My Home Away from Home

Today I dipped my toe back into the water and returned to work for 4 hours. It was busy and tiring, so I hit the recliner and fell asleep when I got home. But at work I started to wade through the hundreds of emails waiting for me while dealing with the public computers that are still quirky and irksome.

Meanwhile, the pictures above are to remind me of the infinite number of times we drove to Vanderbilt for doctor's appointments over the past 10 months. I have another appointment with the plastic surgeon in a month and then I hope to be able to put this catastrophe behind me forever. Although both Drs. Herline and Summit tell me I can still pull a hernia, here's to me catching a break. Because that would involve another operation, and I've about maxed out my Blue Cross credit card. Here's to positive thinking!

We ain't just all about the grits . . .

Pictures I took at a nice restaurant in Nashville called The Mad Platter. Just so you know it's not all what they call "meat and 3" here. But, my favorite restaurant (so far) is Margot's in East Nashville, within walking distance of where son Dave and wife Erin live.

Preserving a little bit of the Earth - Bridgestone

Yesterday was Earth Day and it reminded me to post this info that I've always been proud of about BFUSA. Several years ago they made this donation of pristine hardwood forest to the state. To locals, the area is known as Scott's Gulf. Here's the info:

The Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness, a 10,000-acre gift to the citizens of Tennessee from the company, was called "The Grand Canyon of the Cumberland's" by an early 19th Century traveler and is recognized as a natural treasure for its uniqueness and diversity. It is entrusted to the Tennessee Wildlife Management Agency (TWRA) as a Wildlife Management Area with an easement to the Conservation Fund.

You may enjoy low impact activities such as gazing at one of the 9 waterfalls, hiking, bird watching, primitive camping, hunting, fishing, class 5 kayaking, canoeing, photography and cave exploring.

A premier hiking and backpacking destination in the Caney Fork River Gorge, the 26 miles of trails on the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness are rated moderate to difficult. These trails offer access to the terrain of rolling hills, waterfalls, deep gorges, rocky hillsides, wildflowers, oak, hickory and pine forest, creeks, river pools, and general remoteness all combine to offer many degrees of difficulty.

Virgin Falls is the crown jewel of the Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness and, some say, Scott's Gulf. A torrent of water exits a cave at the top and plunges 110 feet to disappear into the cold, dark depths of yet another cave. The steep sinkhole the water enters is very prominent and provides an excellent vantage point to enjoy the view. In addition there are several camping spots nearby, so one can literally camp across from the falls.

Early settlers in this area made good use of this natural resource. For many years there was a mill in operation in the sinkhole. As late as 1979 you could still see one of the original mill stones lying where it had been set, over 100 years before.

Lost Creek Cave is located in a large, obvious sinkhole. At one end of the sinkhole a waterfall tumbles down, only to sink into the ground and disappear. Across from the waterfall is a large cave entrance into which surface streams and overflow from the waterfall run during rainy weather. The cave is primarily composed of one huge borehole, large enough for a pair or three of Greyhound buses to drive side by side. The main passage curves in a spiral until it intersects the waterfall sinking from the surface. This underground waterfall is probably one of the most fascinating features of the cave.

Other points of interest may be found at: http://www.uppercumberlandcaving.net/Gulf/index.htm#top

We live in the city of Franklin, but we call it Cool Springs because we are oh-so-COOL

Bill was transferred here in 1991 with Bridgestone/Firestone (we have now adapted to calling it just Bridgestone) which was the cutting edge of the Yankee Invasion. We moved to a subdivision called Forrest Crossing, close to I65 in Franklin, TN. It had seemed our realtor had shown us a lot of subdivisions out in the middle of nowhere, and Bill didn't want to drive 10 or 15 min. just to get on the Expressway. Plus, I wasn't happy about the move, so I felt better about being close to an interstate in order to get the heck back to civilization.

Even though we had crash landed in the South, where I might like to think people had just misspelled Forrest, I soon learned we were living in a subdivision named after the a great Confederate Civil War general: Nathan Bedford Forrest. I shouldn't complain, though; the only relative that I have that fought in the Civil War was my (maternal side) great-great grandfather from MS, who fought for the Confederacy. I sometimes tried to use it to my advantage, but that never seemed to fly. Talks like a Yankee: must be a Yankee.

But I digress. I wasn't 100% crazy about the house in Forrest Crossing or the location, so I said to Bill that we would live in it for 5 years and then move. Amazingly enough, that is what we did. Five years later we moved to what would be known in a few years as the "Cool Springs area" or just "Cool Springs." Little did I know I would actually become cool. I drive an RX8, folks. That purchase may not have been a midlife crisis, but because I live in Cool Springs next to the Mazda dealership. Zoom Zoom !

