Typing “acts of generosity and kindness today” into your computer’s search engine will bring up more than six million results – the hungry are being fed, a helping hand is given to someone in need or a kind word changes a life. Good deeds, great and small, are found everywhere and are mostly done without fanfare and recognition. Grand Strand resident since the mid 1970s, Brenda Rosen is one of those six million who, day after day, works to make the world a better place for her family, friends and our community.

Petite and lovely, Brenda looks much younger than her 73 years, but the first thing you notice is her big smile. Born in Haverhill, Mass., Brenda was the youngest of three children, all first generation Americans. Her father immigrated to this country from Poland and her mother from Russia, both fleeing persecution due to their Jewish faith. Her parents worked hard and were successful, giving their children a happy, middle class upbringing. They instilled a strong work ethic in their brood, but also the importance of giving back. “My parents were always very generous, “Brenda remembers.

While a senior in high school, Brenda agreed to a blind date with a young M.I.T. student whose roommate was dating one of her friends. It was the beginning of her love affair with Dick Rosen, a native of Georgetown, S.C., that has lasted through 54 years of marriage, three children and six grandchildren. After graduation, Brenda went to Boston University and dated Dick all through college. The two were married in February of 1958; three weeks after Dick completed his graduate studies.

The couple settled in Massachusetts, where Dick began his successful career, and Brenda supervised her growing family while working part time. While his work demanded a lot of travelling, Dick always made sure the family vacationed in Georgetown each summer. In 1973, Dick became general manager of AVX Corp., and the family moved to Myrtle Beach. Brenda’s children were still in school, and she began to work at the then new Myrtle Square Mall in Belk department store as the fashion coordinator. “I have always loved clothes and shopping, so this was the perfect job for me,” Brenda said with a laugh.

Always generous with her friends and family, it was Hurricane Hugo in 1989 that started Brenda’s philanthropic journey. “After the storm, I got involved with the American Red Cross. A group of us helped set up a relief center at the old Tads in Myrtle Beach, distributing vouchers for hotels, clothing and food.”

That same year, Dick’s mother passed away after a battle with cancer and Brenda, touched deeply by her mother-in-law’s death, became involved with the American Cancer Society. A few years later, her husband’s father was cared for by Tidelands Hospice and, in typical Rosen fashion, they became supporters of the organization, eventually helping build the new Tidelands Hospice House. “I am too sensitive to volunteer for Hospice, but we do support their mission,” said Brenda.

Fond memories of taking her children to Brookgreen Gardens while they were growing up led Brenda to get involved with this non-profit. An avid gardener, Brenda loves her work with Brookgreen, telling me, “We were always members, but I became president of the Friends of Brookgreen Gardens and chaired the Brookgreen Gala. Today, I still serve on the executive board.”

Bob Jewell, President and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens, is enthusiastic and appreciative of the support both Brenda and Dick have given the non-profit, saying, “Brenda has been wonderful for Brookgreen. There’s actually a garden here named after her! She is always here and always involved. Brenda is a passionate person and brings her passion to the support of Brookgreen.”

Personal loss and tragedy affect us all, and Brenda is not exempt. Her ability to take a personal loss and turn it into a triumph is what makes her truly unique. “My brother was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease at 65 and lived 10 years before he died,” she began. “It affected me deeply; we were very close. He was a brilliant lawyer and a wonderful man.” Brenda has also faced her own mortality with a breast cancer scare and a diagnosis of melanoma, which has fortunately been cured. These events led this philanthropic woman to become involved with the neuroscience department of the Medical University of South Carolina where she now serves on the advisory board.

“I had a cocktail party recently at my beach house in Pawleys Island to spread the word about some of the new treatments available at MUSC. It is a wonderful place – they really have it all,” Brenda said thoughtfully.

These are only a few of the many, many charities that Brenda and her beloved Dick support. They funded a school at Temple Emanu-El in Myrtle Beach and support the synagogue in Georgetown as well. Higher education also benefits from the Rosen’s generosity with Brenda’s service to the Horry Georgetown Technical College Foundation Board; the Rosen’s also fund a scholarship for deserving students. CCU also benefits from Brenda’s altruistic spirit through the Women in Philanthropy and Leadership group which provides scholarships for local students who have financial need as well as academic excellence.

