We were sitting in a corner booth, happily discussing things of no real consequence to the world around us. I noticed a young family seated at a table close by. The dad had on an army uniform– the same color of the uniforms I see on the news when units are deploying. The kids were full of smiles and yammering to their dad about everything under the sun. The mom looked as if her smile was forced, she was leaning into her husband as if she needed him to help her hold it together.

I continued my meal, paying no more attention to the family until I noticed an older woman approaching their table. She paused next to them and held out her hand to the young soldier. “I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything you do for me and everyone I know. I want you to have this.” She handed him something then, I don’t know if it was a dollar or a thousand. I think she was paying for their breakfast, but it was the gesture that inspired me. I looked at him too. I noticed his uniform and assumed he might be shipping out. Yet, I wasn’t the one that took the initiative to say thank you.

The older woman left the restaurant and I looked at the young family again. The young mother was openly crying now, her husband was attempting to comfort her. The children were looking at their dad with the brightest, proudest eyes I have ever seen. As well they should, he is not only their hero but ours as well. He kept his arm around his wife for the remainder of the meal. The young boys tried to cheer her up by smiling and joking with her, already trying to fill a void that their dad’s absence will create.

This is not a family I saw on television or read about on the news. This family was right here in the Pee Dee, people that you may know. It is not a love story about strangers, it is a love story about our neighbors.

Have you said thank you to a soldier lately?

To any and all members of the armed forces that read the Flossip, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know many of our service members are headed to Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other points around the globe. Thank you for all that you do. If there is ever any problem that you think I may be able to facilitate help with, please email me at theflossipATgmail.com

I found this at the Piggly Wiggly at the Florence Mall, what a find!

My children have loved seeing the ice around town the past few days. (Personally I was about ready to become the Florida Flossip until I saw that it was cold there as well.)

Here are some pictures from around the Pee Dee. Thanks to everyone that emailed them to me!

Country Club of South Carolina: (Taken by Allyson)

Home of Brenda and Marvin Munnerlyn, Darlington SC: (Taken by Jason)

This one was taken in Myrtle Beach by Kyle Grainger at WMBF News:

I have had THREE really good experiences in customer service recently. These experiences were enough that I remember each person by name. I am going to split them up over the next few weeks.

My first customer service shout out is to Benson with Verizon Wireless. I had something I needed urgently and had to go to the store. I knew the store would be a madhouse and I literally had very little time. I called the store and Benson answered. He listened to the issue, came up with the best solution and told me he would have it ready– to just give my name at the door. I was a little worried when I got there as the place was PACKED with pre-Christmas madness. However, I gave my name at the door and within minutes Benson was assisting me. He had everything ready to go, was super efficient with check out and didn’t try to upsell me on ANYTHING. He was smiling and laughing amidst the madness and acted as if I was the only customer he had that day.

Hats off to Benson for all his help!

Another Pecan Festival has come and gone, and I think this festival is going to be a long term success! As you know, I think Florence has been woefully lacking in the festival department prior to the Pecan Festival. How can we be a southern town without a festival? Despair no more… we finally can rightfully claim our status as a southern city. Now we just need a “Miss Pecan”…

Anyway. The festival was a blast. I got there early in the morning and did not leave until late at night… after the last band (The Okaysions). I really wanted to hear Drink Small on Sunday, but honestly my feet were just refusing to walk me anywhere else.

First, I have to thank this woman:

I have no idea who you are, but you are absolutely the Flossip’s favorite person. Why? I was standing behind you and saw that you had printed out the Pecan Festival schedule FROM MY WEBSITE. I felt… famous! So, thank you for reading. (Thanks to ALL of you that read, but especially my new friend.)

About 12:30 you may have noticed a strange phenomenon. Central United Methodist Church was actually LIFTED UP by the Masterworks Choir. Amazing!

I was not sure that I would be moved by the music, and I was so wrong. The songs were uplifting and beautiful. It actually felt strange to walk outside and smell funnel cakes and…

KETTLE CORN!!! (See how quickly I can change direction?)

Y’all. I have this friend that doesn’t believe in the sweet/salty combination. Personally, I think that Clay Smith’s Lowcountry Kettle Corn  is being served as an appetizer in heaven. It is just that good. (They sell it at the New York Butcher Shoppe as well).