There are four neighborhoods in our subdivision, Cool Springs East. We were the first house built in the subdivision in our neighborhood, the 2nd poorest, or the 3rd richest (depending on if you see life as a 3/4 cup empty vs. a 1/4 cup full). But, although we don't have the most expensive house in the neighborhood (good news in the real estate market they say), we do have the best lot. Also good and pushing us toward the glass is half full. :) I have one son who will be so happy that I am seeing the glass half full; he thinks I'm too dark. I getting glad to just see the glass. Forrest Crossing with only one interstate entrance had become a calamitous cacophony of cars during rush hours. Now, we are 2 seconds from 2 interstate entrances. What more can you do? There seems to be no stopping the Yankees and the Californians. And they all have to live in Williamson County as the Nashville school system is still seen as suspect. So, our neighborhood in the subdivision is named The Woods (we're built on the side of a small mountain), but the subdivision is named after the Cool Springs Mall, which had just opened - not exclusively for us since we weren't so cool yet, but when we were the only house over here it sure seemed like it - in August '91, shortly before we arrived in November. It generates a lot of tax revenue, so our property taxes are very low. And, there is no state income tax. Hello 6% raise as soon as you get here. Why do you think the Yankees are invading? They know a good deal when they see one. Of course there is sales tax and plenty of it, also on groceries; tax the poor is our motto. However, since we are the 7th wealthiest county in the U.S. of A., we are COOL in Cool Springs, Franklin, TN. Here's why:

• We have neat landscaping - everywhere you look. Now, I'm serious about this one. And happy. I like the fact that they put flowers everywhere now and even landscape parking lots.
• We have little bridges going over non-existent streams.
• We have lots of dry stone-stacked walls to remind us that the Scots did settle here once upon a time.
• We may have to have car lots, but if we do they ain't called that. See sign. They call it The Collection at Cool Springs in case you can't read it. Also, we only sell Lexus, Mercedes, Infinity, Acura, etc. No Hyundai or Ford around here.
• Dang it! We may have to have garbage in Cool Springs, but if you have to have an unsightly dumpster, at least have the decency to enclose it in brick or stone. Besides, it's the law.
• We have an attractive mixture of homes, retail, and businesses, not to mention the Nissan North American headquarters which is supposed to be finished this summer. They made them build an expressway entrance/exit just for them and the powers that be said, "yawser. When can we begin?"

Shout Out to Greg and Jamie

A big Southern shout out to our Northern nephew Greg, who just got engaged to the lovely and sweet Jamie. A June 2009 wedding is planned. They are Catholic, so I once again got an appropriate picture for this post from the TV - Pope Benedict XVI just happened to be in town serving mass in the Washington Nationals ballfield.

After the Pope's speech at the White House, George Bush, with his famous, or I should say infamous, command of the King's English, said "awesome speech." P.S. The Popemobile is really cool. And he looked happy to be in it even though they say he didn't want to be chosen as Pope.

But, back to weddings. I love weddings - they're my favorite things after little, bitty babies (they don't have to be mine), and I would say vacation, but since we will be retired by then every day will be a vacation. So, I'm planning on enjoying all the upcoming weddings. My children were the first, so now the pressure's off, and we can just sit back and drink someone else's wine!

A Final Tribute to my Cousin . . .

From the obituary "My cousin and her husband thank all of those who supported the family during this time and ask parents to take the time to hug their children and take them out to dinner." Good advice for all, I'd say.

Death is not the greatest loss in life; the greatest loss is what dies within us while we live

--- Norman Cousins

A brief candle; both ends burning

An endless mile; a bus wheel turning

A friend to share the lonesome times

A handshake and a sip of wine

So say it loud and let it ring

We are all a part of everything

The future, present and the past

Fly on proud bird You're free at last.

Charlie Daniels -- written on the bus to his friend Ronnie Von Zant's funeral

Death ends a life, not a relationship - Robert Benchley

Death may be the greatest of all human blessings - Socrates

Sadness is a wall between two gardens

--Kahlil Gibran

You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from making a nest in your hair

--Chinese proverb

I was sad to hear today that my cousin's only child, a twenty-something year-old son, died of a drug overdose. My cousin and her husband had already had a long and hard road with this young man; but he was in rehab and had recently given her a 30-day "drug free" chip, so happy days were here again was the hopeful thought. Evidently, however, this accidental overdose involved a prescription drug that didn't mix with something else. Whatever the circumstances, sadness will spread its wings over everyone who knew them in the coming days and weeks both like the birds in the Chinese proverb and the angels that lift and carry our loved ones to heaven. And for the parents, and all those who have lost children (and what parent hasn't had that secret worry), I have always hoped, if I were in their place, to be able to grieve with the ferocity of a hurricane, fists pounding, tears streaming. Whether this hurricane went on for 3 days or 3 months, eventually the sun would peek out and finally break through the storm. For I am 100% positive that my sons and my cousin's son would wish for the parents they love to pick up the debris, carry them in their hearts and get back to loving and living their own lives as best they could as soon as they could. The days of sadness are over for my cousin's son - as no addict is overjoyed with his or her life as an addict - and I hope that the days of sadness for my cousin are infinitesimally numbered. Let's count them down until she and her husband can reach the day when they can again spread even baby-bird wings with the hope of lifting themselves out of the gloom.

Is Spring here yet?

