Courtney's Journal

Monday, August 18th, 1997

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Today I was mostly in the back seat, working on the computer, which was good, as I was a bit tired from staying up late Sun.nite. Dave drove and Kim helped navigate. We were focused on getting to Nashville so we could enjoy some country music and ribs in the evening. I really wanted for Kim to have at least one "really fun" night out on this trip, as thus far it'd been a bit grueling for (well, everyone i guess -- although i'm used to these hours (but not the driving)).

Anyway. We drove all day -- Dave doing most of it, and I learned why Jamie advised "make sure Dave eats." Actually I was really enjoying the country music. Its something different and fits in with this place. It was very relaxing as I drove on the interstates to hear melodic alto, bass, and soprano voices croon their loves and sorrows.

We stopped in Knoxville for a break. I thought we were going to have a picnic somewhere along the road but I guess it wasn't in the agenda None of us had eaten so far this day, except for some fruit we bought the day before, and lots of water. (Its amazing how quickly water can go through a person. You'd think it'd get absorbed, or should be or something. But, Noooooo! So Kim and I started timing when we could polish off liters of water with next rest stops. Its not the most elegant topic to bring up, but traveling across the country with people you don't know so well, makes a person turn into a bit of a survivalist, and all of a sudden the water cooler and restroom down the hall take on different proportions.)

Dave settles into a chain coffee shop, Java, with beautiful antique windows as decorations high on the walls, old wooden furniture, and your standard delicious smelling coffees and sweets.

Kim and I embark on an adventure outside. We pop into an antique shop, The Old City Collection (at 110.5 East Jackson St. (423) 523-7275) where the proprietor Cleveland D. Kendrick greeted us with, "I'm having a nic fit, can you spare a match?!" Luckily Kim found one of her Junior League matchbooks. We browsed through the beautiful goodies there, spoke with a much calmer shop clerk, and headed back out into the hot hot hot sunny Tennesee day.

I started to get quite hungry and realized Dave wasn't going to stop for this picnic so I figured I better eat now. I ordered a big salad (iceberg lettuce, carrots, tomatoes) and reflected on the exotic greens NYC restaurants carry as standard fare (romaine, arugula, endive (OH! endive!)) but savored every bit of it!

We had fun chatting about things and sharing in female bonding moments.

Dave came over and we're Off To Nashville!

I drove. We checked into Super 8. I'm still frustrated about not having my "dongle" and Dave was getting very upset at his computer problems. anyway. I decided nothing will be done constructively at this point anyway, it was obvious we were going to miss our AOL chat, so let's get some food.

Interior garden of the Grand Ole Opry Hotel

Would you like to know what's going on in Nashville? There's no shortage of activities. For instance, here's a partial listing of where you could go:

The Stockyard restaurant, Patsy Cline play, Music Valley Wax Museum, Museum of Tobacco Art and History, Recreation World, Old Negro League Sports Shop, Grand Ole Opry, The Hermitage, Belle Meade Plantation, Horseback riding, Bible factory outlet, Willie Nelson's Museum showcase, Museum of American Frontier Culture,NASCAR racing, Bedrooms of America Museum/Pottery/Antiques, and many many more! BTW, Graceland has a website now: http://www.elvis-presley.com. Also, Dina Shore went to High School in downtown High School: (seen right)

Downtown Nashville. WOW! The streets were alive with country music pouring out from clubs, bars, and lounges. We walked up and down a few looking for ribs. We saw sushi, spagetthi, pasta, burgers.... where oh where are my ribs?! AHA! Eureka! There are pigs flying over broadway! Literally! Pink neon pigs with wings were "flying" over a sign saying "Jack's on Broadway -- Bar - B - Que."



We entered like ravenous zombies. Ordered the family style rack-o-ribs, got hot bbq sauce, potato salad and cole slaw. I tried Jack Daniel's beer, and Kim and Dave tried Market Street Golden .Both local brews. I liked the Jack Daniel's better -- richer tasting. We ate like crazy --- it was SOOOOOooooooooooo delicious! MMMMm. I've NEVER had better ribs. Afterward, the night manager Bobby showed me the oven, the wood burning stove, and revealed Jack's BBQ secrets. But I won't tell!

Pictured above: The oven with the pork ribs roasting; The actual fire burning oven

During dinner, Dave jumped up and ran out the door faster than I could say "Jack Rabbit!" The Argentinian's were outside. I've heard they're trying to compare us to characters from friends, which is kind of sad, because they're not taking the time to truly even engage in much conversation beyond how frustrated they are by the pace of this Rally and tech issues and all the other things we're all commisserating about. I like them all really. Willie, who's filming this for Argentinian TV, Nicholas who also works at Y&R in Buenos Ares, and Soledad -- a young woman who is as curious for me as the other two. We all chat, recommend the ribs, and decide since we've met now, we don't need to in the morning at the Opryland Hotel.

On our way back to the car, we heard some wonderful country folk singers in Henry's Coffee House. Kim and I went in for a beer, and Dave followed after he went to Kinkos to check on something.

Closer to the car i saw a advertisement for ReunionNet.com painted on the side of a brick building.
Back at the hotel I called a few loved ones and then went speedily to bed for much needed rest. I sat up in bed abruptly and said to Kim, as she came over to my side of the room, "I'm sorry. I was sleeping" She said, "That's okay. You're supposed to be now." Wow. I must be really zonked! She stayed up and painted quietly while we slept.




I'm so happy she came along on the trip for the first leg. I think she provided a good balance but being a non-digital member and helped calm situations. I'll never forget a book club meeting once with some other friends and Kim, and one women commented, "Kim must have a very old soul, she's so calm about things and seems very wise." I agree. She has a beautiful positive energy and a strength that will meet your needs. She has helped me through some very difficult times -- losing my cat SweetPea and relationship turmoils.... I trusted her when it was hard for me to start doing that. I took that chance with her, and I was rewarded many times back. I enjoyed being with her in a non-nyc setting, where our busy lives can distract from just being with a person.

I hope to get to just Be with many people this trip -- people in the Rally, people I meet along the way, Me!

--Courtney