|   |  | July 13, 2018We had just delivered a load to Orlando Florida as our new load assignment came across our on board Qualcomm. We we're getting loads sent to us that were gonna put us en route for our week long vacation on Lake Norman in my good ole home state of North Carolina for the week of July 4th. The load we got was picking up in Jacksonville and delivering to Myrtle Beach SC. Which was fabulous considering the day before we had just spent a day off wondering the French Quarter in New Orleans. We grabbed our 44,000 lbs of beer at the budwieser plant in Jacksonville and bee lined it up I-95 towards the South Carolina coast. Now previously, before this moment, I had originally planned a day of hiking on one of my favorite hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains, "Crabtree Falls". Along the trail it boasts a wonderful, picturesque 75 foot cascading waterfall that resembles a sight straight out the movie "The Fern Gully". My plan was to hike to the falls and propose to Jenna at the basin of the falls. However, this woman knows me too well. That being said, along with her innately accurate intuition, I knew she was suspect of my little plan. On a whim up 95 it hit me. Propose on the beach under the full moon. It was damn brilliant. She would have no idea, I told myself. After all, I always told her I would propose to her like the 2nd coming of Jesus. Here it was. The perfect opportunity. I quickly, but meticulously, hatched a plan. We arrived at our delivery location at approximately 10:30pm. As Tucker's schedule dictated we hooked the leash to his harness and took him out to potty, gave him a treat and put him in his crate ( or bedroom as we call it) for his beauty sleep for the night, then Jenna and I made off in haste for the salty air, the boardwalk, and the sand between our toes. Jenna, being from the Midwest had only experienced the beach for a short moment one other time in her life so I wanted to show her in what little time we had what the Carolina Beaches had to offer. Hand in hand we darted straight for the boardwalk. We walked for a bit to gather the late night ambiance with faint music coming out of the store fronts that blended harmoniously with the crashing of the waves. The Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel was just up ahead. With it closing at mid night we hurried to grab our tickets. |
 | Here we are in front of the Sky Wheel
We took the 15 minute ride of 4 revolutions which offered a decent night view of the boardwalk at about 200 feet. We stepped out of our cozy glass bubble and went searching for a bite to eat. Choices were limited at that hour so we settled on a small burger and pizza joint right on the street. A night on the beach just wouldn't be complete without an ice cold beer. So after we scarfed down our mediocre "beach" burgers we headed on over to The Bowery. Which was a pretty easy decision considering that is the only place open that serves alcohol past midnight on the boardwalk. We sat out on the patio to finish off our drinks while listening to what sounded like a cover band for Kansas. Which isn't surprising since the actual band Kansas got thier start at The Bowery between the years of 1973 and 1980. We then set out for the best part of the night. The beach, which was only about a 20 yard walk from the bar. We removed our sandals, shoes, and socks and proceeded to trudge through the soft beachy sand down to the ocean. I felt so giddy knowing that Jenna had not had such an experience Hardly at all in her young 29 years. I grew up coming to this beach so I was no stranger to the elements it offered. However, the beach is always a pleasantry. We strode along the beach with the water nearly up to our knees. The lighting is perfect, I thought to myself. I looked up at the nearly full moon as the reflected light of it danced elegantly on top of the ocean surface and notice a bright star right beside it. Which wasn't a star at all. It was the planet Mars. Jenna and I basked in the light of the planetary tango as we picked up shells along the beach. The moment was here. As if the universe itself planned it out. I found a decent size piece of a sea shell, placed the ring deviously inside of it, handed it to her and said "babe, look what I found!" She was completely surprised. She hadn't a clue. It was perfect. Beyong perfect. There on the beach, light wind blowing around us, the light from the Moon and Mars illuminating her eyes. She said "yes". It was the happiest moment of my life. It was us. |
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