This is my early blooming dogwood, and since the weatherman said it might snow again by Monday, I thought I would take a picture of it in all it's glory. It rained like blazes last night, and my face is hurting like blazes today. My pain dr.'s nurse said that everyone who is in pain is always in worse pain when it rains. Low pressure, I guess. Grant is getting his Nissan Altima worked on, and I will take him over there this afternoon to pick it up. Meanwhile he borrowed my car to drive to his job. I'm only going to be able to make that trip because it is about a one-mile drive. Meanwhile, Magi, the Corgi, jumped out of her skin last night at the loudness of one of the lightning bolts. Also, I called Erin to wish her Happy Birthday last night. 27 years young. I just got a bouquet of flowers from the library folks - yellow snapdragons, spider mums, and blue Japanese irises. Beautiful flowers for a gray day. I will take a picture of it today when I feel a little better - and even if I don't! Whoops! Here comes the rain like blue blazes again. Happy Friday anyway.

The Champs - Monday night, April 7

OK, so Memphis didn't win.

April???Madness

In case you haven't thought about it (and there's no reason why you should), if it weren't for my mom and 2 sisters-in-laws - well, and now my 2 daughters-in-law - for 50-some years I was almost the only female in the family with one dad, 3 brothers, 2 sons and one very sports-minded husband. Particularly when it comes to March Madness.

This year, of course, it's March Insanity because Duke isn't in the Final 4. This, according to Bill, who spent his first 2-1/2 years of "higher" education attending Duke. All that to say that I'm used to a lot of yelling in front of the TV around certain "religious" events, such as football and basketball games.

The above are 3 photos I took from our TV of the UNC vs. Kansas game. Kansas won to Bill's dismay (I was for Kansas for no particular reason other than I never cheer for UNC). After surviving that game, we now had to sit through another game (I like b-ball games, but one at a time please): UCLA vs. Memphis. Bill and I both cheered for Memphis, for totally different reasons, of course. Me because they are a city in TN and Bill because he thought they would be a good opponent to UNC, although UNC didn't do their part of that equation.

But, the whole day was made enjoyable by the addition of Magi who was at our house while Grant and Keri spent some time with their friends who have moved to the neighborhood next to ours. They then watched the 2nd Final Four game with us. Grant was for UCLA, Keri didn't care. I was happy to have a warm doggy on my lap for at least part of the game.

Oh yes, and Memphis did win.

Tire trophies - the trappings of a 35-year career

If your calendar year runs from June 2007 to July1, 2008, then this probably qualifies as Bill's roughest year. I'll have to ask him. The year he was in Vietnam is still numeral uno on my list, but that's another post. So it was that during this last hospital stay, the one of my 3 operations in 8 days, he walked into my hospital room and announced that he had looked at the numbers again and thought that he could retire in July '08 rather than Feb. '09. Maybe it had nothing to do with my illnesses, not to mention his own heart attack on Aug. 25, '07, reminding him that life is short or was on the brink of brevity several times. Whatever, it seemed that we were now entering the phase in our life when doctor visits outnumbered company policy allowances. It was time to eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you . . . When he contacted HR in Feb. then, they told him to officially put in for retirement on April 1, which he did. Yesterday. But he has been gradually bringing home his office loot, which I found a place for on top of a cabinet in the computer room. Believe me, there aren't many "places" left in our house for displaying any knick knacks, so he's lucky. As much as he is looking forward to retirement, he has been, what we have called "a company man." Meaning loyal. 35 years of loyal. 35 years of heading out on a Sat. or Sun. for a business trip or not getting home till very late from a business trip. Thankfully, he has an insured pension in return. And though in every way has Bridgestone gotten its money's worth from my tire engineer, it has also been a good place to work (http://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/). They are committed to the environment; they made a donation of 10,000 acres of wilderness to the state of TN. They support so many charities, including the Nashville library; NPR; Aids. Did I mention that insured pension? But, I digress. Bill has worked hard and traveled far. I have sometimes said that his job was to go places and talk to people. Sometime when I can get him to work on this with me, we'll sit down and enumerate the states he has not visited for Firestone, then Bridgestone. Of course, he traveled to Japan several times as well. Now he deserves to stay home and know, as he said, that Sunday nights are just like Friday nights. Besides traveling, he is also known as one of the few people, I have heard it said, who knows the most about tires. He came up through development, working on passenger and truck tires, OE and replacement, straight from Univ. of VA to Akron, OH, in 1973. It wasn't until 1991 that he was promoted to Nashville and Sales Engineering. We've survived rif's (reduction in forces), recall's (really painful) and restructuring (remember, we used to be Firestone, not Bridgestone). So, the well-deserved trophies: strain your eyes and read them if you can. Some came with a trade show and some came with a large check. He has his favorites. I liked the large checks. But mostly, I liked the fact that you could work for a company for your whole life, become very knowledgeable and valuable because of that history, and be rewarded with a pension at the end. I'm sorry that our country has moved away from that concept of long-range employer/employee relationships that can be in the best interest of everyone.