What a year 2018 has been. It’s the year Paisley Magazine aged into 10 strong years of providing the best and most empowering read in South Coastal Georgia. And another year we were able to feature some of the best people in the world; you know, women and men who live right here—our neighbors, sharing their inspirational stories of just being them.

Once again, I’m expressing thanks for the world-wide humanitarian efforts of the Little Free Library non-profit organization. Their mission which encourages the sharing and reading of books within communities such as ours here along Georgia’s southern coast is Just. The. Best. 

Welcome to Fall (finally) and Paisley’s “Against All Odds” issue, we're sharing stories of people in our community and from around the world working to “beat the odds” in everyday challenges and personal wellness. Meet Josie, Shirley, the entire SOAR organization, and Lynda, whose enticing column invites you to buy a ticket to experience WIT at the Brunswick Actors’ Theatre.

Welcome to SEPTEMBER—where Paisley’s #AnAppleADay theme is featuring a rainbow of super foods and brain foods, the Cafeteria Crew of Sterling Elementary School, Pediatrician Dr. Melinda Peterlin, Tammy’s Body Makeover, news from the Stuttering Foundation of America and, much more…

“When I was in fifth grade students didn’t change classrooms, instead, the teachers came to us. One day one of the knuckle-headed boys decided to lock the English teacher out and run back to his seat before she arrived. Me, being of sound mind, figured I would politely unlock the door. To my mortification, the door stuck and wouldn’t open right as the teacher was arriving. I was so embarrassed because it looked like I had locked her out. Eventually, I got it unlocked, but the teacher gave me an accusing look. I never told her what actually happened.”

“Recently we added a doctor kit to our Home Living area of the classroom. I heard a little girl saying her “baby” was hot and needed her temperature to be taken. I looked over and she had the doll baby faced down, patting her on the back, telling her it’s ok and she would feel better, only to realize she was taking the baby’s temperature RECTALLY.”

How fun is it being downtown at the Library laying around reading books with Programs Librarian, Karen Larrick?  Super fun. Learning this month’s theme would be #SmartyPants –Karen quickly grabbed copies of Princesses Wear Pants and Panda Pants—thanks, Karen!

Recently, I met motivational speaker, Matilda Gibbons at her well-deserved Relaxation Makeover. (page 18) Listening to her interesting life stories, I began calling her tidbits of advice- “Matilda-isms”.

““Sis said I was being mean to a nurse at the hospital, but I was speaking up for my husband. She was asking too many questions.”

“A man was berating an elderly Walmart checker for asking to see his receipt for un-bagged items. He would not stop yelling at this old man. So I shot back, ‘What are you, the President? Do you have an important meeting to get to? Leave this man alone; he is doing his darn job, you jerk!’ He shut up, showed his receipt, and walked out with his tail between his legs.”

One of my favorite summertime invitations is to spend a creative hour with middle school girls at the Golden Isles YMCA Career Camp as they explore a variety of careers during their two-week session. Talented YMCA leadership and community volunteers share their career talents­—mine, of course, in the magazine industry.

It’s all your fault. Ten years and it’s all been because of you, Coastal Georgia’s devoted readers and the ad partners of Paisley Magazine.

We are “tickled Paisley” proud of our features and local profile stories, which continue to resonate with you in your lives and hearts. In 2008 we started our women’s niche publication (men like it too!) during the national economic downturn. You read Paisley then and still read it today—thank you. At each milestone: one year, five years, marking 100 issues, and now 10 years, you’ve been there!
We write to inspire, encourage, evoke thought, empower and informatively entertain. We love our mission and our journey and invite you to continue with us on the ride. Thank you. Together we have all #Gonecoastal!

“My dad doesn't believe ladders belong on boats, and one day out on the sandbar we got caught in rough water with a storm approaching. The guys were helping boost us into the boat really quickly, and I gouged my knee severely on the propeller. Needless to say by the time we managed to get back to the landing, I was sporting a blood soaked bandana on my knee and pained expression after a rough ride in.”

“I was at the Hospice Care of the Lowcountry Yacht Hop in Harbour Town and walked into a boat’s bathroom, ripped my toenail off on the step and was bleeding all over the floor of this expensive yacht. The owner bandaged my toe and gave me a shot of tequila!”

