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noblesinger -> RE: Songs of the Noblesinger (7/10/2006 9:38:55 AM)
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Reid emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later, and asked me to help him get the chicken started. We went out onto the back deck, fired up the gas grill, then put some drumsticks and breasts on. By this time the kids had drug Mary out of the house to show her their trampoline, and they kept her thoroughly entertained with the running commentary. From there, they took her back inside to let her see their bedrooms. Annie Rose went into the living room to talk to Karen and ended up convincing her into going downstairs to play "House." Mary finally got away from the children and was able to go into the kitchen to talk to Marjorie and lend a hand with supper. Wayne just relaxed out back while Reid & I commiserated on all the news from home. Not being quite sure what time we'd get back to Calhoun, I called Mom from my cell phone and let her speak with Reid & Marjorie both. This really made her day, because she was especially fond of the whole family.
When all was in readiness, we blessed the food and sat down to a meal of grilled chicken, baked sweet potatoes, salad & dessert (some kind of strawberry shortcake-like concoction). The youngsters ate in the breakfast nook, while the adults were at the dining room table. We had such a wonderfully relaxing time, sharing our lives and the Word, that we hated to see it end. But alas! it had to. While saying our goodbyes, after the obligatory pictures, Annie Rose climbed up into the back seat of our car - she was going to go home with us! Mary & Karen explained to her that "Mommy and Daddy would miss you too much" if we were to take her, but she wasn't budging. Of course, her brother Paul wasn't helping much; he was saying "Go ahead and take her!" The look on her face as she sat there , arms firmly crossed in front, was utterly adorable! Finally, after he stopped laughing, Reid said to her, "Annie Rose, get out of the car. Now, honey." He was firm but loving as he said it. Reluctantly, Annie Rose climbed out of the car and we left for Calhoun.
Driving back, Wayne & Karen both commented on the Clarklings, how sweet & well-mannered they were. Mary & I told them some of the funnier moments that we've had with them over the years, then I said, "You know, I think we've left something back in Woodstock." Wayne asked, "What is it? Was it important?" I replied softly, "No, just a piece of your hearts. Annie Rose got to you, didn't she?" They both had to agree that's what had happened. You see, Wayne & Karen had waited until later in life (both of them were almost 40), and they have no children of their own - lots of neices & nephews but none to call "theirs." So a little piece of both of them was left in the care of one Annie Rose Clark - not a bad place to be kept, though.
Tuesday morning, Wayne went back to the store, while the ladies and I went shopping at the same outelt center they'd gone to the day before. I was able to find several things for myself, Karen found some brushed denim pants for Wayne, but it was Mary twho made out like a bandit. Karen suggested that we look in a Bon Worth store for some clothes for Mary. I browsed in a couple of other places while they were in there, but finished well before they did. Making my way to the rear of the store where the dressing rooms were, I was stunned to see Mary still trying on outfits. After another 20-30 minutes, they finally had narrowed it down to 5 outfits. The total came to over $190, and Mary said, "I can't afford that much!" She put back two of the outfits, but it was still too much for her. Then Karen picked up one of the outfits and paid for it, and I took one as well. That left Mary only needing to pay for one outfit. Needless to say she was elated to have so many new outfits all at once.
By the time we finished the rounds at the outlet center witha stop at Casual Male XL, where I found a new Hawaiian-style shirt, it was lunchtime. Mary had told me about Thurston's, a locally owned deli, where they had eaten on Monday. They make a Panini sandwich there, called the Dante, which is right up my alley. It has, if I remember correctly, shaved ham & turkey, Pepperjack and Swiss cheeses, onions, mushrooms, chipotle mayonnaise, and roasted red banana peppers. To quote Trace Adkins: "Oowee, shut my mouth, slap yo' grandma!" That is one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten, and the coffee that I chose (a Sumatran blend) was excellent, too!
While we ate, Karen talked to Mary about her hair. She asked how long the she'd had grey in it, and Mary said, "I started seeing some when I was about 17 or 18." Karen then told her about when she started coloring hers, which was right after a serious stomach ailment that had her hospitalized for quite some time, and how good the woman that did it was. As we left the deli, Karen said, "Let's walk around the corner for a minute." We thought we were going to some little Mom & Pop-type store, but we ended up at the salon where Karen gets her hair done. We went in and Karen proceeded to make the arrangements to have my baby's hair colored. This, along with the outfit, was her birthday present to Mary. Now, how many sisters-in-law do you know that would do something like that? The shade they chose was almost exactly the same as when Mary was a little girl. Her appointment was scheduled for 8:15 the next morning, which meant we'd be later getting back on the road north. But the look of anticipation on Mary's face made the wait worthwhile.
We finally cooked a meal that evening - the first one on our entire trip, except for breakfasts. Karen chose a nice pork roast, on which she did an excellent job of preparation. Mary & I helped with the rest of the meal (salad, green beans, potatoes, and garlic toast), then we relaxed until Wayne came home. After dinner, we took a stroll around their neighborhood. There were some particular houses that they wanted us to see. On of them had a beautiful backyard floral garden with a waterfall/fountain and a nice bench beside it. It would be a wonderful place to sit and read in the mornings or evenings - or just to relax with your sweetheart. Several of the homes had "For Sale" signs in the yards, and Wayne kept saying, "The price is right on that one." I get the feeling that he'd like for us to move down there.
You know, moving down South wouldn't be so bad. The whole area around Calhoun is nice, but Mary & I both absolutely fell in love with the whole Seymour/Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg corridor. With all of the mountains around, it reminds us of WV - but with much cleaner air! Who knows? Maybe the Lord will send us down there.
Completing our walk, we made a trip back into town for one last treat. The stop was Brewster's, a local ice cream joint. They make their own product, and it was truly scrumptious! A fitting capper on our trip.
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