My North Carolina Bucket List

I have been thinking a lot lately about how much I miss the great state of North Carolina. I lived in NC from birth until age 34 (with one 18 month exception) and I still consider it my home state. There are so many reasons it has been on my mind.  I am reminded of it when I talk to friends who still live there and when I sneak peeks at Marilyn's Facebook.  I am reminded of it when I watch my beloved Tar Heels beat Dook.  I am reminded of it every time I sit down to work on this blog and the memories come flooding back.  They are so many people I miss.  There are so many things I want to see and so much food I want to eat.  I need to get some of this out of my system, so today I will share with you 10 things I look forward to seeing when I finally get to return home to the Old North State.  I don't know how many people there want to see me, but I sure want to see all of them...

1. Quaker Lake Camp-  There have been so many changes made to the old place since I last saw it in 2006 and I can't wait to see how it looks.  My former youth Heather Beggs Varner still runs the place, and she is among the many people connected to camp that I would love to see again.  Very high on that list are very old friends like Neal & Susie Thomas, Susan McBane Tuggle, Terry & Leigh Ann Venable, Jay Osborne, Laura Wheeler and Terri Johnson Harris.  There are also literally hundreds of former campers and staff I would love to run into...
2. That Old Gang of Mine-  So many of the people I grew up with, and spent untold hours with in high school, college and beyond, are still in NC.  Denise, Donna, Tammy & Chuck, Lisa & Dan, Beth & Bob, Carl & Diane, Mark & Liz, Mark & Martha, Alan, Tim and so many more are often in my thoughts and prayers.  Now I just need them in the same room.  And I suppose Steve & Kathy could come from Ohio too- I hate to be a friend hog!  :)
3. Ghassan's, Bojangles and Stamey's-  The best steak and cheese sandwich (that's right, you heard me Philadelphia!), the best spicy chicken biscuit and the best barbecue (or "pulled pork" for those of you who don't speak the NC lingo) can all be found in Greensboro, and I intend to eat my way around the city upon my return!
4. Springfield Friends Meeting- We have been away way too long.  I can't wait to get back to my "one particular harbor" and see so many people I love. Some of you I talk to regularly and can't wait to see. Others I miss so much.  And of course there would be a great party and reunion at the Pizza Inn in High Point!
5. The Reep Twins-  Two of my favorite Kissimmee youth, Teresa Reep Tysinger and Cyndi Reep Browning, now live with their families in NC.  I would love to visit them both, but I may have to hurry. I don't know how much longer both of them will be there...
6. The Roller Derby Queen- One of my former minions at Springfield, Laurie Rees, is now involved in roller derby down in the Wilmington, NC area.  This falls under the category of  "I did NOT see that coming!"  Seeing Laurie flying around the ring doing damage ranks very high on the list of things I need to see...and soon!  
7. The Dean Dome-  There is nothing...NOTHING!...like UNC basketball.  I grew up loving players like Charlie Scott, George Karl, Bobby Jones and Dudley Bradley, and I still love my Heels today.  I need to see another game in the greatest venue in college basketball, named after Dean Smith, one of the top 5 coaches ever.  I am not even picky about who I see them play.  As long as it's Dook...
8. David Bills- He was the pastoral minister at New Garden Friends Meeting when I started attending in 1972.  He still is (to the best of my knowledge).  He (and many others at NGFM) had such an impact on my life, and I really want to take him to lunch and thank him.  He can choose from Ghassan's, Bojangles or Stamey's...   :)  I would also love to see any of my now over 40 former youth from my days as youth leader at New Garden.  Just so many people to catch up with...
9. The Blue RidgeMountains-  There are many lovely things about living in Florida.  But I do miss the mountains, especially in the autumn when the leaves change.  I miss the cool breezes and the amazing scenery.  I miss the picnics and hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  And even though we'd have to sneak across the Virginia state line to do it, I'd love to pay one more visit to the Levering's apple orchard.
10. Calabash-  Since Myrtle Beach is in South Carolina (and trust me, there is a HUGE difference!), I would want to head to my favorite little coastal village in NC, Calabash.  It is basically a town made up of seafood restaurants.  It is the kind of good old fashioned, bad-for-you, fried and battered seafood that is hard to find in Florida. And with LOTS of hush puppies!!!   I may spend a week there, eating in a different place every night!

So there's my list.  NC, I hope to see you soon.  And dang am I hungry....

Because of Jesus,