SSI Pier
When tasked with presenting my debut column for the magazine, I considered many topics that I hope to share in future months. But for today, I felt a need to establish my kinship with you. I am a proud American, born Southern by the Grace of God; yet despite having visited the Golden Isles for well over forty years now, I realize that I am still a relative newcomer. When I consider all that is St. Simons Island, I realize that there is much to love, so I set about listing here some top reasons with which you may identify:
Top Five Reasons I Love This Place
5. Horseshoe crabs. And alligators. And us.
The horseshoe crab is a direct throwback to the time when living creatures first appeared on this planet. Mostly unchanged changed in 300 million years, they are not crabs at all, but closely related to spiders. About 150 million years ago, alligators appeared, looking like Jurassic flotillas. Homo Sapiens arrived a mere 200,000 or so years back. Seeing all of these species here today sort of puts things into proper perspective when I consider my relative importance in the grand scheme of things.
4. Hurricanes (and the weather in general).
The weather pattern on St. Simons Island is as much controlled by the winds from Tallahassee as it is by the ocean breezes. Simply ideal much of the year, it provides a pleasant contrast to the asphalt jungle of metro Atlanta and calms the soul. I especially love the threat of the hurricane, when the Almighty clears his throat, and we all run for cover. More often than not, the storm turns slightly and heads straight for Nags Head.
3. Nice people.
When all is said and done, we remember the people who enter our lives, and this island is chock full of really nice people. Many are retired military with an ingrained sense of right and wrong. Many are from other parts of the U.S., bringing an almost cosmopolitan flair to the mix. And perhaps, most importantly, many are members of The Greatest Generation, those born after WWI and before WWII. It’s been said that the hardships of life form our true character. Making the acquaintance of those who endured such hardships are another reason it’s a pleasure to visit the island.
2. The F. J. Torras Causeway
One might think it strange that I’m including a paved road in the top reasons I love my adopted home. But every time I drive the roadway that connects US 17 to Kings Way, I am always reminded of lyrics from the Drifters classic hit, “Up On The Roof.” When I get to the first of the three bridges, anticipation kicks in and, literally, “all my cares just drift right into space.” I don’t know who wrote the words to that song, but they must have visited St. Simons.
And finally,
1. Location, Location, Location
The main reason I think everyone wants to be on our beloved island is the fact that it is conveniently parked in the Atlantic Ocean, where solid land and sandy beach give way to the strange and wonderful saltwater world of dolphins and myriad creatures that navigate beneath its waves. Not unlike the horseshoe crab, our brains are hard-wired to be attracted to the primordial soup from which we emerged relatively few years ago.
In future columns, I hope to explore a variety of other interesting topics. For today, it’s enough that I say “I love St. Simons Island.”