“We should all give back,” Brenda told me vehemently. “Dick and I have been very fortunate. If I see someone with a sign asking to work for food, I will always stop and help. No one would do that if they didn’t really need a hand. Pay it forward – it makes us feel good to help.”

In spite of her many commitments to the community, Brenda always puts family first, and her husband is first in the family. “Dick is my life, as I am to him. We have built a wonderful family.” Every year the couple takes their children, spouses and grandchildren on a special trip around the holidays. This past year, they visited Mexico. “Dick is the most wonderful, unselfish man I have ever known,” smiled Brenda. “I am truly spoiled. There is nothing too good for us. I spent a lot of time alone while he was working through the years. It’s nice to have him with me now.”

Brenda is also a devoted friend to those she chooses to love. One of her closest friends became ill and was unable to get a definitive diagnosis. With Brenda’s help, her friend was flown to Cleveland and soon discovered she has ALS. Of course, Brenda went with her, offering as much support as possible in the face of such a grim diagnosis.

Pawleys Island resident, Barbara Kee, met Brenda playing golf soon after moving to the area and the two have become close friends. Barbara told me, “Brenda is such a wonderful friend. I was new to the area, and Brenda immediately began to include me in all her activities. Having known her for several years, I’ve learned that she has so many friends, some of whom go back decades. She keeps everyone in her family close; she is constantly calling, visiting and in some way caring for each and every one of them. For me, she has been there to share joy and sadness. Rarely does she offer advice – although we know she can – but she shares your grief as if it was hers…nothing is said, she is just there to support. I admire her so much. She has a lot, as we all know, but she is always giving so much back, not only with financial support but with her time and energy.” Barbara laughed and continued, saying, “She also loves dogs. One time, I picked her up at Food Lion to sneak down to St. Frances Animal Center to check out the dogs without Dick knowing about it!”

Brenda does take time for herself. She works out three times a week with a personal trainer and plays golf – when the weather is nice. “I am definitely a fair-weather golfer,” she told me laughing. And, this woman does love to shop. “I take my granddaughters shopping whenever I can!” An avid reader, Brenda enjoys her Kindle and is currently reading, The Cat’s Table, by Michael Ondaatje.

While preparing for our photograph, Dick laughed and referred to himself and his wife as “beauty and the beast!” He then became more serious and said, “A lot of what we do is because of Brenda’s initiative. She does so much to help people – and is a truly good person.”

“I love people and being around them,” Brenda told me. “I’m not better than anyone; I’ve just been given the opportunity to do more. I think most people are generous and would do what we do. I am very fortunate.”

For over fifty years, visitors and residents to the island of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, made their way slowly over a one-lane wooden pontoon bridge to reach this peaceful, slow-moving beach community. Island life revolved around the opening and closing of the bridge, which took 15 minutes to accomplish. Dinner plans off island were always prefaced with the question: “Want to go before the bridge opens or after?” Vacationers hearing the “thunk-thunk” of their tires on the bridge would release the cares of everyday life and know that vacation had truly begun.

But, as idyllic and picturesque as the bridge was, there were safety concerns. Emergency vehicles might get stuck on the mainland while a sick or injured islander lost precious minutes that could conceivably cost a life. Residents could become stranded during a major hurricane and be left alone to face the wrath of nature on a small, unprotected strip of land. And, the hands of time had taken their toll on the last pontoon bridge still in operation on the East Coast – each year it sank just a little lower into the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. The beautiful, new, Mannon C. Gore Bridge was built, opening on November 11, 2010, sailing majestically over the waterway – giving residents a safe and secure way to travel back and forth.

But, three women who love Sunset Beach, Chris Wilson, Ann Bokelman and Karen Dombrowski were determined to preserve the Old Bridge and its history for future generations. Together they formed The Old Bridge Preservation Society, and through their efforts, the Old Bridge and Tender House were relocated to a lovely, shaded piece of property within sight of the new bridge. Today, The Old Bridge Museum and Interpretive Center site is open to the public with periodic events highlighting the history and charm of this small sea island. The museum itself will be open to the public as soon as the restoration is complete.

How did you all get involved with the preservation of the Old Bridge and Tender House?

