Leaving Nashville the day after Christmas, hugging grandchildren one more time
Before we climb into our respective rides for long journeys home. One heads west, another
North, while we point our car south and east, full of new memories and Christmas goodies,
Enough to last until our far-flung families are brought together once again. Safe travels.
Torn wrapping paper
Boxes scattered everywhere
Gifts for one and all.
Christmas spirit shared
Between children young and old
Making memories.
Holding tiny hands
Pretending and exploring
Wonder prevails here.
“Christmas Morning on Old Hickory Lake.”
We giggled and giggled over this one. I’m calling this one, “Christmas Winner.”
“Off again,
On again,
Gone again,
Flanagan.”
Thus began our journey northwest from Tallahassee to meet our children and grandchildren for a family Christmas in Nashville, TN. With my mother-in-law, Saint Helen, along for the ride, Studly Doright and I set out on our eight hour trip on Thursday morning. We were in no great hurry, since the house we are renting wouldn’t be available until Friday afternoon.
Saint Helen and I took turns riding shotgun next to Studly in the front seat. I enjoyed my turn riding in the backseat, taking note of texting drivers and giving them dirty looks. Saint Helen is too nice for that task, though, but she and Studly enjoy visiting.
Just north of Montgomery, Alabama, we stopped at a Bass Pro Shop to stretch our legs and use the restroom facilities. If you’ve never visited a Bass Pro Shop, you’re missing out on a grand experience.
The stores are humongous.
And chock full of everything an outdoorsman or woman could possibly need:
Boats and guns share space with crossbows and fishing gear, shoes and clothing. Most disturbing are the dead animals displayed in abundance:
This guy posed with me:
There is a shooting gallery with fake guns:
Rows and rows of the real thing:
An archery section:
An aquarium with live animals instead of those stuffed ones that were displayed hither and yon:
A general store and a fudge shop with real fudge for sale. No fake fudge here!
We spent an hour or so wandering around Bass Pro Shop before climbing back into the car. No stuffed animals were injured in the writing of this post.
I call this one “Hanging With the Great Ones at the Grand Ole Opry!”
From left: Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Saint Helen, and Daughter Ashley
Last Sunday Studly Doright and I took his mom, Saint Helen, to the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. Even though Studly and I have been in Tallahassee a little over three years, this was our first visit to the museum that sits just off Interstate 10 east of Tallahassee.
Here are just a few of the automobiles on display. The array was dizzying.
Batman had his own section.
There were motorcycles in abundance:
Boats
Boat motors:
Tricycles and pedal cars:
Steinway Pianos:
Cash registers:
A vampire hunting kit (I really think I need one):
And lots of other goodies:
The museum, with its eclectic array of memorabilia, provided us with a couple of hours of entertainment. I think I’m still suffering from antique overload.
Peace, people.
What a beautiful piece by giannaiannucci.com
Praying for Eyebrowz 
