YOUNG FLETCHERS, etc

         I spent this weekend with our daughter, Margaret (Margo) Haskell Fletcher, her husband, Robert (Butch), their daughter, Corie, and son, Charlie, (and his wife, Megan). It was at Corie’s school, Winthrop University, and we stayed overnight at Charlie and Megan’s house in Charlotte.
 
         Our mission was to visit the Fletcher adult-children, see Cories’ apartment in Rock Hill, see a basketball game at Winthrop, and see Charlie and Megan’s new house in Charlotte, North Carolina. Margo, Corie, Butch, and I had seen a Winthrop basketball game two years ago. I was once a varsity basketball manager at Tabor Academy and Margo was Co-Captain of her high school basketball team at Dana Hall School. I went to a few of Margo’s games and have always enjoyed the sport. We decided to see another Winthrop game in combination with a family visit.
 
         Corie is a junior at Winthrop, majoring in finance and accounting. She talked about her challenges and we met some of her friends. She has grown up so much at this fine school.
 
         Winthrop is located in Rock Hill, SC. Like many South Carolina towns in the Up Country, Rick Hill was once primarily a textile town with the sad empty remnants of some textile mills still present. Winthrop University has grown into a well-known state university that now dominates Rock Hill with its attractive campus, new buildings, and active sports and academic programs.
 
         Charlie and Megan met as undergraduates at USC—that’s University of South Carolina, not California. When Charlie first brought Megan home here on Hilton Head, she seemed a shy, quiet, attractive young woman. They both graduated from USC; Charlie a little later than Megan; and when they secured steady jobs, decided to get married at the South Carolina Yacht Club. Charlie had learned how to sail at SCYC and had won a major sailing tournament early-on in his life. It was a lovely wedding with many of our extended family present. Charlie and Megan left on their honeymoon to the Dominican Republic.
 
Pat and I watched Charlie grow up, at times, slowly, but always on the go and seeking new challenges, and always, great fun to be with. We have seen Megan gradually come out of her initial cautious shell and develop into an accomplished graphic artist and fun to be with. Charlie and Megan’s relationship has developed and matured steadily since her first visit on Hilton Head.
 
         Now, over a year later, Megan’s company has moved their Duncan, SC operation, and Megan, to Charlotte, NC and Charlie has changed jobs from a county clerk’s position in Spartanburg, SC to the legal department at a major financial services company with offices in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. The young Fletchers recently bought a house in Charlotte and were eager to show off their new digs.
 
         We ate lunch at a brand new restaurant close to Corie’s apartment building—‘Legal Remedy”. Owned by Rick Hill lawyers, this restaurant is combined with a new brewery offering an extensive line of tasty beers.
 
         Winthrop won their basketball game—their eighth win in a row and we left for Charlie and Megan’s new home, located close by in an attractive neighborhood, not far from the fast-growing amusement park, Carowinds.
 
Charlie recently spent a week, training in Boston at his company’s headquarters. He is energetic, enthusiastic about his new job, and eager to learn about the financial business. I found myself enjoying talking with our grandson about financial matters that interest both of us.
 
         Charlie mixed us potent drinks and Megan cooked delicious cheeseburgers in their modern kitchen. We sat around their dining room table and talked about real estate, the upcoming election, and our family. Charlie and Megan share definite ideas about the future and it was fun to hear them talk about their possible plans—including Charlie teaching Megan how to sail and perhaps even starting their own family with names suggested for its grandparents.
 
         I was sorry Pat couldn’t be with us as she was home caring for our animals, and Dora. We look forward to having the young Fletchers visit us in Maine this summer and are so pleased we took this weekend trip.