Hello to our friends and family. We hope that the weather is good where you are, that you’re feeling good, and are doing well. All is as it should be with us, and we have no complaints whatever; we’re just rolling along. This is our weekly update to keep you all informed, and to make sure we keep a record for ourselves of what we have been doing in this stage of our lives.
Last Sunday was Mothers Day, and we hope that it was a good day for all mothers. We talked with our kids which was the biggest blessing. In the afternoon, at Jo’s request, we had a picnic lunch on Tybee Beach and then stopped by Uncle Bubba’s for dessert; that was not Jesse’s idea, but what we did because it was Jo’s day. It was enjoyable, and the key lime pie was “ridiculous.” It was smothered in real whipped cream and had an edible orchid and a chocolate covered strawberry as garnishes. It was an excellent day all the way around.
Jo volunteered at the Heritage Park on Tuesday hoping to help the residents with gardening. Unfortunately, it rained so we talked about childhood gardens and shared memories about Victory Gardens. Jesse cut the grass with a push power mower we got on Craig’s List, tended flowers and bushes, and practiced the keyboard. The Market was rained out on Wednesday, although some brave souls hung in there. All was not lost because Jo had made a couple of contacts with shops would sell the switchplates earlier in the day. On Thursday she did some cataloging at the Jepson Art Museum.
Well, the weekend proved to be very interesting. First of all, on Friday the 15th, Heshima and his long-time companion Yun Chi Hsu were married. They had been talking about it for quite a while; they told us about their intentions the week before, and we had given them our blessing. Yun Chi is a wonderful young woman of very good character. They had a small wedding presided by a civil celebrant; Ayo was the witness and Kofi was the ring-bearer. Ayo and Kofi were also photographers. Heshima and Yun Chi will repeat their vows at a larger celebration in the fall, when Yun Chi’s parents, other family and friends can attend. We are happy for them and we ask that you all will extend your best wishes and prayers to them..
Our 41st wedding anniversary is May 18th, so on Saturday the 17th we took off to Charleston, S.C. for a couple for celebration weekend. We spent time exploring the city, trying to see as much as we could. Some of the highlights of our trip are:
A visit to Gallery Chuma which features some amazing African American art. It is a must see if you visit Charleston. Much if not most of the art was done by local artists. What talent! The Nigerian owner’s sister is a milliner and they also sold her hats which were to die for.
A tour of Drayton Hall plantation which really pointed out the contradictions of such an evil and exploitive system when you consider the tremendous wealth that the Drayton family amassed on the backs of slaves. Oh, by the way, we spoke briefly with a young African American woman on their administrative staff. Jesse asked her if the actual building of the house was done by slaves (Jesse already knew it was). The young lady replied that no, it was built by an “enslaved work-force”. She said that the term “slave” was a derogatory word, and was no longer used by academics (you know, ‘educated people.” Jesse questioned the logic of the new term, but she insisted that the new terminology was the preferred one. Jesse’s reply was great. He said “a rose by any other name is still a rose.” It seemed that the white visitors were looking for the by-gone era from Gone With the Wind (or the Wind Done Gone). We also took the “Connections” tour, devoted to the important contributions made by slaves, and later free African Americans, to the plantation economy. Jesse left angry and depressed; he will not likely go to any more plantations.
On Sunday we went out to brunch in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. which is the birthplace of Jo’s maternal grandmother. Mary at Gallery Chuma recommended a black-owned restaurant called Gullah Cuisine that features a wide variety of low-country food including shrimp and grits, omelets, waffles, chicken, greens, macaroni and cheese, yams, red rice, mixed fruit, peach cobbler, and so forth. All this with cloth tablelinens and music by Miles Davis in the playing in the background. You can imagine what it was like. After brunch, we explored the old village of Mt. Pleasant, which is very small. The rest of town has been replaced with developments and a commercial corridor at Rt. 17 where the sweetgrass basket makers used to have their stalls.
Next, we went over to Wadmalaw Island (about 20 miles away) which is the birthplace of Jo’s maternal grandfather, Thaddeus Jenkins. Needless to say, information about the African American population on the Sea Islands is hard to come by, but there are still many of the original descendents there. Once you mention the surname to folks in the community, you are given all kinds of leads. We stopped by St. Stephens AME church and spoke to a woman, Yvonne Butler(?) who was very helpful. She tried to put us in touch with one of the elders of the community who might be able to give us some more detailed information. Since Jo’s family was Presbyterian, she pointed out the Salem Presbyterian Church’s Cemetery, which was close by on Goat Hill where the Jenkins’ lived. The Cemetery is on the site of the former church building. We found many gravestones from the family. Today, much of the land is being bought up by white folks, which is nothing new, but Wadmalaw is still pretty rural. We tried Googling it and only came up with realtors, churches, a winery and a tea plantation.
Finally, on our way back to Charleston we stopped by John’s Island, one of the more developed sea islands that connects to Wadlamaw Island, to see the Angel Tree, supposedly the oldest living tree east of the Mississippi river. At the gift shop, we met a young African American woman whose mother-in-law’s birth name is Jenkins and whose daughter has constructed a Jenkins family tree. Jo will try to get in touch with her real soon.
So, that’s what we’ve been up to over the past week up ‘til the 17th. We’ll pick up from there next time. In the meantime, stay well.
Jo Ann and Jesse
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