Karen: I’m originally from Buffalo, New York, vacationed here for many years and moved here permanently three years ago. Before I moved, I was involved with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservatory and have a heart for preservation. It was truly serendipity that Ann, Chris and I sat near each other at a Sunset Beach town meeting about the fate of the Old Bridge. When we learned it was set to be demolished, we knew we had to do something. We thought we would save a bridge, but it quickly became a labor of love.

Ann: I moved here from Richmond, Virginia, and have lived here for five years, but, like Karen, have vacationed in Sunset Beach for years. Bridges connect places, but the Old Bridge connects people – past and present. This bridge represented our island and a simple, non-commercial life for many years. We are trying to tell the story of Sunset Beach, and are collecting stories of what the bridge has meant to people through the years – weddings that were late, proposals that were made on the bridge – we’re keeping history alive.

Chris: I moved here six years ago from Dublin, Ohio, but am a native of Rochester, New York. The three of us have become kindred spirits through a love for our island and the Old Bridge. We had no idea how we were going to preserve it – but with lots of help we saved it for future generations! Karen helped us with a contact at English Construction, the construction company that was building the new bridge, and they helped this dream take shape. We knew the construction company would actually own the Old Bridge after the new one was complete – and they sold it to us for $1! Then, bless them, they moved it to our site – free of charge. It was an amazing feat to move the Old Bridge and Tender House with very little damage to either. We also owe a huge debt to Ronnie Holden, who offered us the use of three properties, our choice, for the site of the museum. Ronnie and his wife, Clarice have been wonderful supporters of our mission.

Karen: The three of us spent time with the last Bridge Tenders and learned how the bridge operated, as well as many wonderful stories. We also have the logs that were kept by the Bridge Tenders. They recorded each and every boat that came through, along with the weather and time of day. These interviews were recorded and will be shown at the museum when the restoration of the Tender House is complete.

Ann: During the final stages of building the new bridge and moving the old one, the three of us were on call 24/7 for meetings with various people involved with the project. It has been a huge learning experience and a tremendous amount of work.

Chris: Last summer a woman was riding her bike by our site and got so excited when she saw the Old Bridge she fell off of her bike! Another person started to cry when she realized we had saved this piece of island history. People stop by and tell us stories and have their picture taken by the Old Bridge. A family reunion group of around 40 people even stopped by for a group photo.

Ann: We have a membership society for people who want to be a part of our mission, and a special Junior Bridge Tender membership for children, who are an important part of our group. We have children out here at every event – they help with fundraisers, give tours and record stories. It’s very rewarding to see how excited they are about the history of our community.

What’s coming up for the Old Bridge?

On Saturday, April 14, we’re having a fundraiser at Silver Coast Winery. “An Evening of Fabulous Music” will be at 7 pm with entertainment by Brunswick Big Band and vocalist, Linda Ladrick. Tickets are $25 and will support the continued restoration of the Old Bridge and Tender House. Tickets are available on our website.

We are moving forward with the restoration and programming for visitors, and just finished touching up the bridge with the original type of silver paint used by the state and have had helical anchors installed. We will eventually have changing exhibits in the Tender House as the restoration continues. A local engineer volunteered to build a scale model, 12′ x 12′, of the Old Bridge and Tender House and his presentations always draw a crowd.

This is a fantastic community.

Learn more at www.oldbridgepreservationsociety.org or find Old Bridge Preservation Society on Facebook.

We live in an amazingly generous community. I have had the privilege of working with volunteers and hearing stories of kindness that confirm my belief in the innate goodness of most people. I’ve also found that the smallest thoughtful gesture can change someone’s day for the better. During the holidays, I was out shopping. It was only a few days before Christmas and most faces held a grim, determined look that mirrored the way I was feeling. I decided to give everyone I met a big smile and, if possible, a kind greeting. Wow, what a response! By the time I finished my shopping I felt like a million bucks. Nearly everyone I met smiled back and greeted me in return. My decision to change my attitude altered the course of my day and, hopefully, the day of a few others.

This month you will meet a few local women who have unselfishly uplifted lives and their communities through hard work and generosity. However, I know there are many unsung heroes who, day after day, change our world for the better. To all of you; from all of us – thank you!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Gracious, articulate and attractive, 81 year-old Nell Cribb, lifelong resident of Georgetown, is someone most people in this small town know – or have at least seen walking the streets of the historic district in period dress while operating her tour company, Miss Nell’s Walking Tours. This active octogenarian also collects Coca Cola® memorabilia and has it displayed throughout her lovely Front Street home. Recently retired from the tour business, Nell sat down with Sasee to share some of her memories.

