Sanford's Place Cottage-A Tybee Time Machine

Just as H.G.Wells and Jules Verne captured our imaginations with their fantasy romps in their Time Machines, I've discovered my own version of a time machine that instantly teleported me into the pasts of my long buried memories.  A time that seems so foreign here in the 21st century to anyone born in recent decades.  A sensory overload so fantastic it was as if I had discovered a hidden passageway through an armoire into the kingdom of Narnia.  Thus began my incredible journey back to the sights and smells and sounds of my childhood,  now seen fresh and new through my eyes as an adult.

As if embracing a long, lost friend or a so seldom visited favorite relative, I recently ventured to my beloved Tybee Island to work on a project.  By now, I pride myself on having enough collected knowledge and travelled trial and error to know I must consult my dear Tybee High Priestess and friend, Diane Kaufman, as to  the best place for me to live like a local on the island.  Out of her collection of vintage, restored Mermaid Cottages she said, "You should hop on over to Sanford's Place.  You'll be out and about around the island and it's the perfect place for you to relax with your dogs at the end of every day.  Whichever direction you choose to go on the island, you'll enjoy walking from Sanford's Place!"

My usual prep work before a visit to anywhere includes fantasizing about what new discoveries I hope to make in the way of food, drink, the arts and falling in love with things I've never been exposed to before.  Never did I imagine or fantasize that I would be mesmerized and captivated by a trip back to my familiars from long ago.

The lock box to Sanford's Place was at the side entrance to the cottage.  It was late at night, so anxious as I was to see the inside of my new haven, I invoked my too little used common sense and surmised that I needed to slow my roll and carefully plant my size 13 brogans on the steps leading up to the screen door.  Careening off unfamiliar steps and landing jack knifed on the lawn while toting all my luggage and two excited little dogs was not how I wanted to introduce myself to Sanford's Place or my island neighbors.  What?  You don't think I would ever make more than one trip to and from the car!  I was to be on Tybee Island for several days, so there would be plenty of opportunities for me to trip, step in holes and display my less than precision coordination for the residents and other visitors.

Once inside, the dogs took off to run and scamper through the house while I got my bearings and opened my eyes wide to take in my surroundings.  I'm a healthy 6'4", 220 pound giant, so it was again best to survey the area for steps, thresholds, narrow walkways and any unfamiliar objects d'art that might encourage my bull in a china shop loping to prematurely introduce my face to the floor.  Besides, the dogs were checking under the furniture and behind doors for any lurking ghosts. Yes, Virginia.  The Savannah area is famous for ghosts and some of them love island living as much as I do. Yet, all was clear and safe.  All that was left for me to do was test the complimentary Wi-Fi connection and choose which bedroom would be my chosen slumber chamber.

You can't fool me.  The rest of you are just like me.  If you had been traveling alone like me and had a choice of beds and rooms in which to sleep you might even be swayed to do your best Goldilocks impression and try them all.  As for me, my comparison of the bedrooms did not yield bunk beds in either one, so I resigned myself to the double bed.   What? Don't hate and I won't lie.  Given the choice I will always choose a top bunk. My dogs are my travel companions and judgemental as they may be they cannot mock me or forbid me the occasional juvenile indiscretion.

Besides, whether you neither heed or believe my affection for ghosts, the Sand Man is alive and well on Tybee Island.  All ye who suffer from insomnia get thee to a bed on Tybee Island as prepared by a Mermaid Cottages housekeeper.  There's no use in trying to put it into words.  These mermaids (and mermen!) are truly magical and mystical.  Sweet dreams are bestowed on all who slumber therein.  If you don't show up for appointments those in the know will check the Mermaid Cottages beds first to rouse you from your coma!

If you should be able to part with one of these enchanted sleep chambers, you need only amble from room to room and touch, feel, smell and gaze upon the vintage decorations that fill Sanford's Place. The furniture and throw pillows harken from decades past and the knick knacks that peek out at you from the mantels and what not tables give you permission to just close your eyes and recall voices and conversations of loved ones you hold dear in your memories.  The entire cottage experience reminds you to appreciate what you have and to let those you love know it.  Make every moment count and be joyous of the future memories you help make for others.

Each time I leave Tybee Island I promise myself I'll hurry back.  I'm collecting new memories from my journeys and gladly remembering those from my past.

It's being present in your life.  It's making the effort to contribute.  It's realizing you're worth the trouble. It's island paradise.  It's Cottage Cheeese!