Another Wedding Vow

   Back in January, while we were planning our small wedding, and not knowing which of our children and grandchildren would be able to come to Chattanooga (all of our kids and their kids live elsewhere), we decided to make sure that those who could not attend would be our first priority to visit when we married. We both wanted the family to get to know the new spouses, and for Carolyn and I to meet us with both parents and kids of those we had not been with.

   On Carolyn's side of our family, we had been to Becky's in Atlanta, and B.J. and Beth's in Buford before Easter rolled around. Also while we were in St. Simons, we visited with Alan and his kids while they were on Jekyll for a wedding.

   Likewise on my side, trips had been made to Arkansas to see Donna and her family, and to Carolina to be with Dwayne and Karen.

   That left Rush and Joan in Nashville and Doug and Dawn in Virginia.

   We needed to be in Arkansas again for Archer's senior concert on 5/2, so we made plans to see the Virginia and Nashville people before we went to Conway. I asked Doug and Dawn the best times to see their kids in action and agreed to come on April 26 and leave on the 1st of May.

   Not to waste all those miles of travel, plans were made to make some courthouse visits as they presented themselves.

   A newspaper story in the days before leaving Chattanooga presented us with our first planned stop.

   The historic courthouse in Loudon, TN had sustained damage from an accidental fire, and we wanted to see the spot. There was speculation that this building would not restorable and would have to be torn down and this could be our last chance to see any of it.

   Then on to Blacksburg where a full calendar awaited us.

   First up was Laken's volleyball game. She is really a good player and does her best to lead the team, but the school is small and her supporting cast is very young and there is a lot of inexperience.

   Saturday was David's baseball game up in Pembroke, but sadly it had been cancelled before we arrived. We enjoyed the ride through the mountains regardless.

   Sunday was church with the whole family, followed by their traditional pancake, egg and sausage feast for lunch. Not bad at all and brought on several naps in the afternoon.

   There was even a sentimental visit to the popular 1916 covered bridge up the highway in Newport, always a handy photographic place for us lowlanders.

   Monday morning Carolyn and I walked around the Virginia Tech campus, going to the Drill Field and visiting the Memorial for the 32 students and faculty who had lost their lives in the 2007 shooting on campus. The spot sits on the Drill Field in front of the Administration Building

   We also found the basketball arena open and went in for a look.

   Monday afternoon's scheduled event was a soccer game for Lucy. They won big, the weather was great and much fun was had by all.

   That Lucy is one fast girl even dribbling the ball down the field toward the opposing goal.

   Tuesday was a treat for us as we had lunch with three of the men in our "Boy's Club" when Mayre and I lived up there in 2005 to 2008. Carolyn got to meet the men that I had talked about and the wives also. Mexican food and fellowship on Main Street.

   Tuesday night was Caroline's choir program at the high school. As you might expect from a Bowman child, she was outstanding and had one of the solo parts.

   Caroline's part came first on the program, and we were able to sneak out to catch an inning or so of David's baseball game, which was taking place on the field behind the grammar school right next door.

   Before we leave the Virginia part of this journey, you may be wondering about Drew, the graduating senior of the high school in late May. Well, he had a bike race on Saturday, two hours up the Interstate, so Doug went with him while we took care of other things.

   Not to fear, we will be back in Blacksburg for graduation in late May. Pictures to follow then.

   Wednesday found us on the way to the Nashville area. Whoever found that property out in the woods, must have had to build the cabin because they could not find a way out. But what a spot it was, with a small lake out back that made you want to just sit back and enjoy nature and solitude for a long while.

   May 1st just happened to be Rusty's birthday, the big Six Oh, and Joan proceeded to serve us a meal fit for a country king, or at least one that called for a clean pair of overalls.  Rusty had requested this menu, Meat loaf, Mac and Cheese casserole, Squash casserole, Green Beans, and Apple Cobbler for dessert. Man alive did we chow down.

   Wildlife showed up for the celebration with a wild turkey sprinting down the drive and a visiting mouse who decided to come down from the loft on the stair rail. Sorry no pics available, they were both too fast.

   Thursday saw us back on the freeway heading west toward Conway. We could afford no time for courthouses as our schedule called for a quick meal at supper before Archer's concert at 6:30. I want to tell everyone, "This boy can sing". he received the outstanding senior choir award. Archer is back row left.

   My first thought as Archer sang and received his awards was that his Grandmother would be so proud of him, this autistic boy who has grown up to be an honor student, singing star, and will be going to college in the Fall. Who could have predicted all of that?

   His parents deserve a lot of credit for the way they have worked with and raised this young man. They were justifiably proud as we all were.

   Friday brought family time around the table with Noel's delicious dinner and several board games. Cady Gray and Archer had to scheme together to let Papa and Grandy win a couple of games.

  Saturday arrived and we again hit the road, through the whole state of Tennessee, 11 hours on the road with a little rain, and a few courthouses.

   Five stops in all, Lexington, Decaturville, Linden, Hohenwald and Columbia. Only one picture here so as not to bore anyone who has gotten this far. Maury County Courthouse in Columbia.

   But one little incident deserves some ink. We stopped in Linden for the courthouse, a nice 1868 building that had replaced a wooden structure twhich had been burned during the Civil War by the D--- Yankees, and decided to grab a bite also. Linden is a town of around 1,000 souls and only one such spot open on this Saturday afternoon----"Dimples"---a combination eatery and eclectic wall to wall "stuff for sale"shop.

   Kevin and Renee, transplants from Nashville, 20 some odd years ago, fixed hamburgers, told stories, asked questions, and generally filled an hour of our time. He had played in the band at The Ryman Auditorium for some years and knew all the country music artists. We will remember that spot.

   We arrived home, tired but pleased that we had had those times with family, and the time in the car, long as it was, to be together with each other, telling our own stories, too.