Nuthin Could be Finah

Thought for the day:  Two boll weevils grew up in South Carolina. One went to Hollywood and became a famous movie star, while the other one, a bit of a slacker, stayed behind in the cotton fields and never amounted to much. I guess you could say the second one was the lesser of two weevils.

palmetto trees

Okeydokey, it's time for another whirlwind tour. Up this week: the lovely little state of South Carolina, AKA the Palmetto State.

A fitting nickname, don't you think? I mean, not only are there more palmettos in  South Carolina than there are Republicans in Texas, but the tree has a certain claim to fame in the state's history, as well. As the story goes, the walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island in Charleston Harbor were built with palmetto logs. Spongy palmetto logs. How spongy, you say? During the Revolutionary War, British cannonballs allegedly bounced right off of them. Now, I'm not saying the story is true, and I'm not saying it isn't true. But you have to admit, it's an interesting tale.

Before South Carolina adopted the Palmetto nickname, it was known as the Iodine State, a rather stinging moniker that stained the state's good name. Okay, so it wasn't an awful nickname, but not nearly as pleasant as the image of palm trees swaying in the breeze, either. The state is also a big rice grower, and boasts the largest gingko farm in the world. The gingko, the oldest living tree specimen in the world, dates back 150 to 200 million years, and is actually considered a living fossil. So South Carolina folks should be happy their state motto isn't something about it being the home of living fossils. (Some senior citizens might take offense at that...)

Okay, enough chatter. Let's check out some pictures, shall we?

Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, is the historical site of the first Civil War battle.

Cowpens National Battlefield, a Revolutionary War historical site, is located in Chesnee. There, you can see some of the original settlers' cabins like this one at the left.

Not to be confused with the battlefield, there is also a Cowpens Depot and Museum located in the city of Cowpens. Housed in a 100-year-old train depot, this museum is a showplace for relics belonging to the crew of the U.S.S. Cowpens, a WWII aircraft carrier.

This is an 1860's artist's sketch of the Confederacy's submarine the Hunley, which was discovered and raised from her watery grave in 2000. She is now preserved in a 90,000-gallon tank in Charleston's Hunley Museum, where you can also see numerous artifacts and learn all about this fascinating 40-foot craft and the men who served as her crew.

But South Carolina isn't all about military war. No sirree, it's also about a war of... peaches. Although South Carolina is the largest producer of peaches in the country, Georgia had the temerity to call itself the Peach State. No problem. Gaffney, South Carolina built the Peachoid, a water tower that looks like a giant peach. This distinctive landmark, clearly visible from the Interstate, delivers a silent non-combatant message, as it stands proudly in the midst of miles and miles of  peach groves and stands offering everything peachy for sale. (And yes, Georgia also has a peachy water tower, but not on the Interstate.)

Depicted in this life-size weather vane atop the 1886 Opera House in Camden is a noble Catawba Indian named King Haigler. He's known as the patron saint of Camden because of the way he befriended and helped early settlers in the area.

The Grand Strand is an exquisite arc of beach lands that stretches more than sixty miles. Pictured at left is Myrtle Beach, one of the many popular vacation destinations along the coast. This part of the state brings to mind such things as sea oats, sandpipers, boating, fishing, crabbing, seafood, beach music and boardwalks. Places where you can have fun in a crowd, or enjoy a secluded walk on the beach at sunrise.

Oh, and along with beach music, we can't forget to mention the shag, the official state dance. This swing dance originated in South Carolina in the '20s, and is still wildly popular today. In some ways, it's very similar to the jitterbug, but ... smoooooother. Wanta see?

The Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame can be found in Aiken, South Carolina.

Irmo's Lake Murray looks lovely, doesn't it? Hiding beneath its tranquil surface may dwell a mysterious monster. Its first reported sighting came in 1973, and every few years since, numerous additional sightings have been reported. Invariably described as a cross between an enormous snake and a prehistoric monster, it sounds like a cousin to the famous Nessie.


One more short video before we move on to check out some of the nutso laws, okay? Fountain Head, South Carolina's most famous native son is Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates. He lost his leg in a cotton gin accident at the age of twelve, but that didn't stop him. He went on to become a famous dancer, who appeared on Ed Sullivan's show many times. Here's a peek at him in action:

If you'd like to get a real feel for South Carolina, I suggest you read some of Pat Conroy's books. Not only will you fall in love with his writing and stories, you just may become a little enamored with the state itself. Walking the streets of Charleston in the late afternoons of August was like walking through gauze or inhaling damaged silk. [Pat Conroy]

Okay, ready to check out some of those cockamamie laws still hanging out on the books in South Carolina?

• By law, if a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, the marriage must take place. (Um, suppose he is already married?)
• Railroad companies may be held liable for scaring horses.
• Fortune tellers must obtain a special permit from the state.
• Dance halls may not open on Sundays, and no work may be done on Sundays, but it is legal for a man to beat his wife on the courthouse steps on a Sunday. (Don't lift a finger on the Sabbath, unless it's to keep the little woman in line?)
• Musical instruments may not be sold on Sundays, but light bulbs can. (Ah-HA! I see de light!)
• It's against the law to perform a U-turn within one thousand feet of an intersection.
• It's considered an offense to get a tattoo. (Well, yeah, some of them are pretty offensive.)
• Horses may not be kept in bathtubs. (What the hay?)
• It's only legal to fire a missile if you get a permit. (All righty then.)
• Every adult male must bring a rifle to church on Sunday to ward off Indian attacks. (Believe it or not, a similar law is being considered by our state politicians right now.)
• It's a capital offense to accidentally kill someone while attempting suicide. (Oopsie.)
• Watch out! In Charleston, the fire department is allowed to blow up your house.
• In Clemson,  lifeguards must be present at apartment complex pools, but um... only after 11:00 P.M. 
• Also, bitches in heat must be confined. (Can they have gentlemen callers?)
• In Fountain Inn, horses must wear pants at all times. 
• In Greenville, the drinking age on Furman University campus is sixty.
• In Lancaster county, it's illegal to dance in public.
• And finally, in Spartanburg, it's against the law to eat watermelon in the Magnolia Street cemetery.

Ordinarily, this is where I'd tell you it's time for (ta-DA!) The Weirdest News Stories of the Week, but not this time. This is the final week for Suze's Tiny Harmonies haiku challenge, so I'm gonna end this post with that. She didn't provide a picture to go along with her themes this time, so I'll pick my own. Three themes to choose from this week, too: quench, the real, and loam.  Or, do all three... Okay, let's see what I've got:

This tiny otter is harmoniously quenching HIS thirst. 

From cradle to grave,
The wise man's thirst for wisdom
Will never be quenched.
***
Anyone know me?
Not the aging shell you see—
The real soul I am.
***
Dirt, dark as coffee,
Sweet verdant stubble of spring:
Rain-blessed scents of life.



How about you? Care to try your hand at writing a haiku as part of your comment? The basic formula is three lines consisting of five, seven, and then another five syllables. (Watch out! It's addictive!) Thanks, Suze.

                                      Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.