“My Shi-poo, Kobe’s favorite snack is Cheez-Its and he can say “I love you!”

“In taking my son to school, the car door opened and Taylor, my black lab, ran out and into the school. I ran in and where did I find her? In the cafeteria! I was so embarrassed.”

“We all had pets growing up. I had the dog, Tippy. Little sister had the cat, Bootsie; middle sister got the short end of the stick with Popeye, the meanest, nastiest parakeet—he bit her a lot. But we all felt bad for Popeye the day he got loose. Heading in flight to bite his owner again, she ducked, and he landed in mom’s big pot of beef stew – feathers were flying—mom was screaming. Popeye survived and mellowed out after that!”

"My very best round of golf was played in Freeport, Grand Bahama in brand new red shorts. We had a tropical downpour on the 17th hole. My white socks and shoes were pink by the 18th hole!"

"I won $100 from my husband when he said there was NO WAY I was going to hit my shot over a large body of water!"

"I made a hole-in-one and everyone was bowing down below and clapping. I was so busy talking up on top of the tee box, I never even realized it!"

Welcome to Paisley Magazine’s theme for February: #loveisallyouneed, like the love everyone feels here at Lovely Lane Chapel. Constructed in 1880, this chapel remains a vital part of the campus at Epworth By-the-Sea with weekly services and countless beautiful weddings. Then there’s Lover’s Oak, a nearly 900-year-old live oak tree in Brunswick at the corner of Prince and Albany Streets. It was the meeting place for both Native Americans and early settlers to sneak kisses with their one true love.

Welcome to Paisley Magazine’s theme for February: #loveisallyouneed, like the love everyone feels here at Lovely Lane Chapel. Constructed in 1880, this chapel remains a vital part of the campus at Epworth By-the-Sea with weekly services and countless beautiful weddings. Then there’s Lover’s Oak, a nearly 900-year-old live oak tree in Brunswick at the corner of Prince and Albany Streets. It was the meeting place for both Native Americans and early settlers to sneak kisses with their one true love.

Miss: "I had a goal to see a turtle lay her eggs. One afternoon I was walking the beach with a friend. She and I walked so far it got dark. When we turned around to walk back, we noticed a big rock that wasn’t there before. On a 16-foot retractable leash, my small dog ran over to the rock as we got closer. It wasn’t a rock; it was a huge turtle coming to lay her eggs. The two came nose-to-nose and checked each other out. My dog was gentle and curious, and I didn’t realize it was a turtle until she turned around and went back toward the surf. So close, yet so far.”

Miss: "My goal was to lose weight! I was supposed to start on the program January 2018 – not happening! It’s a 'miss.'”

Welcome to Paisley Magazine’s theme for February: #loveisallyouneed, like the love everyone feels here at Lovely Lane Chapel. Constructed in 1880, this chapel remains a vital part of the campus at Epworth By-the-Sea with weekly services and countless beautiful weddings. Then there’s Lover’s Oak, a nearly 900-year-old live oak tree in Brunswick at the corner of Prince and Albany Streets. It was the meeting place for both Native Americans and early settlers to sneak kisses with their one true love.

"Seeing as I didn’t drink much, and a great friend needed a date for his awards ceremony, and I wanted to wear my LBD, I said, yes. Short version: Two beers, a joint and a ride in a snow storm, was stressful as heck! Had a nice dinner at the ceremony and remember doing a shot. Next thing I know I’m sitting in the pitch black dark. I felt my way around and realized I was in a bathroom stall, found the exit, only to discover the dinner place empty and set for the next day. So, after being asleep on the toilet for three hours, I was locked in from the outside with no jacket or purse. Somehow, a gentleman from our hotel found me. He picked me up and took me back to my date, who thought I had been taken. So embarrassing. It was a long ride home.”

The year 2018 is going to be a high-flying year—so here we go! Thanks to Civil Air Patrol volunteer pilot, Annie Harper and Renn Gruber of Gruber Aviation, our photographer, Mike Force, was able to take a few photos at McKinnon Airport for this issue. Why? Because we are doing Cool Hashtag Themes this year and January’s theme is #skysthelimit.