Easin' Along

She came very prepared…

Our youngest grandchild, Cason, spent three weeks at Camp Illahee, a private camp for young girls in Brevard, North Carolina. When the three weeks were up, Helen and I drove over to pick her up and take her to Knoxville for four days. Her family lives in Charleston, and although we visit there quite often, we don’t get much alone time with her. We were eager to have this opportunity for some “catch-up” time.

Because Interstate 40 was closed at the North Carolina border due to a rockslide, we took an alternate route through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Cherokee, NC, where we spent one night to arrive at Camp Illahee at 9:00 am on the day of pickup. How could we be so fortunate? Two hours in our mountains is better than a quick trip anywhere on the Interstate.

Camp Illahee is about an hour and a half drive from Cherokee. Helen and I were up early and out the door in plenty of time to make the trip. We arrived around 8:45 and were first in line. A staff person met us and stopped us short of the pickup point as dozens of young ladies carried trunks, bags, and clothing to the parking area in droves. I took a picture of the activity, but it didn’t come out :-(. Cason spotted us immediately and hopped in. We waited several minutes before four strong boys carried her trunk and sleeping bag to our car.

While waiting, Cason pulled out her notes and read us her Camp BeBe (our grandchildren’s name for Helen) Bucket List of what she wanted to accomplish while in Knoxville. Did I mention she came prepared?

We took a different route through the National Park en route to Knoxville so that we could spend some time in the very touristy city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As soon as we asked her what she wanted to do for lunch, she spotted The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant. That’s all it took. The Melting Pot is a favorite of Cason and her Dad. We enjoyed a delicious Cheese fondue with assorted fruits, bread, and vegetables.

Gatlinburg was packed with summer tourists, but we managed to walk the streets and make a stop at the Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, which has been in the city since it was a two-stoplight town. We loaded up with good stuff.

In the following paragraphs, I’ll cover the bucket list, but here again, some of the pictures didn’t come out very well–I’m sure readers will get the drift–we had fun.

UNO

Cason loves to play games, and one of her favorites is the card game UNO. We played several games before dinner. BeBe and I never had a chance.

Play Pickleball

Helen plays pickleball with a group of ladies three days a week, and Cason paired up with her against several pairs of the group. I don’t have pictures, but Helen said she played well and got her serve in every time.

Bake Bread

This young lady loves to cook, so I prepared some Sourdough Bread starter before she arrived and asked her to bake some fresh loaves for us. She made a total of six, as well as a pan of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Brownies. I put my diet on hold for a couple of days.

Visit Great-Grandmother Helen

At 97, my sweet Mom lives in a nearby Nursing facility. She is still sharp as a tack but doesn’t get out much. Item number four on the Camp BeBe Bucket List was to visit her. While we were in Gatlinburg, Cason bought her some Chocolate Covered Cherries (Mom’s favorite) and some delicious Chocolate Fudge to share. The idea was pure Cason, and Mom was thrilled. We spent nearly an hour with her.

Animal Shelter

This girl adores animals and plans to be a veterinarian someday. Item five was a visit to the animal shelter, where she could play with some kittens. The picture I have is not very clear, but touching nonetheless.

PediSpa

After the kitty convention, BeBe said that she thought a trip to the spa for mani-pedis was in order, so they took off, and the spa operator squeezed them in. A spa outing was not on the bucket list, but they both seem happy with the results.

Bookstore

Item six was a trip to the bookstore. Cason had read all of the books she carried to Camp Illahee and needed some new reading material. She and Helen made one trip to Barnes & Noble, where she bought two books for $40. They then went to McKays Used Bookstore, where they purchased six books and a board game for the same amount. Big Daddy loves the used bookstore. Cason began reading them that night until BeBe interrupted for help with her latest puzzle.

All too quickly, the time arrived for Cason to head back to Charleston. Coincidentally, a dear friend was going to Charleston that same day and agreed to give her a ride. We loaded her camp gear in the car, exchanged big hugs, and sent her home. I’m sure that Cason was looking forward to seeing her parents, her older sister, and her many friends, but it was a tear-jerker for BeBe and Big Daddy. She was a joy to have in the house, as well as busting through the Camp BeBe Bucket List. We miss her already.

Our country will be 249 years old on July 4th this year. Our nation was founded on the concept of freedom, and proudly, it remains so 249 years later. Wars were fought, and lives were lost in the defense of the freedoms we now enjoy. Millions of men and women (yours truly included) have worn the uniform of the United States to protect and preserve a nation conceived in liberty.

