I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachia
On Lookout Mountain
my LOVE for the mountains
began as a young girl
Before I started school
My parents got a singing gig
in the Great Smoky Mountains
We packed and moved north for a few months
While there
I spent a lot of time with a friend and her grandmother at a local candy shop
Sweet memories….
As a teen
I spent time in the Smokies with our church youth group
Summer or fall
Rafting and conferences
one summer in particular, the summer of 92
While on a rafting trip
I pursued Cowboy Dan
(I know. I know. shame on me for being so forward)
that summer pursuit
became an “I do” four years later
when a young woman of 19 + a skinny cowboy of 21=CRAZY love
honeymooned in the Smokies
We’ve been going back together
ever since
Several years ago
Cowboy Dan’s parents, my parents, the sisters and their hubs
All journeyed together to the mountains
A lot of fun
And so began the tradition
Mountain memories
Since our maiden voyage
the sisters, their hubs, Cowboy Dan and I have had a herd of youngsters
Seven to be exact
Ages 8 and under
With each new rascal
The size of our cabin has grown
This trip= 3 levels
Carpet preferably ….to help muffle the noise (experience is the best teacher)
While in the mountains
we all:
Laugh A LOT
Eat much MORE than we should
Play board games and card games
We sing and dance in the kitchen (mostly)
we walk and
Talk and play with the herd
We don’t:
Shop a lot
Go too much
we don’t play arcades or ride go carts (yet… we know it’s coming. but not yet)
We don’t work
Or stress
We enjoy each other in spite our differences
We savor special conversations
We share recipes and ideas
Catch up on anything we may have missed
(which isn’t much ..because we don’t miss much of each other’s happenings)
And when it’s time
to pack up and head back
to sweet home Alabama
Someone usually cries
children and adults alike
Sometimes more than one
Maybe because they’re tired
Or maybe because each trip
is special
so very, Very special
and we hate to see it end
this trip was particularly special for me
because I had some rare one on one time with my daddy
we rode in to town
he treated me to this
and as much as I LOVE and will TREASURE this gift
always
our time together
just driving and talking
uninterrupted
.. priceless.
and one of the many reasons why tonight
I am extremely thankful
for another great trip
FULL of
mountain memories
PS for more of our trip..look for me, keosmith7 on Instagram :O)