I love Savannah

I love living in Savannah.  I love being from here.  I am one of those who came “back” after college (I read somewhere about how locals always make that comment).  I love living in a town where the tallest structure is a steeple.  That is, until one of those big ships rolls down the river.  I love knowing that when I go to the Publix at Twelve Oaks that I will know someone.  I always look forward to talking to that person, whomever that may be.  I love that when I drive my children to nursery school that we get to talk about the flowers blooming and the horses driving the carriages.  My children are sure that all those horses are named “Lucky” and that they live at their farm.  When I tell people that I work for my family business, TideWater Landscape Management, Inc., the reply I hear most is, “Oh that’s your family’s business?  I see your trucks everywhere!”  I love to hear that.  Savannah is wonderful.

Just look at all the activities coming up in the next few days! 


This Saturday we have the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival.  How incredible are those creations made from chalk?  Do you think they use the same Crayola Container that we use at our house? Surely not...

Or, how about Savannah Fashion Week!  The fashion show is tonight!  I will tell you my friends, Heather Kaney Burge and Jennifer Miller Paige know how to make girl feel like she is in Paris or Milan!  How awesome that our little city is hosting such beautiful design and creativity!  Thanks to the many fashion folks who make this event such a success.

For all you golfers, The 2013 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is being played right now across the river on Hutchinson Island.  Golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player are wowing the crowd as I type.

Lastly, on the music scene, we welcome Betsy Kingston and The Crowns who will be playing at Mojos Juke Joint located on River Street this Friday night.  We have a Savannah girl coming back for a Savannah show. Good music. Good vibes.

So, this weekend our city of Savannah is going to be a happening place.  Enjoy!

Thank You, Helpers.

What a tragic week it has been for Americans across the country.  After hearing the news of the horrific bombing at the Boston Marathon finish line followed by the earth-shattering fertilizer blast in West, Texas, Mr. Rogers’ quote has been quite moving:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’"

There are countless helpers surrounding these tragedies.  From the race volunteers and runners to the fire fighters and citizens of West, Texas, ordinary people became heroes in seconds.  They helped those in need without question and without pause.  As a runner, as an American, and as a human, it strikes my core to see triumph of the human spirit.  Despite terror, despite fright, we continue to care for each other.  We show love.  We show compassion.  Thank you to all the helpers in these tragedies and in our daily life.  We appreciate all of you, we appreciate your unselfishness, and we appreciate your random acts of kindness towards perfect strangers.   Though we are heart-broken over the devastation and loss, we can be thankful and rest soundly knowing that love prevails. 

Each Day is Unique

Working in a family business is unique.  It is unique to walk through the door each day and say “Good Morning” to your co-workers and get a “Good Morning hug” from your 60 year old Dad.  As you sit in your uncle’s desk while he is working in the conference room, your 80 year old grandfather walks in to chat for a while about the weather and what the customers are saying before he leaves for his daily route as the Customer Service Manager.  On the phone your little brother calls from six states over to ask, “Whatcha doin’?” just like he has most every day since you moved out of the house to go to college 15 years ago.   Just now after the small talk he moves to, “Let’s talk about the sales program and the projected growth over the next 5 years.”  He owns the branch of the company in Oklahoma.  Your cousins work in these halls as their roots are here also.  You all went from fishing at the pond as children to fishing for business as adults.  Then, your mind wanders to your own children.  You wonder how their day is going, are they having fun with their friends, did they take their nap, are they happy?  Then you think, “Hmm…they might like to work here one day.”  As you look up a face as familiar as family pops through the door asking about the part for the truck that needs repair.  You know this face as he has worked with your family business for 25 of the 32 years of your life.  This person knew you when you were running the halls and playing pretend on the equipment.  This person took your brother to the hospital when he was bitten by that snake while picking up hedge clippings that really hot summer.  This person saw you go to college, to return, to marry, and to come back to the business to work alongside each other.

This is a glimpse of my morning.   It is a morning of warmth, familiarity, and the feeling of utmost responsibility to maintain the reputation that the generation before me created.  I love TideWater.  I love being the Director of Marketing, the boss’ daughter, and that girl that comes and goes all the time.  For me, I love these people.  I love the three generations of our family that have the opportunity to work and create something new each day with generations of other families within these walls and across the country.  Thank you, family.  What a great way to start the day.

Come and see us at www.tidewaterusa.com.

(A view from our annual conference this year.  My dad (bottom left) and my brother (next to him) are both sitting with their hands on their chins.)