for the first time in a fast moving creek, subject to a 5 foot tide, crowded with motor boats of all sizes was a good idea? You guessed it, I fell in. Not only did I fall into the murky water, I had to be rescued by a tourist boat tied to the dock! You might think I’d have been humiliated, but I must have outgrown that emotion years ago. I looked around for Julie, because the last time I saw her she was happily standing on her board, paddling, and quite possibly oblivious to the fact that the outgoing tide was taking her into Charleston Harbor, headed toward the jetties and the Atlantic Ocean! I was hoping that I’d see her again someday, but happy that she was looking good on her way out! No worries, soon enough she came back up the creek sitting pretty on the foredeck of another tourist boat. Ok, so she didn’t actually fall into the creek, but we were both rescued nonetheless!
Angie and Julie on a recent aquatic adventure
Proverbs 16:14 reminds us that pleasant words are honey from the honeycomb-sweet to the soul and healing for the body. I am so thankful that God provides sweet friendships for me. What are you thankful for today?
Sunset at Cooper River Marina, Charleston, SC