The Writer’s Corner features poetry, essays, short stories, satire and various fiction and non-fiction from SCAD Atlanta students. To submit your own work for the Writer’s Corner, email features@scadconnector.com.
The next couple of days were all over the place. We made plans, but none of them were followed.
Around 2 p.m. on Saturday, the four of us, Mom, Dad, Samantha and I, started our day. The drive down the rocky path, then six-mile stretch of road, with only a Dollar General on it, seemed to last forever. It took about 20 minutes, but we found ourselves at a sweet little thrift store. This shop donates their earnings to many great causes, and if you ever find yourself in the area, I urge you to visit Cartecay Thrift Store.
When first walking in, I didn’t expect to find very many things. Except, two seconds later, I found something I had been looking for: a white dinner plate set. For $4, I left that building with eight plates, four for appetizers, and four for meals.
Not only did I find the plates, but I also found some clothing. Prices were above reasonable and the lady working the front desk was the sweetest woman I met there.
We went around town a little longer, until 5 p.m., when almost everything closed. There were a few cafés, coffee shops and multiple antique stores. This place was a gold mine for my father, who has recently taken on an obsession with the show “American Pickers,” and now believes he is one himself. Anything, and I mean anything, that felt nostalgic to him, he picked up and held it in his hand until he found out how much it was worth online. Nothing was good enough for him. Instead, he went to that Dollar General and purchased a fake mouse to later scare my sister with.
That night, my Mom, Samantha and I went to the drive-in to see “Incredibles 2.” We drove to Blue Ridge to the Swan Drive-In and watched the families pile in. We got back to my car after buying fries and popcorn to set up our chairs. A few minutes after making it perfect, a woman walked up to us and asked, “Who goes to SCAD?” I was at the front of the car so my mom answered by saying her daughter goes there. I went over to see who it was and she introduced herself. Turns out, she’s a survey of computer art applications professor at the Atlanta campus. So, Professor Chesney, if you’re out there reading this, great to meet you and can’t wait to take your class in the winter.
So, the sun went down and the movie started. I was so excited my heart was almost beating out of my chest, and my mom and sister kept talking. The group next to us had an angsty teen son who kept turning the car engine on just to get a rise out of his father. And some car behind us kept turning their lights on. I wouldn’t be this much of a diva about all these tiny things if I hadn’t waited 15 years for an amazing movie to update us on The Underminer and how Violet’s date went with Tony.
Aside from those tiny issues that had nothing to do with the quality of the movies, “Incredibles 2” was great. I recommend it for all ages and encourage anyone who sees it to appreciate how far the tiny animation details have come since the first movie.
The final day we were there, the plan was to go visit Blue Ridge. The downtown area has nice shops and the weather was almost perfect. After waiting in the car for 20 minutes, Mom came out and said we didn’t have a lot of cash to take along with us. We all decided to stay at the cabin, play board games, watch movies and sit in the hot tub. It ended up being a relaxing day, and one of the best. Later that night, Samantha and I had to leave to go back home. My Dad and Mom stayed back and took a night for themselves.
Throughout the trip, Mom kept bringing up an audio book she was listening too. It was about the seven most effective people in the world and while six of them are unknown to me, the most known, and only talked about, was the person who surrounds themselves in nature. Being out in a different area and surrounded by wildlife was nice. Since the start of summer, I have put myself into nature more. By doing so, I have been more relaxed and I need it now. I’m sitting in the county court office finishing this article and the world stares at me through ceiling to floor windows, almost teasing me.
If you’re sitting inside right now, blinds closed and lights off, take a minute to step outside. Walk around the block, neighborhood, town or wherever you are and explore. Experience something new and let it affect your life and art.
