An hour after sunset, I attempt blow dry my hair. Although it’s so humid, I can’t get it fully dry. Ah…gotta love summertime in the south. Deciding to move here, after our first visit in July of 2011, when it was sweltering hot. I admit, I was a little afraid of the heat. Now, almost four years into the transition, I have fully acclimated, and I actually enjoy the hot summers.

Our air conditioning has been broken in our little 800 sq ft apartment. The landlords believe that fixing it according to “Tybee Time” is perfectly acceptable, I say with just a hint of sarcasm. But our loving friends dusted off their extra window units and dropped them off to relieve us. Doing as much as I can to keep my hair from being completely out of control, I get ready for another night out on Tybee.

It’s Friday night and Sean’s band “In for a Penny” is playing at Hucapoos. There’s been a buzz stirring, including some local press that was published this week. I couldn’t be more proud of him for following his heart and passion.

I walk up the steps onto the deck of the open air bar/pizza joint. A dozen tables are all full, three of them overflowing with familiar faces of people that I love. Conversations and laughter fill the space between the sun bleached splintering deck boards beneath our feet and the giant sails floating overhead that provide an oasis of shade during the day. The buzz of large industrial sized fans hum along from corner to corner. My warm damp skin catches their welcome breeze as I step past.

I am first greeted by Chris as he’s on his way to deliver pizza and a round of beers to the first table, then I get a hug from his adorable bride, sweet Susan who’s on her way to do the same at the table of tourists to my left. Chris and Susan just celebrated their first anniversary. I got to know them better last year as we took their engagement and wedding pictures. Two people I truly love.

Next I’m surprised by my girlfriend, Jennifer who drove in from Atlanta for an impromptu weekend visit. Oh no, I think, a party is about to happen with Jennifer in the house!

The line of patrons is two layers deep around the poured concrete bar inside, but as soon as bartenders, Nicki and Ryan catch my eye, they are in a sprint to be the first to hand me a Miller lite. This continues their ongoing race for title of ‘best bartender ever’.

The night soon gets underway around ten o’clock, as the vacationing family seated at the inside corner finishes their dinner. The table and chairs are cleared and moved aside as the band sets up a makeshift stage backed upto the screen walls. Soon, test sounds come from the speakers, instruments strum and thumping drum heads snap getting everyone’s attention. I hear the voice of the love of my life welcoming everyone then starts into some rowdy Irish music. Within the first song, the tiny area behind the overstuffed sofa and giant flat screen tv is filled with dancers, stomping and twirling through a jig.

I feel arms wrap around me from behind and recognize them as my son Bryce leans in from towering over me to kiss my head. He can usually be found in the kitchen at The ‘Poo, spinning pizza dough in the air. But tonight he’s off the clock, just hanging out at his favorite place watching his ‘old man’ plunk out a few tunes.

An epic moment of the night came when Sean called my girlfriend Carolyn, and her husband, Gay to the stage. It was Gay’s birthday and the guys in the band prepared a special surprise of playing the cult classic, Veggie Tales “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything”. It was obviously a hit.

The night carried on with nearly four hours of Irish jams, long lost 80’s cover tunes and a few originals that Sean has written.

I mingled with friends and new faces both inside and out on the deck throughout the night. At times the conversations were fun and light hearted staying on the surface, others were a little deeper, more than scratching beneath the polished exterior we all choose to show. Revealing heartfelt connections and commitments to keep pressing onward. Exchanging words of encouragement, and comforting hugs to hurting hearts. Both giving and receiving.

One conversation  I had, really deserves its own blog post, and I may just write it one day. But someone gave me the best compliment ever. This came from a true local, not someone passing through, snowbird or tourist. Someone who spent her childhood here. Someone with generational roots here. She has watched people come and go. People with agendas to change Tybee or ‘fix’ it.  Knowing we have only been here for a few years, she said that she really feels like we ‘get Tybee’. I consider it an honor as a fresh transplant, to be told that. Tybee is not for everyone. Some love it, some despise it. There really is no in between.

I love Tybee and the people here for who they are. Real people. No hidden agendas, people projects, or make believe facades of a perfect life. Just a community of people making their way through this crazy world, together. Celebrating life’s high five, fist bump, thank you Jesus moments and coming along aside each other during inevitable times when life deals pain and struggle and tragedy. There is no place I’d rather be.