Cherimie Crane, www.Marine1Realty.com

It has recently been brought to my attention that my clients don't always know exactly what I am talking about. Apparently I speak "Southernese".

Ya'll, I'm sorry. Or maybe...not. I do live in the South. Beautiful Beaufort South Carolina has many wonderful mysteries, legends, folk tales, and well....it's own way of describing life's little quandaries.

Maybe some clarification is in order.. The following phrases may be heard during your visit to our little pardise:

"Dying Duck Fit"- This is serious business. This will not land you in Beaufort Memorial Hospital although sometimes there may be effects that could possibly lead you right into the office of one of our many gracious physicians. Let me explain.

One may experience a "dying duck fit" in the following local Beaufort situations:

• Preparing your pallet for the exquisite Shrimp Burger prepared by Plums Restaurant only to be told they just served the last one.
• Going to the local Piggly Wiggly and getting that one buggy that screeches and squeals around each turn.
• Waltzing around Dempsey's You Pick farm and attracting the one and only no see um that survived the cold spell.

There is great speculation regarding the cure of this peculiar ailment. I advise a quick trip to Bill's for Sweet Tea Vodka. All in moderation my friend.

"Hill of Beans"- This is an extremely versatile phrase. The following is acceptable/unacceptable uses.

Acceptable

• If you are visiting Beautiful Beaufort it is perfectly appropriate to use this phrase while describing your navigational abilities of our challenging waterways. It is quite alright to say "I don't know the tide chart from a Hill Of Beans."

Non Acceptable

• While enjoying a Sunday drive through our rural St. Helena Island during the fertile spring/summer seasons please don't be tempted to glance to your right or lolly-gag to your left and say "Is that a hill of beans"?? No my friend. We are the Lowcountry. We don't have hills. We do enjoy our plentiful soil for planting beans, tomatoes, and the like....but remember..we don't really have hills!

No Room TO Swing A Cat- Before PETA fusses..let me clarify. We aren't going to swing a cat..even if we could. Now I can't promise you that we won't try...especially if that feline frolics towards our fresh catch of the day. This phrase is often used to describe tiny or crowded (more than 10 people at a time) places for example:

• Now you have spent a glorious day touring the streets of Historic Downtown Beaufort. You develop an unmistakable desire for ice cream. What do you do?? You walk down Bay Street and step in to Sweets Ice Cream Parlor. Maybe you aren't the only one hankering for something sweet...You guessed it...you walk in the door and there is No Room To Swing A Cat

• Now another time you may find yourself tempted to borrow this form of Southernese would be the infamous Beaufort Water Festival. You have done everything you can to prepare yourself for one of life's greatest experiences...You got your fried chicken, gased up the boat, filled the cooler, and drenched yourself in sunscreen. You carefully navigate your way to the local sand bar....now my friend...this is a perfect time to say " NO Room TO Swing A Cat".

Last but Certainly Not Least

"Bless Your Heart"- This is a Southern Term of Endearment and can be used with anyone at any time.

• Ok..you decided to visit Common Ground our locally owned specialty coffee shop. You are enjoying your issue of the Beaufort Gazette, sitting on the porch that overlooks the intracoastal waterway while sipping a latte. One of our most talkative neighbors decides you need a bit of conversing. After about 45 minutes..you have our permission to gracefully exit this long winded monologue by simply saying....BLESS YOUR HEART.

• Another perfectly acceptable time to speak this treasured tradition: You have gone to one of our many festivals. Maybe it was the Shrimp Festival, Night On The Town, or Taste of Beaufort, any are completely appropriate for this little scenario... You have been socializing for hours enjoying some libations and just feeling all the Beaufort Love. As you go to exit this event one of Beaufort's Finest walks up to you and says...."May I call you a cab dear?"...And you simply smile and say..

BLESS YOUR HEART.

Now that you have a cliff note version of Southernese..you have no excuse not to come over, across, up or down to beautiful Beaufort by the Sea. Come visit us or we may just have a dying duck fit!

I have tippy -toed across the warm sand, sunk sheepishly into the pluff mud, hopped one-legged down the steaming boards of the docks, and flip -flopped shuffled through the tributaries but not until recently have I seen Beaufort from the clouds.

Perspective is everything.

From the bow of a boat I feel powerful and small all at the same time, from the dock I feel content, from the edge of the shore I feel protected, and from underneath the Live Oaks, I feel an overwhelming sense of belonging.

From the clouds looking down, I feel an unmistakable connection to HOME. Having lived all over the world, all over the country, from big cities to one horse towns, it is apparent I am finally home.

Peeking through the clouds, Beaufort shines. The waterways curve and wind through the sea grass with ballerina grace. The waves crash against the beaches as if a reminder that there is a consistency even in the most changing of times.

Our small little waterfront town commands attention even from 6,000ft. It is special, period.

If you haven't seen Beaufort South Carolina, really seen Beaufort, you owe it to yourself, your eyes, and your family to hurry on over, across, down, or up. It is more than a town.

Happy Travels.