Why did you start Miss Nell’s Walking Tours?

This was my retirement business. I was the secretary at Winyah High School for 31 years, and when I retired I knew I wanted to do something outside and be around people, so this was a perfect fit. I have been blessed with two fulfilling careers.

When I started doing tours, I thought it would be busiest in the summer months, but spring and fall were the best times. I did tours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, but I would take appointments for other times. Sometimes I did as many as four a day!

When I was growing up, my parents instilled in me an appreciation for history. They both loved Georgetown and passed that love on to me. People here have been so friendly and receptive to my tours and the tour goers. My guests would tell me that they were pleasantly surprised that everyone spoke “Good Morning” to them without knowing them! I told them that was good old Southern hospitality. And, many of the historic homeowners would allow me to take guests into their homes – a perfect example of how welcoming and gracious the people of Georgetown are to everyone.

I was always conscious that my guests were getting their impression of Georgetown through me. I wanted them to have a good time, so I always tried to tailor the tours to the interests of the people taking them. Every tour was a little different. Most people remember stories and tidbits, not necessarily historical facts.

I also did step-on tours on charter buses and even small cruise ships that dock here on the way to Florida from Boston. Once, a tour bus operator stopped me, frantic, saying the company had not scheduled a step-on tour guide for the group. I told him to let them go shopping for an hour while I conducted a scheduled tour. Then, he told me there was no money budgeted for the tour – I told him not to worry, I would do it anyway. I always wanted to give people enough information to entice them to come back and get to know Georgetown a little better. It turned out that the people on the bus took up money to pay me. If I hadn’t stepped up, those people may have left Georgetown with the wrong impression and might never have come back.

What do you think of Georgetown today?

I think it’s getting better and better. The late Tom Davis, former publisher of the Georgetown Times, started the idea for our Harborwalk, and it has been wonderful for Georgetown. And, now we have the Winyah Auditorium for cultural events.

There is always something new to learn about this town. Once in a while someone on a tour would ask me a question I just did not know. I was always honest, and I would get their name and address and mail them the answer.

I love your home and all of your Coca Cola® memorabilia. How did you start collecting?

I have lived here since 1970 – the house was built in 1923 and ’24. At one time, the city stopped at St. James Street [about a block from Nell’s house], and this area was called “Browntown.” The oldest house in Georgetown, the Ulmer House, was built in 1734 and is on Prince Street.

I never said, “I’m going to start collecting Coca Cola® things;” it just happened. At Christmastime, the coke company would send me a case of bottled Cokes, and I put all gifts under the tree. The year the local bottling company closed I was given cups, plates, etc., and I put those under the tree as well. My friends noticed and started giving me more Coke items. My latest is a six pack of Cokes from Dubai featuring South Africa’s 2010 World Cup.

What are your plans for the New Year?

After 22 years of giving tours, I decided it was time to step away. Someone else may be able to portray Georgetown in a completely different light. I turned my business over to native Georgetonian, Debbie Summey.

Hopefully, this year I’m going to inventory my Coca Cola® collection. I need to get this done for my daughters, Vickie and Cammie. I’m not good on the computer, but a friend has offered help. Someone told me I should ask Ripley’s to come and do the inventory – I may have one of the world’s largest private collections!

I am family-oriented and have been doing a quarterly family newsletter for the past 40 years. We are a big family; I was one of twelve children and eleven lived to adulthood. I believe it’s important that we stay connected. People used to have Sunday dinners at Grandmother’s house and always knew who they were related to – it’s not that way anymore. I thank God every day for my life, and that I was fortunate enough to grow up and live in Georgetown and share my talents with others.

Even though I love summer and hot weather, January holds its own magic. It’s exciting to start a brand new year, with unlimited possibilities, and it’s a great month for relaxing weekends spent reading or watching a good movie. If you need suggestions for a great book, be sure to read Lisa Hamilton’s insightful review, and, even better, you can find them all archived on the website in case you missed past issues.

Sasee has a new feature this month that I hope you’ll love as much as I do – “Rocking Chair Renegades” – highlighting fabulous women over 50. Our first Rocking Chair Renegade is Pawleys Island resident, Barbara Kee. Please let me know what you think.