Although many will sing “Happy Birthday” to America, I felt it was appropriate to honor our nation’s birthday with two of the most patriotic songs ever written, and create videos using a few pictures taken on trips Helen and I have made through our staggeringly beautiful country. (Click on the video to view them)

The “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” written in 1861 by poet and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, was a favorite of Northern troops fighting to preserve the Union and abolish slavery. The words are powerful and, more importantly, they tell listeners what we were fighting for, rather than what we were fighting against. At times, I am overcome with emotion when I hear it sung.

“God Bless America” was penned by the great Irving Berlin in 1938 as Hitler was forming a powerful army to conquer Europe and then attempt to take on the world. It was made famous through the powerful voice of Kate Smith and was an immediate hit when she first sang it on her radio show shortly after it was written. Many Americans wanted “God Bless America” to replace “The Star-Spangled Banner” as our National Anthem, but Berlin refused, saying that a National Anthem cannot be replaced. Nevertheless, both he and Kate Smith did the right thing and have donated all royalties from the song to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, a commitment which lives to this day.

As each of you enjoys hot dogs, fireworks, family, friends, and a well-deserved day off, please pause for a moment or two to honor those brave souls who have given much over 249 years to keep our country proud, strong, and free.

Hope to see you on the road…we’re Easin’ Along.

After Helen and I returned from California in April, we rested up a little bit because we knew May was going to be busier than the lifestyle we enjoy in our RV. The lure of hooking up again and hitting the road passed through our retired brains more than once.

Spring had arrived in Knoxville, and that meant a lot of yard work that had gone neglected. Fortunately, Helen enjoys working around her plants and flowers and does more than her fair share of the labor. She hired a landscaper to remove some unruly bushes around our deck steps and replace them with something more manageable.

I had developed a considerable amount of “unwanted baggage” around my mid-section on our trip, so I jumped back into my exercise class with all the gusto of the young-at-heart 77-year-old that I am. During the warmer months, our classes are held in an outdoor pavilion situated in a local community park. When the early morning breeze wafts through the pavilion, I pay scant notice to the agony of deep knee bends or hamstring curls. I enjoy the class immensely.

In late May, we hooked up the RV once more, put Mortimer in the back seat of the truck, and took off for Charleston. Our granddaughter, Bennett, was completing her eighth-grade year at Mason Preparatory School, and we wanted to be there for the Awards Ceremony and graduation.

Of course, we can’t pass our favorite campground when driving southeast, so we stopped in at Happy Holiday in Cherokee, NC, to sit by the creek and try our luck in the Casino. I did pretty well on the trip…until Helen canceled me out.

We camped at James Island County Park in Charleston while there and were fortunate to obtain a reservation. James Island is an extremely well-run facility, and its summer campsites fill up quickly. We tucked Dora in the woods and enjoyed complete privacy.

On the Thursday before graduation, Mason Prep has an award ceremony to recognize both academic and athletic achievements. We knew that Bennett was in the running for several awards during the Ceremony on Thursday, as well as during the graduation service on Friday. The recognition Bennett received blew Helen and me away. I’ll list the accomplishments below, and if it appears that I am bragging, it’s because I am.

On Thursday, Bennett received recognition for being on the Headmaster’s list for the entire year for having grades of 93 and above in each subject. She also received the Student-Athlete Award for girls, as chosen by the athletic directors and Head of School. Bennett excelled in both basketball and volleyball. Her primary sport is soccer, but since Mason Prep does not field a soccer team, Bennett was allowed to play as an eighth-grader for the local high school JV team. Although her teammates were high schoolers, she took the Trojan Award for player excellence.

More recognition followed on Friday during the Graduation Ceremony. Bennett graduated as First Honor Graduate (combined highest 7th and 8th grade yearly averages). She received the award as the top student in French and, most impressively, was voted the Alberta Sotille Long Citizenship Award by the eighth-grade class in secret ballots.

She closed the Ceremony with an address to her classmates and the audience. By then, my shirt buttons were under considerable strain. I introduced myself to all I met as “Bennett’s grandfather.” It was a helluva weekend, and Helen and I are so fortunate that we could attend.

When we returned to Knoxville, we learned that Carter, our California eighth-grader, had also been honored at the end of his school year. Allow me to brag once again.

Carter received the Young Historian Award for outstanding achievement in the subject of history. He also received the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence and was presented with a certificate signed by President Trump. When I heard the news, I was sure he could hear me shout from Tennessee.

We’re Easin’ Along into June for now but look back with much pride and joy at a very busy May. How was yours?

Author’s note: We have no travel plans for the summer, which means material for blogging and opportunities for photography might be limited. If you don’t see us for a few weeks, please know that we shall return. To my bloggy friends, please keep up the great work–I’ll always be in the audience. Joe