On the way back north from Atlanta, we made a stop by Donny’s Mom, Greta’s family home in Chesney, South Carolina. Her parents’ home was recently sold, and it was time to get to the sad, final task of clearing out the last items from the storage area in the garage. Her parents have been deceased for many years, and the house had been rented. Greta’s sister and her family live just next door.
It’s always nostalgic to visit the place you grew up. Greta pointed out spots she remembered, and told stories of the town and the land when she was a girl. The green pastures, wildflowers, tall trees and white fences were beautiful. We had a tasty home-cooked meal prepared by Greta’s niece, and heard more colorful family stories over dinner. It’s a wonder we still had room, since we had gorged earlier at the landmark Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg. 
According to their site, “The Beacon stands for old-fashioned things…God, country, family, friends, children, and a decent meal at a fair price.” The Beacon has been there 60 years, serving up barbecue, burgers and plates “a plenty” which come with a sandwich and a serving of fries or onion rings that could easily serve 4 or 5! They’re also famous for their iced tea, making 62,500 gallons a year! We were greeted by the manager, who gave us a brief rundown on the difference between “lowcountry,” “outside” and regular barbecue. Then we were sent on to JC, who asks you to “Call It!” He’s been calling orders Beacon for over 50 years.