Another bit of good news is Sasee writer, Felice Prager, has published her second book, Waiting in the Wrong Line. As many of you know from reading her work here, Felice is hilarious, insightful and always leaves her readers wanting more. You can find her book on Amazon.

Happy New Year

One of the first things you learn about Sharon Clayton is that she has a big heart. A native of the Washington D.C. area, Sharon and her husband, Michael, own a vacation home in Myrtle Beach, and her two sons live here year-round; Nicholas is a senior at CCU and Tony is a recent graduate. What is not well known – and she’ll never tell – is how much Sharon does for members of our community that need a helping hand, a hug or just a smile. This philanthropic-minded woman owns Frugal Princess, a small boutique in Myrtle Beach that donates all of its profits to charity.

Sharon, how did you come up with the idea of opening the Frugal Princess?

There is no one reason I opened Frugal Princess, but I do feel a need to give back – and I love to shop! My merchandise comes from many sources; I buy designer samples in Atlanta and New York, shop sales throughout my travels and accept donations from outside of the area. We are not a consignment or thrift shop – I have accepted a few “gently loved” pieces, but they are like new, dry-cleaned and ready to wear – and not from anyone in this area. Most importantly, I am tied to the Myrtle Beach area because Nicholas and Tony are here. I tell people I followed my sons to college!

Everyone is not a size 2, so I stock all sizes, even curvaceous sizes, and my customers range in age from teenagers to women in their 80s. I strive to find unique pieces to the area. Prices are great, too, ranging from around $20 to $60. I only open Thursdays and Fridays seasonally, but people make an effort to come when I’m here. I think it’s the thrill of the hunt, you just never know what treasures you’ll find!

Why give all the profits to local charities?

Volunteering has always been a part of what our family does. I used to help purchase clothing for children in Northern Virginia. People always donated for the little ones, but not so much for teens. And, if they did, there was no guarantee anything would fit. Now, I can buy things on sale and help others. Teenagers come in that have never set foot in a boutique – they have no idea how to shop here. By the time they leave, they are smiling and having a good time. And, my profits go mainly to charities that focus on helping women in the area, plus some private donations where it’s needed.

It makes me so proud to see my sons beginning to give back. Nicholas is in charge of fundraising for his fraternity now. Like most families, we’ve had our share of tragedy, but it has only made us all more aware of how very fortunate we are to have each other.

What do you do for fun?

I love being on the water, and my perfect day is sitting on our boat picking crabs. Or, sitting on the pier with Michael, watching the sun set and drinking a glass of wine. When I’m in Myrtle Beach, I love walking on the beach with my two little dogs.

My family home is in Southern Maryland – it has been in my family for 60 years. Recently, I was able to buy it and begin renovations. It was hard to make the house my own, but still leave the memories that we all share, but I succeeded and everyone loves it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about Frugal Princess?

I have made so many friends through this boutique. Women come in to shop and we end up talking and sharing our lives. We’re tiny, but there’s a lot of love in here.

Visit Sharon at the Frugal Princess on select Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year. The boutique is located at 3584 St. James Ave., just off the corner of 38th Ave. N. and Grissom Parkway. For more info, visit www.frugalprincess.org or follow Frugal Princess on Facebook.

Brown Bradley, Director of Music and Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, brings the pleasure of fine music to area residents from a small third floor office at the church. His award-winning FPC Concert Series, featuring world-class musicians, is a four concert series that begins every January. And, his remarkable tenor voice, heard in halls across the United States, Europe, Hong Kong and The White House, is anticipated by area residents in concerts and plays throughout the year. In short, Brown Bradley is a star.

Growing up in Orangeburg, South Carolina, the young Brown always loved to sing and performed throughout his childhood. His parents sent him to Furman University with the hopes that he would become a doctor. But, after Brown’s college graduation he traveled to New York City instead of going to medical school, and after securing a small role in a Broadway play Brown knew his talent and love for music would guide the remainder of his life.

Even military service didn’t stop Brown from singing. After being drafted into the Air Force, Brown became a tenor soloist in the Singing Sergeants, the official chorus of the USAF. The group sang monthly at the White House, and Brown remembers his visits when John F. Kennedy was the chief executive. “I met Jackie O.; she was so gracious and shook all of our hands. The President didn’t shake our hands, but he was always very congenial. A hush fell when President and Mrs. Kennedy entered the room – everyone froze to watch them walk in.”

