Mr. Diamond and I just returned from a fabulous two weeks in North Carolina.  My heart is still there and if you have any inkling of who I am at all you know that my dream will always be to be someplace, on a beach, in North Carolina, Kindle and iced tea in hand.

The weather on our recent trip was less than spectacular, we had a little fender bender that took out a whole day of fun in the sun and yet—-it was the perfect trip in many ways.  The day we had the accident we were 2 miles from boarding the ferry to go to Bald Head Island and I was determined to get there so on our next to last day at Oak Island we completed that task successfully.

Once we got on the island we decided to grab a bite to eat and cup of coffee to warm up before the short walk to the lighthouse and the only place available was MoJo’s on the Harbor.  It was a great choice but the best thing about the place was the “mojo” that was evident from the dollar bills that were present everywhere.

I asked our waitress about the bills and she told me the story behind the unique decorating style around the bar and it all began with a couple, Brooke and Nonie Williams, who were friends and their first customers on their first day of business.  Brooke signed a dollar bill and the tradition began.  Folks wanted to join in and later colorful waterproof markers were available to customers to decorate their own.

The bills are getting more and more vibrant and artistic and as our waitress related to us the reason has changed somewhat since the original dollar was signed.  Brooke passed away in September 2012 and if I understood correctly the owners will eventually donate all of the bills to a cancer charity in his honor.  What a lovely tribute to a man who obviously had a zest for life and service to others.  (You can read his obituary here).

Funny how a stop at a small place can make me appreciate life just a little bit more.

It turned my already wonderful day into a day of reflection on how a small gesture like signing a dollar bill can make a difference.

And in case you wondered—the food at Mojo’s was fabulous. From the steaming cups of coffee that she delivered in my favorite color mug to the fried pickles with ranch dressing for dipping to the mahi mahi fish tacos—-it was delightful and just the fuel we needed to complete our windy, chilly trek to the lighthouse.

Fried Pickles

Fish Tacos with Sweet Potato Fries

That, my friends, is a post for another day. Stay tuned.   Have you ever experienced “mojo” in an unexpected way?