Everybody dance now...!

If you have ever had a family vacation at Hilton Head Island, SC, I hope you spent an evening under the stars listening to and singing along with Dave Kemmerly and his guitar on the deck at The Salty Dog in Sea Pines.

Monty and I love to sit back, have a beverage of choice and listen to Dave play fun songs and interact with the audience. Kids of all ages get up and "dance to the music." This year we were blessed to share this with grandsons who really enjoyed the dancing and singing and eating ice cream on the deck.

Parents can relax and watch kids run around and meet new friends to dance with. Everyone shares the job of watching out for the kids and they never get out of sight. The kids enjoy dancing with mom and dad, swirling in circles, twirling around a pole, and doing all sorts of creative dance moves that I don't think Broadway has seen before.

Sometimes we are treated to a song by some of the youngsters. It is something you will never forget as Dave shares his mike with kids who have such great songs as Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and a variety of Hanna Montana vocalizations. They have such a great time, sometimes he has a little trouble getting the microphone back from their ice-cream-sticky fingers.

This is a time and place I can feel completely at peace and just feel the stressors of life lift off as I join the rest of the crowd in sing-alongs and laugh while watching the antics of the kids.

Has anyone out there been to hear Dave? Do you have a Salty Dog T-shirt? If not, and you ever get a chance, don't let it pass you by. It will be an evening you will want to repeat over and over. I know we do.

You can find out more about Dave at www.facebook.com/davekemmerly. Tell him you heard about him from me. I don't get anything out of it, just thought I would share one of the great memory making places in the USA.

I know you all think I never work, but I do. However, I want to have balance and so I play every chance I get and want to encourage you to do the same. In the words of a great country song, "I Hope You Dance."

Hilton Head Island Dolphin Adventure

Last week we were at our timeshare in Hilton Head Island, SC and went on a dolphin adventure. We had two of our kids, their spouses, and 3 grandchildren (plus a friend) with us to see the dolphins.

At first we were disappointed because we would just get quick glimpses but it was so fast the kids kept missing it. We reconciled ourselves to enjoying the great views and spending real quality time together. Then it happened! Out of the blue with no warning....strand feeding!

HHI is one of the rare places on earth that dolphins go "strand feeding." They rise up in the water, push the fish in front of them onto a bank, then land on the bank themselves. This is done just before high tide so if they get stranded on the beach, the tide will come and wash them back into the water. How do they know? No one knows, but they are very intelligent. It has been documented by National Geographic and others.

Anyway, we got to see that. It was amazing. The boat captain said it was something he saw once every couple of years. The adults were screaming, the kids were screaming, cameras were everywhere--it was magnificent. Sorry I don't have any photos of it. I did get it on video but don't know if I can upload that.

What a great family experience we had--a once in a lifetime adventure. Like I said before, get off the couch and go see something miraculous with your family.