After his honorable discharge from military service, Brown returned to New York and auditioned to sing with the Metropolitan Opera Studio, believing that his career as an opera singer was well underway. But, the lure of Broadway caused a 180 degree turn when Brown secured a supporting role in Half a Sixpence. “Broadway made me forget the opera,” Brown remembers.

A young, beautiful dancer in the show caught Brown’s eye. She had replaced the lead dancer, and he saw her daily at a nearby cafeteria. Three months later, Mary agreed to marry Brown, and they held the ceremony between the matinee and evening shows. Forty-five years and two children later, Brown and Mary Bradley are still happily married.

Before they had children, Brown and Mary decided to combine work and travel. The couple sublet their apartment off Central Park and moved to Europe to perform. “I got a role in Austria, but the pay was low, and it was nothing like New York. We came home early and since our apartment was leased, we decided to live in Los Angeles for awhile. I did a lot of singing there.”

Back home in New York, Mary gave birth to their first child, a son, and stopped dancing. She worked as a secretary and sold her delectable pecan pies to some of the best restaurants in the city. “We still have the menu that lists, ‘Mrs. Bradley’s Pecan Pie,’ Brown said proudly.

By 1985, New York City had become a crime-filled city. Brown was once mugged right outside of his brownstone home. When a thief pulled an earring right off of his wife’s ear, he knew it was time to think about moving. Each summer, the Bradleys vacationed in Myrtle Beach, so the next year, Brown began to investigate possible jobs in the area. “Coastal Academy [a now-defunct private school] needed a Fine Arts Director. I applied and got the job.”

Brown had also been an organist and choir director at his church in New York, so he took a second job as part-time music director at First Presbyterian Church. And after the school went under, the church took him on full-time. Now in his 26th year at the church, Brown was recently honored for 25 years of service as Director of Music and Fine Arts and became a little emotional telling me how much he loves his work. “They have been wonderful in letting me do community outreach work with our FPC Concert Series and making it affordable to everyone.”

A proud father, Brown talked quite a bit about his children. His son, Damon, has followed in his father’s musical footsteps, and is a keyboard player and composer who is well known as a member of “Soul Function,” a popular local group. Damon also sells his scores to movie and television producers in Hollywood. Though confined to a wheelchair due to Muscular Dystrophy, Brown’s daughter, Ashley’s artistic talent led her to become one of the top needlepoint designers in the United States. Brown and Mary took her to see Rene Fleming, one of Ashley’s favorite singers and the music world’s most famous Metropolitan Opera diva, in Charlotte a few years ago, but Ashley’s wheelchair couldn’t get through the backstage door. “Later we took Ashley to New York to see Ms. Fleming again, and when she heard what had happened in Charlotte, she invited Ashley to the green room in Lincoln Center where she was able to socialize with a room full of celebrities!”

Most of us have special memories associated with holiday music and the members of First Presbyterian Church are no different. Susan Bryant, member of the church, says that Brown’s talent is a part of her family’s Christmas tradition. “It just wouldn’t be Christmas without hearing his beautiful tenor voice sing “Ave Maria” and “O Holy Night.” This year’s “Christmas Glorias” will be held on Sunday, December 18 at the 8:45 and 11 am services.

January begins the 26th season of the FPC Concert Series. The four monthly concerts are held at 1 pm on Thursdays and sold out the very first season. “They didn’t think people would come to concerts at that time of day, but they do. We have people waiting for over an hour just to get a good seat,” said Brown. This talented tenor always sings in the last concert, one of the most anticipated in the series.

Another friend of Brown’s, local celebrity Diane DeVaughn Stokes, has performed with him several times at Theatre of the Republic in Conway and is one of his biggest fans, saying, “I call him the Music Man of the Grand Strand because he brought outstanding Lincoln Center-type talent here before anyone else ever considered it, even without the 76 Trombones!”

Diane went on to tell me one of her favorite “Brown” stories. “Chuck [Diane’s husband] and I have done about ten shows with Brown as the Director, and he has taught us so much about comic timing! When we did, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, with Chuck as Charlie Brown, me as Lucy and Brown as Snoopy, every night Brown would try to crack me up by doing some crazy dog-like behavior…one night he kept licking my leg while I tried to scream at Charlie Brown for being so stupid! It got such laughs; he left it in the rest of the run!”

