Finding a Writing Retreat

by Paula Gail Benson

I’ve found there’s a connection between writing and travel for me. My mother once told me that as a baby I would ask to be read the words on street signs. Growing up, we traveled to my grandparents’ home for the summer, a six to seven hour journey. On the way, I would make up stories, collecting names from the highway signs to use for characters or places.

With Covid-19 restrictions, traveling has become difficult. A number of friends have beach homes or friends with whom they can stay along the coast. This time of year, I long for a beach trip, but it just hasn’t been possible.

A few weeks ago, after lining up a series of virtual writing events to enjoy [see my Stiletto Gang post from yesterday], I wondered if I might find a nearby place to go where I could feel like I’d gotten out of my usual cocoon and had a bit of adventure, or at least a new experience.

I remembered a former student who operated an Airbnb. James L. Mann “Bubba” Cromer has had a distinguished legal career, as well as being the first independently-elected member of the state House of Representatives. After serving in office for eight years, he now works as the House’s reading clerk (which means that he announces the items on the legislative day's agenda by reading the information or bill title to the members as the matter comes up for consideration). In addition, he is the award-winning independent film maker of The Long Way Home: A Bigfoot Story and The Hills Have Thighs, described as a “hysterical Appalachian comedy, [like] Deliverance in reverse.” Bubba, who calls himself an amateur theologian, also has created the Candyman Homeless Outreach program, through which he distributes essential items to needy families not affiliated with a shelter. During the pandemic, he, with his service dog Casper, handed out “corona killer kits” of masks, sanitizer, and other necessaries among the homeless population in the local parks.

Behind his residence, Bubba has a cottage he has dubbed “Bubba’s Bungalow.” It consists of a kitchen with dining area and large living room on the first floor and a bedroom and bath on the second. It’s located through a garden passage and has its own patio.

I found the rental on Airbnb’s website and delightedly booked it for the weekend I had scheduled my virtual programing fest. Bubba responded immediately when he heard I would be his guest. He did everything possible to make the weekend special, including a bottle of bubbly in the fridge, flowers, and a bag of boiled peanuts on the patio.

The location was in a quiet neighborhood, where people waved at you as they passed on the street. Grocery stores and restaurants were within a few blocks and easily accessible.

Best of all, the bungalow was perfectly situated to provide for a great writing experience. It provided a quiet refuge with terrific WiFi. And, Bubba had it well stocked with breakfast foods, water, and coffee and tea.

The WiFi was particularly important to me because on the Sunday evening I stayed there, I was one of Ed Aymar’s guests on DC Noir at the Bar. I read from a revised version of a Thanksgiving story I had written.

In the living room behind me, a “tower” (I have learned from comments in the broadcast chat line that is the terminology for a giraffe herd) of wooden giraffes stood silently. They got so much attention, I’ve decided I need to hire them on as my “groupies” for any future reading appearances I might have. Three were clearly visible to the audience, but the fourth, a baby, hid behind the couch. I figured they were Southern giraffes, so I named them: Bubba, Sissy, Tutti, and baby Nero. My imagination gave them super powers (like a giraffe version of The Incredibles, with Bubba having X-ray vision; Sissy, super breath; Tutti, the ability to become invisible; and baby Nero like The Incredibles’ Jack-Jack, evolving, with lots of surprising talents).

My host Bubba is a proud graduate of Clemson University, home of the Tigers, hence there were a number of art works featuring striped cats.

Being an alum of the rival school, the University of South Carolina fighting Gamecocks, I told Bubba I would overlook the strong feline presence.

The bungalow held a mystery in the corner of the bedroom that I still ponder. What do you think might be inside this trunk?

After a delightful stay, I packed my car. As I was leaving, I swear one of the Mexican petunias nodded in my direction. Like it was saying, “Come back soon.”

Have you been able to travel this year? Have you had any writing staycations?