A Place of Peace

There are days like today when I long for a place to escape from the world. Away from the plumbers who speak only Spanish and the Bosch service line where I’m on hold for a half hour. Away from the battle of music blasting from the boats on the Miami River, the racing motorcycles across the water, and the never-ending construction noise.

I have several happy places in the world, and this is one of them.

This is the cemetery for the Unitarian Church in Charleston. Although I haven’t been to a church in years, I belonged here while we lived on Sullivan’s Island. I’m not sentimental much about Charleston, but I miss the UU, especially my friends and the peaceful gardens in the back that hold the cemetery.

The last scene of my second novel is set in the back of the cemetery, where there is a burning bowl. The gardens are kept purposefully wild, a stark contrast to the groomed cemetery of the church next door.

I hope the photos below bring you peace. If you’re ever in Charleston, stroll through the gate off Archdale Street and wind through to King Street.

Life gets in the way some days, and there is nothing much I can do about it. The phone is ringing again, my dishwasher doesn’t work, and the water heater is giving signals that it is about to die with lukewarm baths and even cooler showers. See you next week.