Performing is Brown’s passion and he has appeared as a tenor soloist in symphonies and chorales from Wilmington to Charleston. Last December, he saw on the Metropolitan Opera’s website that they were accepting auditions via CD and ended up a national finalist. “These performers are very highly paid, so I decided to send a CD, and they called me for a stage audition! Of course, I was much older than anyone there and didn’t get the job. But, they did ask me to audition again this year. I decided not to do it – the schedule is grueling.”

Brown talked to me a little about the opera of today and how much harder it was for the up and coming singers. “There are so few jobs now for singers. Opera is not as popular as it once was – it is still popular in Europe, but they mostly hire people from the area. I do believe there is a new group of people discovering opera. Recently there have been live broadcasts of operas shown at movie theaters around the country that have been well received.”

When I asked Brown about his future plans, he told me they were in limbo. But, he was very sure of one thing. “As long as my voice is fresh, I will continue to sing.”

Visit www.fpcconcerts.com to learn more about the upcoming FPC concert series, or call First Presbyterian Church at 843-448-4496.

Each month, Sasee publishes nine first person essays, selected from the many well-crafted submissions we receive. Freelance writing is lonely work. It involves a lot of sitting at the computer for hours on end and then sending the results out into cyberspace with no clue to how it will be received. While we cannot publish them all, I am very grateful that we are able to offer our readers such a wide range high quality writing. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our writers, many of whom have become friends, for continuing to share your talent and lives with us. This month, in addition to our usual essays, you’ll find some special holiday pages to brighten your day and hopefully convey the spirit of the season.

And, of course, I could not end the year without a big thank you to YOU, dear readers. We are all so grateful that you continue to pick up Sasee each month. Your input and kind comments throughout the year mean so much. May your holiday season be truly blessed. Don’t forget to support your local retailers this year – shop local!

Happy Holidays!

The Strangers on Montagu Street
by Karen White

Several years ago, I read Memory of Water, by Karen White and enjoyed the twists and turns of a mystery/romance set in the Lowcountry. Just out this month, her latest book, The Strangers on Montagu Street, is the third in a series of books featuring Melanie Middleton, a psychic realtor who lives in downtown Charleston. Not having read the others, I wasn’t sure about reading this one first, but thoroughly enjoyed it. The story line has some interesting twists and turns that are just eerie enough to keep the reader interested, but not so scary that you can’t read it at night by yourself. A psychic from birth, Melanie tries to hide her ability to talk to troubled spirits, but the appearance of a haunted dollhouse and a dark secret from the past force her to confront some very unhappy ghosts. Meanwhile, her obvious-to-everyone love for Jack Trenholm provides the romantic tension that comes together to make this a thoroughly fun read.

Trust Your Life
by Noelle Sterne, Ph.D.

On a more serious note, one of our Sasee contributors, Noelle Sterne, has just written a lovely, uplifting book, Trust Your Life. The author encourages her readers to act on their dreams and forgive themselves for past mistakes – and accomplishes this with a kindness that jumps off the page and into the reader’s heart. We all have dreams that we hold close, and many of us never act on them, ignoring the wisdom of our “inner voice.” Noelle guides the reader with gentle steps to a higher possibility, with a special emphasis on believing that it is never too late to begin again.

Editor’s Note: Lisa will be back next month!

Stephanie Necessary and Eileen Patonay are both educators at Forestbrook Middle School, and through the years we have worked together on several projects. I greatly admire them both for the dedication and love they have for their students – and their students have for them. Recently, I was asked to have a “shadow” for a few hours, a student would come and spend time at our office, seeing firsthand what we do. Haleigh Ferro, a bright and personable eighth grader showed up on time with a big smile on her face. We talked a lot about writing – she loves it – so I asked her to write a sample, “Letter from the Editor.” It was so well-written that I want to share a little of it with you.

Life can be compared to riding a bike. It’s a wonderful ride, the wind whipping through your hair, many different kinds of scenery ahead of you. Sure, you’ll get flat tires and fall off a few times, but you just have to brush yourself off and get back on the bike…things DO get better. So, walk with your head held high and enjoy life!

I look forward to seeing Haleigh succeed as a writer, or in whatever field she chooses. This month, let’s take her advice and enjoy life!