I was getting tired then, so I checked out the Blues Breezeway.

This guy was awesome. You could tell all the kids were exhausted (I was kid free for once)… and he totally got them involved in the show. He would scream chicken, they would scream chicken… great fun (and the beer truck was right there as well).

There was a TON of food.
I found the people that make the fried strawberries… but they forgot the strawberries! They were SO nice and so apologetic… apparently I was not the only one that asked. He did promise me that they will have them next year…. sigh. Good things come to those that wait, right? (I confess I asked him where he will be in the next few months… desperate much?)

I also saw some great local artists that had some fabulous Christmas gifts. We have some really talented people in this area!

I KNOW that I saw many of you at the Pecan Festival… especially my best friend above. Next time you see me in my glasses and blue hat be sure to wave! (Perhaps I need to have a float in the Christmas festival. Who has a spare fence I can use?) I really can’t tell you how awesome it was to see downtown as it is meant to be– brimming with people, laughter, and places to eat. Hopefully this will transfer over to everyday downtown at some point!

Isn’t this a beautiful picture of a man and his horse? Just… grazing.

Well… yeah. Except that he is grazing in front of the AIRPORT. Yes, that is the Florence Airport. I guess he just needed to stretch his legs!

to go, that is.

Florence’s newest restaraunt is called “All that & a bag of chips.” I went last week for research purposes and took my chief investigator (CI) with me. I had the roast beef sandwich. She had shrimp salad. We ordered ahead. We checked out the new Drinkin’ Donuts on the way and everything was waiting for us when we drove up.

We used the coupon for a free sandwich or combo, so it was less than $8.00 for the both of us to have lunch. That alone is enough for you to eat there today. Everything smelled yummy, so we took it back to our headquarters. We analyzed everything. The bread? Homemade and delicious. I have to confess that for an instant it was as if Benton’s was still open and I had a to go box. CI was a little nervous about the shrimp salad. I have to admit, that was an ambitious first order. I usually stay with something safe… like roast beed. CI took a bite and deemed it DELICIOUS. She has already been back and had the chicken salad… also awesome.

There you have it, its a HIT. It is drive through only, so I recommend calling ahead if you can. The hours for November are 10:30-2:30. Try it out this week, and be sure to tell them that you read about it on the Flossip! Don’t forget the COUPON!!

If you are going:
All That & A Bag of Chips
400 Pamplico Highway
Florence, South Carolina 29505

(In the spirit of full disclosure this post is written in conjunction with an advertisement. However, I bought my sandwich as myself and used my own money.)
843•669•8851

I mean Dunkin Donuts… I mean Drinkin Donuts… well, anyway… its a combo Dunkin Donuts/Liquor Store. You can get liquor and donuts (and fill up your car) all at once.

(See the red dots? At first, they just look like decoration.)

Nope, it is actually a liquor store as well as a Dunkin’ Donuts.

Heh.

Flo-town has its Dunkin’ Donuts… but it is a long way away. It is PAST Francis Marion on the way to Marion. When I rode out there I realized I won’t be visiting very often, unless I am working in Marion.

Are stirrup pants back in? Seriously? I just can not embrace the stirrup.

And another…

Spotted at Sears at Magnolia Mall if you are in the market…

If you were online Saturday you probably saw a ton of updates about the West Florence Fire Department Open House. I did not know about this ahead of time (or I would have told you), it was an impromptu Flossip family event.

It was absolutely awesome. The kids had a blast, but Mr. Flossip and I had a blast as well. The event was so well done (and FREE!) that we had to practically drag our children to the car.

In case you don’t know about the West Florence Fire Department, they are structured a little differently than a City or County Fire Department.

West Florence Fire Department is made up of mostly volunteers however we have 10 part-time paid personnel, part-time paid State Certified Fire Marshall, and a full time paid chief. West Florence serves the western portion on Florence County which include parts of I95 and I20. We operate out of three stations and have 12 apparatus total.

I was so impressed with the men and women that work at the firehouse. They were all so energetic and enthusiastic… it was contagious. We learned a lot about fire safety and it was a perfect opportunity to talk about fire safety with the kids. All of you readers that are in their region? Definitely drop by and say hello (and maybe give them a donation as well).