Success comes at a price but at what price and when, is my question. Please do not misinterpret this post as a complaint. Everyday I realize just how fortunate I am to enjoy success in a market that is challenging the best of the best.

Marine 1 Realty is only 3.5 months old, yet we are already a serious force in the industry. Hard-work, courage, and timing are credited right along side with the unwavering, staggering, endlessly faithful clients that walk through my door daily.

So, whaty is my problem??? I don't like doing anything any less than 100%. I am no math major, but something tells me fairly soon, something isn't going to get that 100% if I continue at this rate.

I am the Broker-in-Charge. I am also the receptionist, trainer, housekeeper, fax fixer, copy maker, social organizer, mail sorter, yada yada....you get my point.

Marine 1 Realty has the exclusive listing rights to Carolina Village. Carolina Village is, to date, my pride and joy. Working closely with the builders I was able to turn an entire community around and as a bonus, sell a boat load of houses.

Ok..I know WHAT IS MY PROBLEM..???

The success of Carolina Village has made the phones ring!!! Not just prospective buyers, but developers, builders, OTHER REAL ESTATE COMPANIES, and believe it or not, major marketing firms...

I get the same question over and over..."How are you doing it?"

I am doing more lunches and dinners than a girl can possible maintain. All of the sudden, this Mississippi girl that was just a new agent a few years ago...is pretty darn popular....

So what does this mean?? When my favorite cami-wearing clients come running through my door with coffee...I am on the phone. :(

Those cami-wearing, coffee bringing, raspy voice talking fellas made me a success. I can't NOT have time to speak with them..... I can't not go visit them! I can't forget why there is MARINE 1 REALTY!!!!!

I need advice, I need help, I need agents who can keep up with the pace of our office....

With the already remarkable prices AND the many home buying incentives, Carolina Village Homes are selling QUICKLY. Buyers are astounded at the quality, upgrades, and neighborhood atmosphere of Beaufort's most charming new community. Draped in the shade of Live Oaks, Caroline Village has convenience and southern charm.

Grand Opening incentives will not last much longer! If you are searching for a new home, come see all that Carolina Village has to offer TODAY.

THE DRAKE 3 BEDROOM 2 BATH 2.5 CAR GARAGE $198,000 WITH SELLER PAYING $5,000 IN CLOSING COSTS!!!

THE JACKSON $188,000 WITH SELLER PAYING $5,000 IN CLOSING COSTS!

I woke this morning to another beautiful Lowcountry day. Excited about celebrating the 4th on the rivers of Beaufort, I reached for my favorite beach bag. A small blue box fell from the shelf as if a small reminder...

Inside this box is a letter from a dear friend who on May 7, was serving in Iraq. We had been writing back and forth throughout his tour. We chose handwritten letters simply because he couldn't "hold" an email.

I set aside my multi-colored beach bag and sat on the floor of my closet. I opened the letter even though I have it memorized word for word. Just as it did one year ago, it stalled my breathe and pained my heart.

He wrote:

......."You never expect it to happen. Not to you. Not to any one of your friends. You are young and strong. Invincible. But when it finally comes, there is no way to stop it. Nothing you can do or say can make it go away. Your friend is hurt. Bad. The reaction is always different. Sometimes he's laughing. "Holy shit hahaha. Cant believe they @#$%#$ got me." Sometimes he apologizes, as if it were his fault. As if there was something he could have done. Sometimes he cries, calling out for someone to help. Sometimes hes quiet. Not moving. When its happening the training kicks in. You tell him hes going to be fine, regardless of the injury. The corpsman provide aid and he is taken off in a helicopter to a place where he will be taken care of. Healed. Fixed. Your buddies going to make it. There isnt a doubt in your mind. Once hes gone, the questions start to arise. Why? Why him? What did he do to deserve that? Why now? Later on you get the news. He's gonna make it. Thank god. He's gonna be @#!$%# up but hes still alive. Still here. But sometimes... that good news never comes. Sometimes you get the word that he didnt make it. That your friend is gone. You dont believe it at first. He was just there. I just saw him. He spoke to me earlier today.... but the realization soon creeps in. The hurt is so big. So painful. Some take it better then others. Some cry. Some shake with anger. But each and every one of you feels empty. Sick. Sad. ...'

This was one of his longest letters, words pouring over five pages. He wrote of what he had seen, what he had done, and how he wished none of it had ever happened.

His request of me...

......." Laugh, smile, please don't cry Cherimie. What ever small worry that seems so big in your life, trust me, it isn't. I keep a picture of you and Jackson as a reminder that normalcy still lives somewhere in the world. You are my dearest friend. It is for you, for my family, for my country that I wear these boots that seem to have molded to my feet. Run around barefoot, Cherimie. Don't worry about your hair or your clothes...smile at everyone...and don't let one tear fall. Eventually I will come home, God and Corps willing. Pretend you don't see the change and I will pretend it never happened....."


He is home now, safe. Please take a moment and thank those who wear the boots that seem molded to their feet, so that we can eat hot dogs, watch fireworks, and enjoy lazy days on the river......

God Bless America.