May 31st, 2011
Other than the Daily Agendas (which I wrote last week), you haven’t heard from me lately for one simple reason: my partner and I had a lovely week off. Last Saturday, my widowed mother, age 71 going on 16, married a very nice widower. (For future reference: grief counseling. Even if all you’re grieving is Oprah.) And since we had a week to kill between mom’s wedding and my niece’s second birthday, my partner and I decided to take a road trip through the incredibly beautiful West Virginia mountains to see Thomas Jefferson’s homestead at Monticello, as well as his lesser-known home at Poplar Forest, just south of Lynchburg.
Yeah, that Lynchburg. Which was interesting, because the historic city on the banks of the James River is incredibly charming, but the world-famous campus on the city’s outskirts has all of the charms of an industrial park sandwiched between two freeways, a highway, a shopping mall and a cineplex. Which is exactly where it is.
We didn’t stay long. Next stop: Danville, where Mary’s Cafeteria will happily load you up with the best fried chicken, corn pudding, peach cobbler, mud pie. From there, it was an overnight at Hillsville, then a leisurely drive back to Columbus, Ohio by way of Beckley, Charleston, Parkersburg, Athens, Hocking Hills, then Columbus for the big birthday party.
And now Tucson. It’s good to be home and time to get back to work. Congratulations Mom and Gus, and happy birthday Lily!
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Reed Boyer
May 31st, 2011
Welcome back. You were missed.
Glad to hear that Falwell’s still seriously dead. Wish his views and organization had died with him. We’ll keep the stakes, silver bullets, axe, and garlic close at hand . . . just in case.
Mary Sykes
May 31st, 2011
You went through some of my old stomping grounds. I’ve got to say, Hocking Hills is still one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Thanks for all the wonderful work you do, and I’m really, really glad you got a vacation.
JohnAGJ
May 31st, 2011
You went to Danville and didn’t stop in at the Sutherlin house?!? The Civil War buff in me weeps! Actually, if you stopped at every Civil War site in West Virginia and Virginia you’d never make any progress whatsoever. We have a bunch of ’em here. :)
anteros
May 31st, 2011
welcome back! and congratulations to your mom and family :-)
pax58
May 31st, 2011
grew up south of beckley, now live in Tucson…glad you all had a good trip..congradulations to tne just married couple
Jerry
May 31st, 2011
A good many years ago I drove from Chicago to the Md suburbs of DC. it was earlier in May but I took back roads through WV. Some of the roads weren’t even on my new road atlas, but the glory of the Mountain laurel in full bloom on a gorgeous May morning was worth every second it delayed my arrival at my friends home. I hope your drive through that state was half as pleasurable as mine.
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