However, I will share some highlights of my experiences - though it still seems for the most part like a dream!
Nashville, TN
We attended my younger sister's first vows ceremony, as she promised poverty, chastity and obedience to the Dominican Order of St. Cecilia and to God. The music was heavenly, as many of the Sisters have beautiful, clear voices like angels and fittingly, their patroness is St. Cecilia, who is also known to many in the Catholic world as the patron saint of musicians. We spent two happy days with my sister, visiting and playing games, making music and drinking sweet tea to our hearts' content. I had the precious opportunity of taking a walk with her one fine steamy morning, and we sat in rocking chairs on the back porch, catching up on each other's lives. The bond of a sister is truly something special and indispensable! It was a joy to meet my new "sisters-in-spirit" as I like to call them, the other 18 newly-professed Dominican Sisters, and share in their gladness with their families.
Staying in a family suite near Opryland, we stuffed ourselves with typical - but oh-so-delicious - Southern favorites, at the All-American Shoney's Restaurant... and at Waffle House, I ate me a pecan waffle on a Sunday morning in Nashville. It doesn't get much better than that. I enjoyed having a full kitchen there, though we had little opportunity to use it.
Down by the Cumberland River, we saw a bit of local history at Fort Nashborough, drove down Broadway and heard live music spilling out of the honky-tonks and line-dance clubs, and saw a great deal for Western boots (buy one, get two pairs free! - which, by the way, is a serious deal, since boots usually cost hundreds of dollars). Some of the city had been damaged by recent floods, so we couldn't see everything, but it was still magnificent. Everywhere we went downtown, I had the delight of watching magnificent and beautiful horses pulling little carts and wagons of tourists through the main streets.
When we headed out of town, we stopped by the riverfront and saw the remains of an old outpost that was incredibly picturesque. Next, we stopped at the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Art Museum (the original converted mansion), a sprawling estate of southern glory and horticultural genius. The highlight of that attraction was a series of "treehouses", structures inspired by places in children's books that were erected next to or around tall, sturdy trees. Representing The Giver was a whitewashed wooden structure with many-colored stained-glass panes in irregular geometric shapes; an old-fashioned fort-style treehouse represented On Walden Pond, a spiral frame wound with thin rope suggested the conch from Lord of the Flies, a veritable pirate ship paid homage to Treasure Island, a gigantic fish constructed from a chicken wire frame and hundreds of compact discs attached with zip ties presented the glorious The Rainbow Fish (I went inside and could stand up without my head touching the ceiling!), and our favorite was a wooden bunker disguised on one side with several different plants, a re-imagination of scenery from The Hobbit. There were also many different themed and landscaped gardens, including an herb garden, a rain garden (fascinating concept), a water garden, a Japanese garden, a dogwood garden, a crape myrtle garden, and, of course, the classic rose garden. At the top of the hill, the mansion stands imposing, with a pretty loggia and tromp l'oeil painted sculptures on the second floor. I was fascinated by the silver and porcelain collections - there were some original Paul Revere pieces! Though we did not spend long ogling the Cheek family's collection of treasures, I found much to appreciate in the open, spacious design of the house.
Augusta, GA
We ate our dinner at Chik-fil-A before stopping at my aunt's house in Augusta. Like I said before, we got quite a sample of the South - you might not know it, but Chik-fil-A originated in Georgia and is not just a chicken restaurant but also an organization that supports the growth of youth, families and education. With the skies gently watering the earth, we decided to try a peach-flavored soft-serve ice cream at the restaurant. Of course, peach ice cream is the specialty in Georgia, right?
Savannah, GA - After spending a night in Augusta, we attended Mass in Savannah at a church built by early French settlers - which, by the way, had gorgeous stained-glass windows - and took in the unique beauty of Southern magnolia trees draped with Spanish moss. Lunch was some unforgettable Southern fare - coleslaw, green beans, spicy chicken wings, battered-and-fried fish (I had fish bites), shrimp, crab, flounder and hushpuppies. I was nearly overwhelmed by the great hospitality.
We drove through riverfront Savannah and saw myriads of old storefronts, all built right up next to each other. In the high humidity, we tried to stay cool by walking in the shade, gazing out at the river and the pretty paddleboat ferries that gave tours. We spied an adventure boat full of passengers dumping water on a smaller boat of "bad guys" (good laughs). The riverfront was so picturesque! Down by the river, a man seated in front of his easel was plying his trade, and several colorful canvasses were propped up along the low brick wall around him. Another man sang cheerfully, "This Little Light of Mine", clapping in time to the sound of his own voice. I think it was beautiful!
We stepped into the cool yet bustling atmosphere of a candy store, and I was caught up in the wonder of watching the process of saltwater taffy being spun and pulled by old-fashioned machines. Frozen lemonades abounded and people who thronged the streets, carrying knicknacks, shells and other purchases, boarded the green-and-orange trolleys for a tour. The cobblestones must have been more than eight inches across, each. Of course, I would notice that.
More later! Life is too busy (at least, today) and too short to die.
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